May 1998 Islamic Weekend School

by Sheiba Waheed

The Islamic Foundation of Central Ohio’s Islamic Weekend School lies humbly on East Broad Street, its broken green sign proudly reading “Islamic Center” in clear white letters.  From the outside, the building is none too impressive: a former Boy Scouts house, the peeling paint and dusty crumbling bricks betray the fact that this structure is far past its prime.

With a hefty shove on the front door, the visitor is greeted by a musty odor, the result of perpetual plumbing difficulties.  Climbing up the staircase, one should be sure not to lean too heavily on the banister, for it has a tendency to lean itself.  While making salat, it is also wise to be aware of the ladybugs that enjoy crawling around on the floor in springtime.

However the Islamic Center is not merely a building.  The tree-lined brick pathway that runs along the side of the building still evokes an almost magical sense of complete serenity.  Emerging from its emerald canopy one finds a sizable green lawn free of weeds.  Relaxing here under the sun, it is quite easy to ruminate on the Magnificence of Allah’s Creation.

There is yet more to the Islamic Center’s merit.  This is evident in the countless dedicated members of the community who have and continue to strive to educate young Muslims.  Currently, the Islamic Center offers ten classes for individuals five to eighteen years of age, although both younger and older Muslims also attend.  At the moment, about 130 students are enrolled.  As not all of them can be comfortably and/or safely housed in the center, classrooms at East High school, across the street, have been rented for 7 of the classes.  This however, has become expensive, so alternatives are being explored at the moment.

The center follows the Islamic Foundation of Central Ohio Islamic Weekend School curriculum, which was drafted by a committee of community members who labored for 6 months to produce it.  Elements from the curriculum of 5 or 6 other schools in the United States and United Kingdom were adopted, and community feedback is always helpful.

Teachers are strictly volunteers, so the qualifications are understandably fluid.  Obviously a practicing Muslim with a solid base of Islamic knowledge is necessary, and at the very least, a high school diploma is required.  Feedback from the community is also appreciated, and taken into account.  Four of the current Islamic Center teachers are native Arabic speakers, but more are always welcome.

Every Sunday from 11:00 to 1:00, students attend the Islamic Weekend School to learn an hour of Arabic, in which the basics of the language or tafsir of the Quran is taught, and an hour of religion.  This broad subject includes topics such as fiqh and seerah.  There is also a 10 minute break between during with the students can snack on food brought in by various families, or purchase food sold b the Ladies’ Auxiliary.  The proceeds from this, of course, are for the Islamic Weekend School’s various expenses.

But what about the building?  The Islamic Center’s Executive Committee is currently trying to raise enough money to buy a former church facility.  The benefit of this would help the school tremendously.  Here too, community support would be greatly appreciated.

June 1996 News Fly Around

Islam in the OSU Medical college Curriculum

 

reported by Dr. Malika Haque, M.D.

 

Columbus (May 1996) "Islam and Medicine", by the grace of Allah, has been successfully introduced as a permanent ongoing course in the college of Medicine of the Ohio State University in the mini-module format: 4 weeks, 3 hr./wk, which is an established requirement in the Medical Humanities and Behavioral Sciences area of the College of Medicine. The context was thoughtfully designed for all the medical students who signed up. Definition of Islam, Pillars of Islam, Islamic practices and Law, Moral and Ethical Values, History, and Science were some of the topics presented leading to considerable enlivening discussions. Since Muslims now have a clear presence in the diversity of patient population on the American scene, useful courtesy, manners for communicating, and a basic knowledge of Islam were shown as necessary for improved medical management and doctor-patient rapport, particularly in community ambulatory facilities.

 

Guest speakers were appreciated by the students, with Dr. Asma Mobin Uddin speaking on Islam and Science and Dr. John Kashbeck relating his experiences as a Muslim physician on medical ethics. At the conclusion of the course, more than 90% of the students gave an "excellent" rating and the director of the program at the College of Medicine was excited to request that I make a continual annual presentation.

 

Eid-ul Adha Dinner

 

reported by Shahida Khan

 

The Eid dinner is a tradition in our community. It is a beautiful occasion for our children, ourselves, and our Muslim community. New clothes, gifts, visiting, being together, and feasting make the occation very enjoyable to children and adults alike.

 

Saturday, May 4, 1996 at the Whitehall Community Center, sisters and brothers from the Islamic Center and Omar mosque came together in the spirit of sacrifice and sharing to enjoy Eid Dinner.

 

Alhamdulillah, our community has grown many folds. Some 20 plus years ago Eid dinners took place in a small hall at the Park of Roses and later at the St. Stephen Community Center. Now even Whitehall Community Center has become small. Tables were full of different kinds of tasty, spicy, ethnic foods. for some people, some of the food was so hot that they had to use napkins to wipe their eyes. for children the big excitement was the pizza party, magic show, and goody bags.

 

Together with the remembrance of Prophet Ibrahim's supreme submission to Allah, we should remember other Muslims in our community and in other communities. May Allah increase our community more and more day by day. May Allah bless our community with more unity and more tolerance and love. May Allah reward those people who worked hard selflessly to make this Eid Celebration successful.

 

Dear Editor

 

During Eid Prayers

 

Over the years, Subhannahllah, the Muslim community has grown considerably in Central Ohio. Particularly at Eid prayers, a Jamaa of 3000 to 4000, sisters, and children is quite common. We are a cultured, caring Ummah whose collective organizational efforts are a norm, successful in conducting religious activities in particular.

 

Due to the request of some of the sisters, in as gentle way as possible, it is necessary to bring our attention to a rather disquieting mannerism during the Eid Khutbah (lecture). Immediately after the salat, while the khateeb is lecturing, a small number of people are getting up and walking. Some are talking, some are leaving, and forming conversational groups (particularly in the ladies section.)

 

All of us should clearly realize that salat and khutbah are one entity and we are present to please Allah (SWT). We should all listen to the khutbah, honor the khateeb and rejoice after the salah and khutbah. As an elder of the community, who has been part of organizing Eid prayers for over 15 years, "no offense is meant to anyone". Let us be simply knowledgeable and exemplary in our acts.

 

C. Azeez ul Haq

 

 

Muslim Student Association Officer Elections

 

Recently on the Ohio State University campus, the Muslim Student Association held elections for new officers for the remaining of this 1996 year and for next year. The results were as such:

Br. Safwan Halabi - Amir
Br. Muhammad Abdul Haq - Secretary
Br. Samer Suleiman - Treasurer
Sr. Bonita McGee - Information
Sr. Habeeba Gaiter - Sisters' Affairs

 

 

CAIR Media-Relations Training Workshop Planned

 

What: Ibrahim Hooper, National Communications Director for the Council on
American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), will conduct a workshop to train Muslims in
techniques of effective media and public relations.
When: Saturday, June 8,
1996 10 am-12:30 pm, Inshallah
Where: Islamic Center, 1428 E. Broad St.
Who: All are welcome. Please RSVP XXX-XXXX Admission is free. Donations to
CAIR appreciated. Sponsored by IFCO Public Relations Committee

Women's Get-Together

In response to a request from some sisters, the Board of Trustees invites all women to an open discussion on June 16th at noon in the sister's Meeting Room of the Omar Mosque. 

• Do you want a women's organization under the ISGC?
• How would you visualize this organization?
• What role would you like to play?

May 1996 News Fly Around

Movie Defames Muslims

Los Angeles, CA, April 1 - Muslim communities nationwide handed out leaflets about Islam outside theaters to counter the new anti-Islam stunt movie "Executive Decision" by Warner bros. In the movie all the non-Muslims in the movie were either victims or heroes, while every Muslim was either a criminal or a terrorist.

After negotiations with the producing company did not result in clipping stereotypical and defaming images about Muslims from the movie, Muslim organizations like CAIR opted for positive measures to counter the propaganda. Without causing a fuss that would further increase the sale of the movie, members from Muslim communities simply handed out the true facts about Muslims and highlighted the erroneous message of the movie, something that Warner Bros did not like.

Hotel Apologizes Rehires Muslim Woman

Washington, D.C. 4/22/96 Alhamdulillah, your calls, faxes and letters achieved a positive result once again. Management officials of a Virginia Quality Inn hotel have apologized to and rehired a Muslim woman who was denied a job because she refused to remove her head scarf. The hotel also gave the woman compensation for time lost and for attorney's fees. According to a Washington Post article on the incident, Philip Kirby, the owner of the hotel, said, "When we got a chance to look at it and see what the community's reaction was, we felt we had made a bad decision... We apologize for any inconvenience or suffering we caused her." The hotel plans to rework its dress code.

2500 Turn Out for Mosque Open House

Washington, DC April 2. Leaders of the Denver, Colorado Muslim community say some 2,500 people turned out for a mosque Open House propted by the March 19 intrusion into that facility by employees of a local radio station. Many local dignitaries, including Denver's mayor and the U.S. Attorney in Denver, attended the open house. Five people embraced Islam on the day of the open house, Alhamdulillah.

This mosque was subjected earlier to a hate crime by a local radio station - who invaded the mosque and harassed worshippers, while on the air. Five radio employees have been charged as a result of that stunt.

Editorial Cartoonist apologizes for Defaming Islam

Jim Morin, a syndicated cartoonist who works for the Miami Herald newspaper, has apologized for a recent cartoon in which he drew an ape-like creature with the word "Islam" on its head. The creature is shown saying, "We bomb innocent women and children to smithereens!" After CAIR and other Musli organizations posted information about the cartoon on the internet, Morin begn receiving cals, faxes and e-mail messages.

In a letter to CAIR, Morin said, "I have spoken to many hurt, outraged members of the Muslim faith this past four days. It has been an educational experience for me... To those whom I have unintentionally hurt or insulted, please accept my sincere apologies."

Web Site Removes NOI Connection

OSU Campus, April 5 - The MSA at OSU managed to convince YAHOO! , the world wide web search facility to remove the Nation of Islam from the list of Islamic resources. The MSA was concerned about how Yahoo included Nation of Islam resources with Islamic resources, and sent a strong letter of complaint to Yahoo..

"The students I represent are very offended that Yahoo would include the Nation of Islam - a religion that preaches racial hatred, founded less than 50 years ago - with Islam, a religion that speaks of peace and religious harmony founded almost 1500 years ago." said Alaa, MSA President in his protest.

In their response, Anne Callery from Yahoo said, "[We] find that the Muslim community in general does not consider the Nation of Islam as part of the Muslim religion. It was our initial understanding that the Nation of Islam identified strongly with Islam, which is why the cross reference to Islam was added. However, after examining the Nation of Islam web sites, we are unable to find evidence of this feeling in their organization. Therefore, the link to Islam has been removed."

George Mason University Gets New Union with Wudu Facilities

Fairfax, VA - March 12 - A new $30 million student union was opened with facilities for making wudu in every main restroom. Interestingly, the Muslim Student Association on that campus did not lobby for them. However, jummah prayer was held close to one of the deans' offices, who felt there was a need for a proper wudu facility and included the wudu area in the plan for the new building. This marks another positive step taken by some universities in recent months to accommodate Muslim students.

Islamic Attire: A View of Elegance and comfort
Date: May 11, 1996 - Time: 6-8 pm Location: Hitchcock Hall, (OSU)
Tickets: $3 - student $5 - adult (pre-sale and at the door) A sample of Muslim food specialties are included in the ticket cost.

To share our cultural attire for dress at home and at Muslim Women's functions while emphasizing the proper dress a Muslim displays while outside her home, Muslim sisters from a multiple of cultural background are participating in a program of fashion display (program for women only).

All proceeds from this event will go to the school fund for the full-time school in Hilliard. Donations are always accepted graciously.

For further information please contact Sr. Rhoda at XXX-XXXX or Sr. Bonita at XXX-XXXX or Sr. Shireen at XXX-XXXX. Inshallah, vendors of Islamic dress will be located outside of the hall. Any interested vendors contact the organizers.

Women Speaking from Behind the Veil

Speech by Sister Aminah Assilmi, noted Muslim Feminist at Hitchcock Hall, OSU May 15th from 6 to 8 pm.

IFCO Forms Public Relations Committee

by Asma Mobin-Uddin

The Islamic Foundation of Central Ohio (IFCO) has now formed a Public Relations Committee. Members of this P.R. Committee have met and have agreed that work will be done in four areas: media relations, school communication, establishment of a Speakers Bureau, and compilation of an Islamic Reference Base.

In the area of media relations, our goal is to promote an understanding of true Islam by working with the media to encourage accurate and respectful coverage of events related to Islam. The PRC is also establishing a network that can quickly respond when Muslim reaction to news coverage is needed. The committee regularly responds to current events and has worked on coverage of the present Eid.

The committee is also working to facilitate communication with local schools about Islam and we are setting up a Speakers Bureau of Muslim available to speak in the community. Six Muslim speakers will represent Islam the week of April 22 at the Bexley Schools during their week long commemoration to the city of Jerusalem's 300th anniversary.

The PRC is establishing an Islamic Reference Base to support the Speakers Bureau and to educate non-Muslims. A bibliography of all the literature in English available on Islam at the OSU library has been compiled. It contains over 2000 references by Muslim, Christian, and Jewish authors. This database will be available in hard copy and on a computer disk at the IFCO library. Diskette copies will also be available for those wishing to put this database on their home computer. May Allah support and bless the efforts of the committee as it strives in His cause. The members are: Rashid and Vera Al-Sabur, Andy Amid, Mohammad (Razi) and Ghazala Asghar, Vicki Bashir, Mohammed and Kathy Ballouz, Mohamed Gohar, Asma Mobin-Uddin, and Alam and Parveen Payind. If anyone wishes to work with the committee or be part of the Sepakers Bureau, please contact Sr. Asma Mobin-Uddin at XXX-XXXX.

ISGC forms School Task Force

Columbus, April 7 - At a joint meeting of all the school committees, the 10 member School Task Force was chosen based on being nominated by 50% or more of the committee members. If there were not 10 fount by this method, the remainder would be selected by the board of trustees of the ISGC based on committee recommendations. The new task force is: Amr Elsaadany, Arjumand Haque, Sohail Khan, Adnan Khasawneh, Mahmood Moosa, Amgad Saleh, Mohamed Shareef, Norma Tarazi, Ahmad Al Akhras, and Rhoda Abdul-Matin.
ISGC Summer School Planning meeting

Do you like to do craft projects with children? Would you like to start a soccer tournament for the kids this summer? Anyone for volley ball? Could you help children learning Quran? Come be a part of the planning - be part of the action. attend the planning session May 13th at 7 pm at the Omar Mosque.

The summer school program has usually been organized by interested parents and other adults as a volunteer effort to provide some fun and educational activities for children during some of the weekdays of summer. This summer we expect to use the new school facility in Hilliard, air conditioned and surrounded by grass, and just across the street from a beautiful park. We hope to be able to offer more than we ever have before.

Do you have any time to volunteer? Male OSU students are particularly needed to help with the boys.

March 1996 Announcements

Hajj Workshop Planned

The Msajid al Islam plans two workshops to help prepare those who aspire to make Hajj, as we all do, inshallah. The first workshop is all about Hajj and well be held Saturday February 24 at 1 pm. The second will be Hajj and preparation on Sunday, February 25 also at 1 pm, just after duhr prayer. there will be guest speakers from the Hajj Committee of Atlanta, Georgia to conduct the workshop. they will also be invited guests at the Eid Dinner Saturday night. Masjid Al Islam is located at 1677 Oak St. Columbus. For more information call XXX-XXXXX.

Teacher Workshop Planned

A workshop for Muslim teachers will be held at the Omar Mosque on Tuesday, March 25th, at 7 pm (between Maghreb and Isha). It will be conducted by Sr. Daaiyah Saleem MA Education, a current doctoral student at OSU. The workshop is the springboard for a series to be developed by the teachers according to their needs and interests. This first workshop will be titled "Islamic Education - defining the vision." All Muslim teachers are invited to attend. For more information call XXX-XXXX.

Masjid al Islam announces their Eid Dinner Saturday, February 24, at 7:00 pm Union Hall, 620 Alum Creek Dr., Columbus. Banquet costs are $20 for adults, $10 for children.

The Ladies of the English Halaqah of the Omar Mosque present: Eid Party! for ladies and girls, ten years and older at Selby Park Shelter House on March 2, 1996, 3 to 6 pm. It is an organized Pot Luck. Please call Sr. Sandra at XXX-XXXX or Sr. Rhoda at XXX-XXXX for information/confirmation.

IFCO announces their Eid Pot Luck Dinner on Sunday February 25, 1996 at Whitehall community Park, 340 N. Hamilton Rd. Columbus. Maghrib will be at 6:18 pm and dinner will start at 6:45. A children's Program is planned to start at 8:15. IFCO asks that you bring food and please supervise your children.

Lecture for LadiesSr. Rene Moore will give a lecture March 9, 1996 at the English Sister's Study group at 4:00 pm in the Omar Mosque on the topic of Home-Based Employment for Muslim Women.

ISGC Announces Contest for School Name and Logo
The Islamic Society of Greater Columbus is in the process of searching for a name and a logo for the Islamic School which will open in September 1996, Inshallah. The muslim community is invited to participate in the selection process by submitting their ideas for a new school name with an accompanying logo. the community is encouraged to think of a suitable name for our new school and design a logo or a graphic.artistic representation which will be used with the school name. the prize will be $100. Ideas must be submitted to the name and logo selection committee no later than March 20, 1996. [address for mailing omitted]

March 1996 Our School, Our Future Here

by Dr. M. N. Tarazi, Board of Trustees, Islamic Society of Greater Columbus

The first sign on Islam in North America was the construction of a mosque to establish community prayer. We have 3 mosques in Columbus, alhamdulillah, plus a new one under construction on Sunbury Rd. by the Islamic Foundation of Central Ohio, and another on the drawing board for Wilcox Rd. in the near future, planned by the Islamic Society of Greater Columbus. Our city is big, and we need places for prayer properly placed around the city. This growth should not be viewed as competitive, but complimentary, providing for the multiple needs of our diverse community.
The second stage of Islamic settlement is the establishment of a full time school. a school can create an Islamic environment for our children, so that they can experience the difference and fully appreciate what our religion offers as a total way of life. An Islamic education prepares a child with knowledge of Quran, Sunnah, and Arabic, to be able to grow up with a close relationship to Allah nd to his or her family and community, following the guidance of Allah (SWT). But an Islamic education includes more than this. An Islamic education also prepares a child to be a participating citizen in the world, well mannered and respectful of others, knowledgeable in general culture in a wide sense of the world, as well as knowledgeable in technical and practical how-to information.

For too long we have suffered with the public school system, where our heritage and religion are ignored if not insulted. A full time Islamic school has a wider impact on the community than just the education of its enrolled students. It sets an example and a standard of professional education for all other educational efforts in the community, the Saturday and Sunday schools for Muslim children remaining in public schools, and for adult education, providing facilities, resources, and inspiration for teachers, parents, children, and adults throughout the community. An initial primary school, once started, will provide the base for a whole school system, form preschool through high school, hopefully with sites throughout our geographical area.

With this dream before us, the school committee has investigated many properties. Sometimes we have asked the community to visit a promising site, raising hopes, only to have them fall as we had to drop each project for one reason or another. This fall we assembled still another committee, and made a promise to open a school in September 1996, but we still lacked a site. There were few buildings that met the requirements of a school. The Robinwood School, proposed last fall, proved, upon closer examination, to be a major maintenance liability, with high utility costs and an asbestos problem. the question of location has always been a major concern, to be easily accessible to the greatest number of Muslim families.

A limited survey of our community, conducted by the school committees in December, found an overwhelming support for the school concept. Nearly everyone polled said they would volunteer time and effort to support the school. Though the school will of course be run by a paid professional staff, this volunteer energy can be channeled in many ways to increase the quality of the school. Professional architects and engineers of our community have already volunteered time and effort to evaluate buildings and sites, and will continue to recommend wise design and maintenance of facilities. Volunteers can help with car-pooling for field trips, gardening, library staffing and teacher assisting, but most importantly with fundraising. Quality education costs, and the community has a responsibility to help parents with this effort.

Another outcome of the survey was a repeat of a study done several years ago by an earlier school committee. Most Muslims live in the northwest corner of Franklin County. An analysis of membership lists for both the ISGC and IFCO revealed the same results. Easy close access of any school to people living in this area is essential to the success of the school.

Ramadan has truly been a blessed month for us this year, for we have been able to sign a contract for a building and land for our first full time school The building committee negotiated a contract on the site before announcing it, to avoid further discouragement for the community if negotiations didn't work. Negotiations worked; for the first time we were able to sign a contract to buy a building. The contract included an escape clause, to allow time for shurah, consultation, with community leaders, the Board of Trustees, Executive Committee, the Shurah Council, and the school committees. Others were consulted about the project and a general recommendation came for the purchase.

So now we are announcing to the whole community that we have a contract signed to pay $470,000 for the current Hilliard Public Library building, an 8,000 square foot building on 3.4 acres of land. immediate renovations to make it a small school will cost an approximate $50,000 more. The location is on Scioto-Darby Rd. 1.5 miles west of I-270 Hilliard exit, (10 minutes from the current site of Friday prayers). We hope to open a minimum of k-3rd grade by September in the building. We have room to grow at this location and can plan to build 2 additions of equal size to the present building on the land, as we have community commitment and student enrollment. We encourage everyone in the community to visit the library building on Cemetery Road. [driving directions omitted]

We have 6 months to pay for the building. On April 30, the first installment of $100,000 is due, and we take possession. Sixty days later we will need $200,000 for the next installment. Sixty days later we will, Inshallah, make the final installment of $170,000. On August 30, we will Inshallah, open with the first year of classes.

Now is the time to make sacrifices for our children. This dream is worth so much more than the pizza parties, computer games, and other luxury things people buy their children and themselves. This is our chance to ensure the continuation of our religion by the next generation, our children who will, Inshallah, be better educated than we are ourselves. We need donations from the whole community to support this chance for our children.

Please pledge as much as you can for the next 6 months to pay for this school. Pledge! We need an endowment fund to help pay tuition for the poor in our community. Pledge! We need the best professional Muslim teachers, the essential element to the success of our school. Pledge! We have been a very generous community in giving charity to any good organization from out of town or abroad that came and asked for our help: for Bosnia, Chechnya, Palestine, Kashmir, and many others. Now it is here at home, for our own children, for our own future, that we need to give our very best. Pledge! We need a school we can be proud of, to fulfill our obligation as Muslims to pass on what was passed down to us, in a continuous chain from Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).

Dec 1995 Islamic School in Sight for ISGC as Committees Form and Set Goals

by Sandra Gray

Members of the ISGC have been working hard and are determined that a full-time Islamic school will be in operation by next September. The School Formation Committee has met several times with members of both the ISGC and a few members from IFCO. the Formation Committee has assigned four subcommittees, each designed for a specific purpose. The subcommittees are Administrative, Curriculum, Engineering, and Finance. Each of the subgroups have also met several times and are will on the way towards progress.

At the last Formation Committee meeting of November 14, such issues as the acquisition of the school in Whitehall, which is currently up for sale, were discussed. Most members present seem to feel that purchasing an already built school would be more feasible and efficient in terms of finance, zoning, and safety reasons. An Open House for the Whitehall school was held on November 11, where all members of the community were invited to view the school. It was an impressive building, according to many reports, with all the facilities already in place for a school, as well as for a multipurpose centr for the ISGC. Br. Khalid Fareg stressed the importance of community members' participation in and support for this project, or any other school project which may arise. The Formation Committee did not make a final decision for any solid offer on the school, and it is still being discussed. In the November 14th meeting, each of the four subcommittees presented a report of their progress to the entire Formation Committee for open discussion.

The Administrative Committee discussed their pending survey to be sent to all community members which is needed to help in the decision-making process. For example, it was discussed that it could not yet be determined how advanced the school would be (kindergarten, elementary, middle or high school or a combination) without an actual survey of the community's needs and the number of students parents might register. A survey is imperative in this decision-making process and ensures community participation. The Administrative committee also raised the issue of types of private schools which might be plausible, and some members attended a workshop at the Ohio State Department of Education to get information which may be helpful to the ISGC.

The Curriculum Committee discussed their objective of finding and evaluating the best available curricula form the State, private, and successful Islamic schools. Some successful Islamic schools such as the ISNA Islamic School in Ontario and the Madrasatul "Ilm in Indianapolis have already expressed their support and willingness to help in curriculum development. Members stressed the importance of a strong Islamic and bi-lingual orientation in the ISGC school project.

The Finance Committee discussed various means of income for the school, since it would no doubt be an expensive project. Many options were discussed to raise funds, such as fundraisers, tuition as well as tuition aid, donations, and even Islamic-based investments. The survey, to be administered soon, would also in this case be beneficial, since it might help determine how well the community will be able to support the school.

The Engineering Committee has been very busy with details in looking for possible locations for the school, as well as investigating seriously the Whitehall school. It was determined through the advice of this committee that a permanent building would be superior, since classroom bungalows had been discussed. Other locations are also currently being investigated.

Now that it is certain that a full-time Islamic private school will be built, this is the time to encourage members of this community to participate at all levels to ensure the best possible success for our children's' education. the choice is ours: either we get involved and form a superior school with an Islamic-based education, or we leave our children to become absorbed by the mediocre and kufr-based public schools.

Dec 1995 Columbus Holds International Festival

by Mufakharul Islam

The International Festival in Columbus is an annual festival of the international community living in Central Ohio. It is held on the first weekend of November of each year. The organizer of this event is the United Nations chapter of Columbus, Ohio. even though it is held in Columbus, different ethnic people living all over the U.S. attended this event to represent their ethnic and cultural customs. It is interesting to know about the different cultures and the different ethnic groups in this festival. Every year an estimated 40 to 50 thousand visitors attend the festival. This year it was help on November 4th and 5th. There were at least 200 booths where foods, clothes, and different traditional items were for sale.

The Islamic Foundation of central Ohio (IFCO) had a booth in this festival where foods and clothing form different Muslim countries such as Egypt, Pakistan, India, and Bangladesh were sold. Sisters and children from IFCO helped in cooking and selling food. At one end of the booth an "invitation" table was set up to attract visitors. Some brothers from IFCO were there to explain Islamic traditions and principles to them. There were a lot of pamphlets on Islam and the sunnah of the Prophet (PBUH). There were some Islamic videos displayed for the children, to help them learn about Islam. This turned out to be a key attraction for both parents and children and an opportunity for them to inquire about Islam. IFCO's booth was the only booth with an Islamic agenda. the festival environment may not be suited for Muslim women gatherings but it is good for disseminating ideas about Islam to the attendees.

Due to the fact that this festival attracts a very large crowd, the ISGC and IFCO should take more initiatives to disseminate information about Islam in this festival.

Nov 1995 Convention Recall ... Why Can't Muslims Organize

IQRA! Survey of the Post-Convention Syndrome

by Ayman Ismail

Almost every independent opinion received, regarding the ISNA convention, was highly positive and admiring. This was expected, for even the blind could tell that planning, organization, thought, and dedication, superseded by pure intention, would bear fruit. However, what puzzles many came after the convention: "how come a community[Columbus] that good cannot come together for a single successful project?"
"I think, wa Allahu 'alam, that the community in Columbus is ready to team up for local projects," says Rached Zantout. "It is only politics that prevent them from doing so, as well as the lack of a charismatic and uniting leadership on each and every side."

The issue of leadership was also seconded by Hazem Gheith. "Sometimes we put unqualified persons who diverge instead of teaming people up."

"For example," cites one commentator, "two projects that the community in Columbus could have united upon, were the cemetery and the new Islamic Center/Masjid/Ful time school. Both the ISGC and IFCO are working one variations of those two projects. IFCO has long had land but problems have ensued in building and maintenance. They also have cemetery land already zoned and ready to be used. Omar Mosque has the manpower, willingness, and money to start projects. Yet breakdowns in communications and methods obstructed the goals for both ISCG and IFCO, despite their being the same.

But didn't the ISNA convention also have problems? In ISNA's case, it was a very clear project with very clear objectives. "The credit goes all to ISNA if we did a good job so there was less incentive for people who play politics to be involved. It does not pay much back in terms of short term political gains in the community," says Rached. The advantage of depoliticizing the work seems twofold. More sincere work, and far fewer conflicts. Given a project that size, it would have seemed logical to have diverse opinins spoil the work! Right?

Not necessarily. The ISNA convention was such a huge project that everybody who wanted to work could do so without being bothered or bothering the other parts of the community which did not think like them. "For example," says a commentator, "One of the objections from IFCO people (some of them) to joint activities with ISGC is that we "separate men and women". Well, in the ISNA convention, if you are against that separation you could have worked with some of the committees that did not care about separation, and if you were with that separation you could have worked in other committees. There was room for everyone.

Another reason appears to be in what social scientists call "community participation". ISNA Convention steering committees turned to the grass roots. This should not take place only at the implementation phase, but right from the start. "Not involving as many people as you can when preparing for a project or event will alienate the project's prime support," says Hazem Gheith.

Is there hope? There is a lot that can be done to bring that convention spirit back. The leaders of ISGC, IGCO, and Masjid Al-Islam should get together and start planning for common projects with the same spirit of the ISNA convention which would keep that unity feeling or raise it up from time to time. Joint lectures, not merely picnics, preparing for the next ISNA convention, a Columbus Islamic Day, a workshop for Muslims about some issues facing them in Columbus, River Clean Up Day by us Muslims, adopting part s of highways that pass through Columbus, etc... And of course, there is the opportunity in the joint full-time Islamic school project.
During the convention the unity of the community became very clear. "None of those who worked expected a reward and none were received," says Altaf Wani. "The satisfaction from within for a job well was enough." Now this community has a new opportunity. Let's wait and see.

The causes of community disagreements seem clear: politicizing of work and lack of leadership. The solution is equally clear: we must learn to work with the spirit of teamwork.

July 1995 Computers in the Islamic Weekend School

by Souhail Khan

We at the Islamic Weekend school are pleased to inform you about the use of the computer as a learning/teaching tool starting this summer. A computer lab has been established. With the use of a 486DX equipped with two software, i.e., AL_QARI (a voice-activated, Arabic language tutorial software) and ALIM (an Islamic knowledge database containing Quran, hadith, fiqh, Islamic history, life of great Muslims, etc.) we hope to better educate our children. A pilot project is planned during the summer school starting Sunday, July 9th for six weeks at the Islamic Center on East Broad St.

For further information call br. Sohail Khan at XXX XXXX.
We are also looking for your ideas and suggestions to make the computer application at the IWS more useful. It is hoped that by generating interest among our young people we will be able to enhance their learning and to channel their interest into creating software that can be used in Islamic education.

Let us think, together, in new ways. New directions bring new horizons.

April 1995 Eid, What Does It Take?

by Rached Zantout

On the morning of Friday 3/3/1995, exit 115 of I-71 got very busy. What was happening? Lots of bearded men, women with scarves on their heads, and everybody had good looking clothes.

Going into the parking lot of the sports complex at that exit, you could feel you were going into another world. Suddenly, this area was transformed into a Muslims gathering area, a place to pray, enjoy and celebrate the end of our month of fasting, Ramadan.

The speakers were set at strategic places, the microphones were ready, one where the Imam would give his Khutbah and a wireless one with the brothers chanting the Eid chants. Lines were set on the floor for the first few rows so that brothers and sisters could make straight rows while praying. Donation boxes were set up at the entrance for different causes, Zakat-ul-Fir, as well as an Eid Hall fund.

Outside, tables filled with donut boxes and refreshments were setup. Two sites were designated, one for men and the other for women. Even IQRA! had its own table to collect donations, subscriptions, and distribute the Eid issue.

The announcements, the prayer and the Khutbah all went smoothly. Then the brothers and sisters went outside to take their issues of IQRA! and eat and drink, for on this day we were allowed, again, to eat and drink whenever we felt like it. Even children had fun outside with the balloons and the candy. Later on, the children and their mothers would celebrate in a party at Haggerty Hall [at OSU].

Every year we do this kind of activity twice, once at Fitr and once at Adha. Just how do the brothers and sisters prepare for Eid? Is it easy? How many brothers and sisters does it take and how long before Eid do they begin preparing for it?

According to Brother Khalid, [Farag], the president of the MSA, preparation for Eid starts with preparation for Ramadan. This year the MSA, Islamic Center and Masjid Al-Islam decided to use a facility similar to the one in which the MSA is holding its Jumma prayers. The facility was larger than the Whitehall Community Center (the place where we used to pray Eids previously). Also, the parking lot of the facility is much larger than any other facility they looked at.

After the middle of Ramadan, the brothers and sisters geared up for Eid preparation. according to Br. Fauzi Labidi, there were 8 brothers who helped set up the infrastructure for such a smooth Eid. Two brothers transported the tables, boxes, microphones, and speakers. Buying and bringing donuts, coffee, and tea also required 2 brothers. Setting up the line guides, the speakers, and microphones was done by one brother. It took 7 brothers to set up the tables outside, clean up the place after we left, and return everything to its original place.

Br. Fauzi estimates that a total of 50 hours went into preparing for Eid prayer. This number of hours was spent planning, laying out, and dismantling Eid prayer.
The organizers of Eid prayer also hired 2 policemen for traffic and security purposes.

According to Sr. Aalia [last name??], there were 10 sisters involved in the preparation for Eid. Two purchased balloons, rented the helium containers, and sold the balloons outside the Eid prayer hall. All 10 took part in organizing, acting, and singing during the Eid party at Haggerty Hall. It also took 3 sisters to buy the gifts for the large number of children that attended the party. Approximately the same number of hours spent by the brothers preparing for Eid was spent by the sisters preparing for the Children's Eid Party.

A simple mathematical calculation would tell us that on the average a brother or sister worked between 6 and 7 hours for us to have that smooth of an Eid. They all did that in addition to running a life with all its responsibilities of taking care of their families, working or studying. If you think this number of hours is too much for a single brother or sister, you can help. Volunteer to take a portion of thouse hours by contacting Sr. Aalia or Br. Fauzi before the next Eid.

One important task that was left out of the above jobs for Eid is the advice. This task is an obligation on all the Muslim community towards the brothers and sisters responsible for Eid prayers. What is your impression about the Eid prayer? Go to the brothers and sisters and congratulate them on the good things you saw or felt!
More important, go to the brothers and sisters and tell them about what you think went wrong. Do you have a better solution? Volunteer it. You will feel good if you get to implement it next Eid!

Feb 1995 Dear Editor

A suggestion for Iftar

Asalaam alaikum,
With Ramadan rabidly approaching, I would like to make a few comments about breaking our fasts at the masjid. We should try to make it a positive experience shared by everyone in the community. An effort to alleviate some of the problems of having a large gathering of women in such a small area would be to set up tables. Having tables in the women's meeting room and the food in the smaller room would accommodate more sisters, increase mobility and thereby eliminate some of the spills on the carpet from sisters and children stepping over plates and each other.

Also, in the past I have seen sisters put too much food on plates for themselves or their children. They take a large portion of one certain food item specifically. the child ends up taking a bite or two and is off to play with friends. The food is wasted and a chance for sisters to taste a new food is lost. A better solution would be to feed small children before coming for iftar, and then let them sample small amounts.

Ramadan is a time for acts of kindness to others, so remember there are also fasting sisters in line behind you.

Thank you, Um-Sufyan

Interfaith Dialogue

by way of introduction, I am a professional who had the honor and privilege of visiting and working in various countries in the Arab World. I was particularly elated to have visited Lebanon in 1981, the country of my grandparents and my nationality.

Although raised in the Roman rite of the Catholic Church, I did attend the Maronite rite while in Washington, D.C. and have attended the services of the Melkite Church, the Byzantine Orthodox Church, and the Greek Orthodox Church.

When opposing the 1982 invasion of Lebanon through political channels while living in Washington, D.C., I was compelled to relay to Capitol Hill and others who had some influence on international events certain facts and principles regarding Islam that I learned through my friends and colleagues in Washington, D.C. and in my travels.

First, almost one-third of the population of this earth professes Islam as their religion. This fact would urge a normal person of intelligence to inquire on what are the tenents of Islam and to question whetehr he or she is following the same or similar religious principles or otherwise should convert. Second, the common tenents between Islam and Christianity, generally not known, would, when made known, provide a means of identification between the two peoples. For example, it is written in the Catholic Apostolic Creed, cited at Mass, and which I learned Moslems believe as well, is that Jesus Christ was born of the Blessed Virgin as had been announced to her by the Angel Gabriel. To say to a Christian that the Moslems believe in Jesus Christ is not only a profession of faith common to both religions, but also an identification with each other.

While it was explained to me that in Islam, it is not believed that Jesus Christ was the "Son of God" for how can the One God have a "son" or there be "two" Gods, perhaps there is a problem with semantics.

By all means, I hope that those who follow Islam in this hemisphere will reach out to the Catholic and to all of the Christian communities, and emphasize the common religious beliefs particularly in light of the pervasive ignorance on and mischaracterization of Islam and what Moslems do believe. Some people, despite education in the sciences or arts, do not know what Islam is or what Moslems believe. Some of the people who do influence politics believe that Moslems are some political faction or party from a country which they cannot find on the map.

If I may suggest with all due respect to send your leaders to the Christian Churches for interfaith conferences on the similarities between Christianity and Islam. In many ways, the similarities and identification may hopefully prevent or stop wars and the proliferation of destructive weapons.

Perhaps one of you could encompass some or all of these thoughts and suggestions in an article for IQRA! and advance the request and necessity for interfaith conferences on a local, national, and international level.

Sincerely, Marcell Rose Anthony (Sarkis)

Editorial response:

Dear Marcell,
Thank you for your thoughtful letter and your suggestions for more interfaith dialogue. Actually, we believe numerous meetings on interfaith understanding are ongoing, particularly with the Catholic church. The new Catholic catechism, for instance, has recognized officially that Muslims "are included in God's plan of salvation" (Columbus Dispatch, 5/28/94). It is unfortunate that religion in general is so under-reported by the media and information about such meetings is not wide spread.

Eid Prayer

Assalaam alaikum. As fasting comes to an end, we surely are thinking of Eid-ul-Fitr prayer, the gifts to share with our children, persons to invite at home, etc. However, I would like to call three problems that have been occurring during the prayer year after year:

1. The ladies at the back of the prayer hall could hardly hear the speaker.
2. To accentuate problem, babies cry and little children enjoy themselves by making noise and running around. Mothers and/or ladies do not control their offspring effectively.
3. To make matters worse, the mothers/ladies start socializing among themselves.

These problems seriously affect others who come to attend the Eid prayer and want to consentrate listening to the kutba. I would like to suggest ways to correct the problems:

1. Install adequate loudspeaker system at the back of the hall.
2. Prepare an adjacent room with a loud speaker system where mothers could participate in Eid prayer while taking care of their babies/children.
3. Socializing could be eliminated by adopting items 1 and 2.
4. In addition, an announcement should be made requesting that socializing should be conducted only after the Eid prayer has ended.
5. Another suggestion, volunteers with obvious ID tags should coordinate efforts to establish harmony during this great day.

It is about time for all of us to figure out how to effectively deal with the situation.

Sincerely, Jeannette R. Mohammed

Feb 1995 Fasting in Columbus

[For its first issue during Ramadan as the ISGC newsletter, IQRA! staff created a two part edition with multiple spiritual articles and background information about fasting. Only one article in all of this might be considered an article about the community, and most of it is a long highly technical discussion about moon sighting. I'm omitting that technical detail, which people can access from other sources like www.moonsighting.com, and including only the short discussion of the local community issues with moon sighting. An announcements in these pages give the hotline telephone number people were urge to call to find out about when the month started and ended. There were also 3 letters to the editor this month.]

Sighting the Community

Why is there more than one day for the start of Ramadan in the same city? I called HOME and the month of .... has already started!!! Should I fast with them or should I fast with the local community? Why can't we just follow astronomical calculations to start the month?

These are probably some of the most common questions that we hear every year with the start of Ramadan. This occurs in the U.S. because there is no single Islamic authority, its area covers various time zones, and there are so many nationalistic entities that remain attached to their homes rather than to the local community. The issue could easily be a DIVIDING FACTOR for Muslims to the extent that in one apartment in Chicago three roommates fasted on different days. This year, Columbus performed better than last year in preparation for the moon sighing event. These efforts were characterized by organization, responsibility, and openness. The fruits of that effort were clearly apparent in the smoothness with which the decision was transmitted to the community, the speed with which the decision was taken after a brother witnessed the crescent, the voicemail which never gave a busy signal, and the media coverage in IV (Channel 10), radio (NPR Weekly Edition) and press (the Columbus Dispatch). However, some people still fasted with other overseas countries, and not with the local community.

To clarify this issue, IQRA! contacted Dr. Mohib Durrani, an Islamic scholar of Columbia University, who has been researching the issue for years and currently works with ISNA for the moon sighting committee. He demonstrates how the astronomical method (Al-hesab Al-falaky) can be reconciled with the fiqh rul, (somo le-rou'yateh, was afteroo le-rou'yeth) and support it instead of contradict it. [this introduction is followed by a very detailed long discussion of the issues.]

Community Eid Dinner with the Islamic Center

at Whitehall Community Center off Hamilton Rd. in Whitehall Park, Saturday, March 4th.
Magrib prayer with be at 6:30 followed by a potluck dinner. A children's program is planned with the traditional clown entertainment, goody bags, and pizza for all.

MSA Children' Eid Party

Sunday March 5th at 12:00 noon. Songs and theater skits presented by the Arab sisters' halaqah for women and chldren. The Hall must be left clean and vacted by 2:00 so please come promptly at noon to avoid missing any of the snow.

Dec 1994 Highlights of the International Festival

by Soumaiya Bousfiha

I would like to thank the Islamic Center [ed. on E. Broad St., IFCO] very much for their participation in representing Islam at the International Festival, November 5th and 6th, which was held at Veteran's Memorial Hall in downtown Columbus. I thank all the brothers and sisters who worked so very hard at planning, setting up the booths, and giving their time for this most important function.

The festival makes one feel like the world comes together in peace and respect, having fun and enjoyment at the same time. It is educational in the sense of providing opportunity for people to learn about other countries, nationalities, cultures, and religions.

I want to especially thank the Islamic Center for giving me the chance to take part and work with them in passing on the Islamic information to non Muslims. It was wonderful to meet brothers and sisters from the Islamic Center, hopefully strengthening our friendship and the relationship between the two masjids. Please allow me to help next year.

A big thanks goes to Hamida Ismael for all her hard work in taking care of the planning, setting-up, and scheduling. You are a joy to work with. Hamida and her husband have gone to and/or worked at the festival since the late 70's. I talked with her about the festival. "We don't go to make money. Our main purpose is to present Islam to non-Muslims and show what Islam is all about. a lot of people have been exposed to Islam through the festival. Also, it is fun working with other ladies. Of course the food and people from other countries are fun and interesting." she said.

I also talked with Shahida Khan and Selwa Abdullah who have both worked in the Festival for 25 years. Selwa said, "We must be at the festival every year to represent Islam as there are many churches represented there. It is good exposure for Islam."

Nabiha Hawramey, who also worked there with me, said, "The international Festival is a wonderful idea and I enjoy it. I like meeting different people from different religions and nationalities."

Alhamdulillah! I found several booths run by Muslims at the Festival. I would be looking at some interesting piece of jewelry or art object and the next thing I knew, the people working there would approach me and say "Asalaam alaikum" and I would find out they were Muslims. This gave me great joy.

I had the honor of meeting new as well as familiar people, and also some new sisters from Bosnia. Mashallah! I feel the world is our neighbor.

"Serve Allah and join not any partners with Him and do good, to parents, kinsfolk, orphans, those in need, neighbors who are of kin, neighbors who are strangers, the companion by your side, the way-farer (you meet). .." (4:36)

Ubn Umar and Aisha related that the Holy Prophet said: Gabriel kept exhorting me about the neighbor until I imagined he would include him in the category of heirs. (Bukhari & Muslim)

Abdullah ibn Umar relates that the Holy Prophet said: The best companion in the sight of Allah is he who behaves best towards his companions, and the best neighbor is he who behaves best towards his neighbors. (Tirmidhi)

Each of us has an obligation to reach out to our neighbors and introduce them to Islam in word, deed, and actions. May Allah bless all who helped make the Festival a success.

Dec. 1994 Slander!! The Muslim Response

By Norma Tarazi

"It was team work. When we work together, with selfless interest, it pays off, declared Br. Souhail Khan. The greatest united effort of the entire Muslim community of Central Ohio took place with a phoning and writing campaign to WOSU's channel 34. This was done to protest the airing of "Jihad in America", a propaganda film designed to encourage distrust of all Muslims, disguised as a documentary.

As early as 2 months ago, information about this film started circulating around the country and the Internet started buzzing warning signals, but the leaders of our community understood that national Islamic organizations like CAIR, [the Council on American Islamic Relations], ISNA [Islamic Society of North America] and ICNA [Islamic Circle of North America] were handling the problem with the national headquarters of Public Broadcasting system. PBS, however, refused to recognize Muslim interest in the film, and insisted on relying solely on its own internal board of review which, in turn, refused to recognize the implicit slander of the 'documentary'.

When all efforts to discuss the issue were rudely thrown out, the national organizations sent the message out on Internet to local Muslim communities all over the United States, warning them of something bad coming down the pike. Still, responsible people want to protest responsibly. The community had a general idea of what the slander was, because of the reputation of the producer and those around him.

Some two years ago, a documentary about the Intifada was aired on PBS, but, because of protest, a panel was allowed to discuss the film before and after its airing, and money was allocated to produce this second 'documentary' ,"Jihad in America" which had to be aired to compensate for allowing the Palestinian documentary on the air. But, until about a week before public airing, nobody had actually seen the response film. Then PBS allowed a group of journalists to see the film, and, Alhamdulillah, one journalist happened to be a Muslim. He took notes of the film and passed a summary of it onto the Internet. Muslims responded all over the country. In many cities, like Detroit and Dayton pressure caused the local PBS station to cancel airing the show. In other cities, Muslims were offered the right to have a panel discussion after the show.

Here in Columbus, responsible Muslims were a bit slow to respond. We waited to have the Internet summary before spreading the news. However, the news spread. The problem was brought up at Isha prayers. It was the central focus of the Friday prayer khutbah. Networking occurred spontaneously. Each brother or sister who heard, passed the word to others. The telephone number and even the fax number of the local program director, Mr. Willis Parker became known to all interested Muslims overnight.

Channel 34 was swamped with hundreds of phone calls and over 80 faxed letters of complaint. People voiced their concern about negative stereotyping of Muslims as terrorists in the media at large and asked the station to cancel the program or delay it until we could prepare a good response. Brothers and sisters included their personal stories of the frequent harassment that comes with living in this country and being Muslim. WOSU people were impressed but relied on the parent organization, PBS, and its internal advice that the film was not biased.

Brother Brian Clouse, of the MSA Public Relations Committee, prepared the formal letter of complaint from the whole Muslim community to the president of OSU; as the overall sponsor of WOSU. Brother Souhail Kan, of IFCO, on top of his efforts to inform Muslims, notified a variety of influential organizations outside of the Muslim community and urged them to respond. At the end of Friday, Mr. Parker told people to watch the film on Monday night, and see what it was, and then an appropriate response could be considered. Saturday and Sunday the phone calls and faxes continued. Monday morning at 9 a.m. Mr. Parker phoned the leaders of the community and asked them to assemble a panel of 4 to 5 people to discuss the film after its presentation.

This was really last minute. We had a few hours to find a panel of prepared people able to come at last minute notice, from our community which has not had great media experience. Those panelists had to view the film, and put together a response on the fly, to be aired immediately after the show, (at 11 pm when most of the people watching the show would have gone to bed.)

Lists of potential panelists were made and an emergency meeting of the Columbus Muslim Council was called that afternoon to organize the response. (The Columbus Muslim Council is a coordination group of representatives of IFCO, Masjid AI-IsJam, lSGC, and the MSA.) At this meeting it was decided to have Brother Tariq Jalil represent the MSA and Brother Brian Clouse represent both ISGC and IFCO. Brother Emil Bashir of Masjid AL-Islam was unfortunately unable to participate due to time constraints. Brother Khaled Farag (the MSA President) particularly voiced his regret to Brother Bashir's absence.

One problem seemed still unsolvable even during the last hours before the show. The Islamic community leaders had little background data about the film. Proper defense required full knowledge of the truth about what the attacks were. Brother Hani Sakr phoned ISNA in Indianapolis and got them to send us Brother Shakir El Sayed. Brother Shakir EI Sayed is the Director of Islamic Education for ISNA, and has spoken in public here in Columbus, and all over the United States. He also happened to have ISNA's background research about the film and had been helping CAIR in their efforts to negotiate with PBS on the national level. A friend in need, he came immediately upon request.

Five brothers went to WOSU studio and viewed the film an hour before it was aired to the public. They just had that hour, while the public viewed the film, to prepare their presentation with moderator, Mr. John Brodie, who was described by the panelists and the Muslim viewers as sympathetic and helpful.

A copy of the film and the discussion afterward is available at the mosque for those who missed it. A number of criticisms were leveled at the film by our panel, the first being the misuse of the word jihad, which has never meant "holy war" to Muslims. Jihad in Islam means struggle for the cause of God, toward self improvement, toward harmony n the family, toward protecting the rights of the poor and the oppressed anywhere in the community or in the world.

Among the criticisms was also that the film compared the righteous struggle in Afghanistan and Bosnia to the bombing by strange radicals of the New York City World trade Center. [At this time the people of Afghanistan were fighting the Soviet Army and the Bosnians were fighting for survival against the Serbs and Croats. ed.] The film also slandered numerous Muslim charities, insisting, without proof, that money donated for hospitals and refugee camps was being spent on arms.

The film also took clips of demonstrations in Iran years ago, and said these demonstrations happened in the U.S. recently. It used interviews of former FBI and State Department people, with the false implication that these people were spokesmen for their former employers. In fact, their testimony was their own personal opinion, nothing more.

The film also took short film clips of Arabic speeches and used sinister 'translator' voices, as it labeled one after the other as a 'known terrorist'. Innuendo and slander were rampant in the film, and the conjectures as to the motives of every Muslim shown were continually negative, without any proof.
What apparently blinded the PBS internal advisory board was a disclaimer at the beginning and end of the film that only fringe groups were being attacked. However, the overall effect of the film was to render the disclaimers empty. Many brothers and sisters who viewed the discussion have expressed their pride in our representatives on the panel and their strong response.

Inshallah, we have made our point with PBS. As we responded in community, so did all the brothers and sisters who made the effort to express themselves, to phone or write in. The leaders of our community worked hard to get positive results from this case. Inshallah, when we speak in the future, we will be better respected. We made valid points and were generally well received by Mr. Parker and the staff of OSU, especially Mr. John Brodie.

For the future, Brother Souhail Khan is planning a discussion on media relations December 4th, entitled Analysis and Discussion of, and Lessons from the Documentary: Jihad in America, at the Islamic Center.

Suggestions of known videos that PBS might air about Islam have been presented and need to be considered. It is possible that PBS might authorize a grant to a Muslim film producer to make a new documentary material about the silent majority of normal Muslims.

Brother Brian Clouse and Sister Hiba Nasser of the Public Relations Committee are interested in hearing from anyone who wants to help on media relations and follow-up of this event. For the time being, they have sent thank you letters for all the people at WOSU who were cooperative with us on this issue.
Generally Muslims here in Columbus can benefit from such an incident by trying harder to learn about Islam and spread the true image about our great religion. We should be more and more involved with the activities our Islamic organizations are organizing throughout the year.

June 1994 Teachers' Appreciation Day At The Islamic Center

In an effort to recognize the dedication of our teachers, Sunday, April 24th was the annual Teachers' Appreciation Day at The Islamic Weekend School of the Islamic Center. The parents and children expressed their appreciation and thanked the teachers by giving them thank-you notes,kind words, etc. Teachers also received an appreciation certificate from the Islamic Weekend School.

Teachers, who are volunteers, play a very important role in building an Islamic personality in our children. They come to the Islamic Center every Sunday, spending their valuable time, to serve Allah SWT and to help our children learn Quran and Islam. The Teachers' Appreciation Day strengthens the bond between the parents and the teachers and enhances the learning process of the children, putting Islamic education in the right perspective.

IFCO ISLAMIC WEEKEND SCHOOL GRADUATION
SUNDAY, JUNE 12, 1994 - 11:00AM
St. STEPHEN COMMUNITY HOUSE, 1500 E. 17TH AVENUE
A CEREMONY FOR THE CHILDREN BY THE CHILDREN
Everyone is welcome to attend.
For further information, please call Br. Sohail Khan at ###-####.