Holy Qur'an Sura 48: 4- 5 

    THE LIFE OF ALI (Zain al-Abideen) IBN Al-HUSAIN(A)
    by the late Dr. Syed Haider Hussain Shamsi.

      Imam Ali Zain al-Abideen was only two years of age when his grandfather, Imam Ali (the First Imam) was killed during prayers in the month of Ramadhan in the main mosque of Najaf (near Kufa).  He was a youth of fourteen years when he saw the life and the painful death of his uncle Imam Hasan (the Second Imam).  He was about twenty-three years of age when he accompanied his father, Imam Husain (the Third Imam) and witnessed the events of the tragedy of Karbala.  Before he finally left his camp, Imam Husain came to the bedside of his sick son Ali, and bestowed the onerous duty of Imamate on him.

    THE SECOND UMAA CONVENTION 2004

     The Universal Muslim Association of America (UMAA) is holding SECOND Convention of the Shia Muslims living in the United States and Canada on May 28-30, 2004 at Wardman Park Marriott Hotel, 2660 Woodley Road, NW, Washington, DC, 20008. Please mark your calendar for this great event.  

     Register NOW( at UMAA website www.umaamerica.org ) to become part of this important moment in history. 

    The Book that Shaped the World  -  By M. Abdul Bari 

      This is the Book whereof there is no doubt, a guidance for those who ward off (al-Qur'an 2:2)
      Has anybody ever come across a book that contains a preface where its author mentions about its infallibility from any error? Has anyone ever heard of any author who talks with so confidence and such authority? This is the Qur'an, revealed to one human being named Muhammad (peace and blessing be upon him), and its Author is Allah, the Lord and Sustainer of the universe.

    Way to The Quran  by Khurram Murad
    'Be thankful to Me, and to your parents' (Luqman 31:14)  Thanks to MY MOTHER !

     At her knees I learnt to read the Qur'an, upon her insistence that I must learn Arabic I was sent to the school maulavi saheb who gave me the rudimentary knowledge upon which I could build later; seeing her devotion to the Qur'an, reading it with understanding, for hours and hours, kindled a spark in my heart which has continued to illumine my way; and, finally, through her example and silent but solid support I found my way to a life of struggle in the way of Allah.

      'My Lord! Bestow Thy mercy upon my parents, as they raised me up when I was little'  (al-Isra' 17: 24)

    Reviving the Classical Wisdom of Islam in the Cherokee Tradition
    by Dr. Robert Crane

We've Come a Long Way!

      On September 21, 2004, the Museum of the American Indian is to open on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., after a highly successful fund-raising drive, largely among Native American tribal leaders.  This culminates a history of false starts and false pretenses.

      As the founding Executive Vice President of the American Indian National Bank in 1974, and subsequently as President of its consulting arm, The Native American Economic Development Corporation, I participated in one of these early efforts to create a national museum for Native Americans.  Unfortunately, this initiative was for them and not by them and for a hostile agenda. 

                                        

    INTERFAITH DIALOGUE – THE NEED OF OUR TIME  By Shahid Athar MD 

     I have been involved with interfaith for the last 20 years and have worked with many interfaith organizations nationally . I sincerely believe interfaith is the need of the time.  Interfaith is not giving up one’s faith or compromising with his belief but a process of self education about others through interaction and exchange of views.  It is a coming together on a common ground as a fellow human being.  It is a window of showing one’s faith to others.

    10 TIPS: How to be a Successful and Happy Wife   By: Muhammad Al Shareef

      If you don't understand any of these, I invite you to a meaningful, enlightening dialogue to dispel any doubts.  Please do e-mail me.  Please do not carry around with you wrong impressions.  Wrong impressions can be and have been fatal. 

     1. All women are blessed with charm and attractiveness and beauty; use these God given gifts-your beauty and grace -- to win and allure your husband's heart.

     Use the beauty Allah  has bestowed you with to win the heart of your husband.

  

    ISLAM AND DEMOCRACY?   WHAT A STRANGE QUESTION!
    By Dr. Mohamed Elmasry

    Is there a relationship between Islam and democracy?

    If you ask me, this is a very strange question, yet one that has been debated long and vigorously by Muslim and non-Muslim intellectuals, activists and politicians.

    Why is it so strange? -- because it has not been posed today in the context of any other mainstream religion. And it gets even stranger; for if democracy is proven to be politically and socially better for the common good than other systems of governance, then like any other religion Islam not only accepts, but encourages, its practice and sustenance.

 

     How Allah Brought Me To Islam   By Talib Abdul Ahad 

     I was born of parents whose religion was Christianity and their denomination was Southern Baptist. My parents began going to church very shortly after I was born. From the time I was a small child I was taught stories from the Bible, of the various Prophets (peace be upon them all). I grew up believing that Jesus (alayis salaam) was not only the son of God but also God himself. I attended Sunday school, 12 o'clock Worship (or big church as we called it) and Wednesday church regularly.

    Towards understanding Islam   By Nasir Shamsi

Islam is simple
     Islam is a way of life. It is neither a state nor statecraft. Islam is simple-- very simple. People came to Madina to accept Islam. They stayed in the city of the Prophet for half a day or a full day, perhaps for a night at best. During this short stay, they learnt to say the Kalimah (there is no god except, Allah and Muhammad is His Prophet). The Prophet told them: he was Allah's Prophet like there were Prophets before him. He had come with a Book, called Quran, just as some Prophets before him had come with Scriptures. He asked them to do good, avoid the bad, pray to God and God alone, fast, give charity, be good to your parents, wives and children; there will be reward for good deeds and punishment for the bad deeds, on the Day of Judgment.

    Reality   By Okasha Naqvi, 14, New Jersey

                  you said that I should run
                I ended up walking instead
                  wiping away my sorrow
                only left me with its dread.

                    you said it's not too far
                   but it took me all my life
                 the first cut is the deepest,
                  as if from a kitchen knife.

    April RUMI PAGE

         Your friends are really your enemies
                            by Rumi

        Your friends are really your enemies
        as much as they keep you occupied with them
        and take you away from the Presence.
        There is an animal called a porcupine
        which is made strong and big by the blows of the stick.