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21 Jumada Al-Akhirah 1446 AH - December 22 2024 Issue # 25, Newsletter #2063



Scroll down for report on "Alleged United Healthcare CEO's Shooter" by Sr. Aisha ; "Da'wah from the Sky" by Sr. Yasmin ; "Syria Looks for Freedom and Stability" By Dr. Mahboob Khawaja ; an action alert for Imam Jamil Al-Amin and a letter from a reader on the Middle East situation


Qur'an and Hadith Studies with Dr. Kaukab Siddique

Key Message of Islam:
Do not Worship Idols; There is Only One God

By Dr. Kaukab Siddique

The Prophet Muhammad (SAW) was alone when he started thinking that the world is not a good place for people who are honest and decent, and who want to uplift the oppressed. He would go away for days at a time to the Cave of Hira. His wife Khadija (RA) would make food for him. After a few days of being alone in Hira, he suddenly saw the Angel on the horizon. And he was very worried that it might be an evil spirit The Angel told him to read. And he said to the Angel, "I cannot read." And three times the Angel said "Read!" And then it disappeared. He came back to Khadija (RA) and told her what had happened

I'm worried this might be an evil spirit, he said. She told him it could not be an evil spirit because he had not done evil to anyone. He had been honest and peaceful and caring for those who were needy, so why would an evil spirit come to him, she said.

She took him to a sage who knew about the religions of old. He told the sage of his encounter with the spirit. The sage said from this cannot be an evil spirit. And I am almost certain you are the person these people have been waiting for, to show them the Straight Path. Not only will they listen to you, but after a while those in power will kick you out of this society, because they will be threatened by you.

The Prophet (SAW) was very upset. Why they would kick him out, he said. He had not wronged anyone.

He was assured by the sage that he was on the Right Path.

So Muhammad (SAW) called the various tribes around Mecca.

"I have something important to tell you," he said. "If I say to you that on the other side of this mountain, there is an army waiting to attack you, will you believe it?"

They said "Yes, you do not tell lies."

Then he said "I have been visited by an angel who said you should not worship idols. And that there is only one God. And all your gods are false."

At this the people listening to him were very upset. They said, "You are attacking our gods, which we will not accept." And they left. Only a handful of people listened to him. Among them was Ali ibn Abi Talib (RA) and Abu Bakr (RA).

So they went to one of their friends who had a place where they could worship together. They went to the home of one of their companions, and used to talk about the one God and that they should worship only one God. They kept meeting in this sahabi's house until one of his female relatives listened to him and accepted Islam.

The Prophet (SAW) started teaching her to recite the Qur'an correctly. She tried to do as he said, but Omar (RA) approached. He followed them, expressing anger with the woman. Omar said to her "What were you reciting, tell me?"

The woman was worried he would become very angry if she told him.

He hit her, saying "I want to know what you were reciting." She started crying. In the midst of her tears, she said "Do what you want, but we will follow the True Path."

When Omar saw that she was crying, he calmed down. "I want to know what you were reciting," he said again.

She repeated the verses of the Qur'an, which she'd been reciting.

Omar (RA) completely melted after listening to the verses. He forgot that he had a sword in his hand, and that he had come to kill the Prophet (SAW).

Omar (RA) came to know where the sahaba were meeting. With his sword in hand, he came upon them. And Hamza, the Prophet's (SAW) uncle, saw him and the sword. All the sahaba were very concerned what he would do. But the Prophet said "If he comes in peace, we will listen to him."

Omar said, "I had come to kill the Prophet, but now, after listening to this woman reciting these verses, I have realized I was wrong." All those in attendance embraced Omar.

He said to the people in the meeting: "Come with me." He emerged from the sahabi's house and announced, "I am a Muslim. And anyone who does not accept that should come and tell me." No one dared to challenge him.

After that the Prophet openly went to the Ka'aba and prayed to the one God. As he prayed at the Ka'aba day after day, he gathered more supporters.

The kuffar (the non-believers) were very upset. They isolated him and instructed the townspeople not to do business with the Prophet (SAW) and his companions. Some of the kuffar wanted to physically attack the Prophet (SAW). But they realized that if anyone tried to kill the Prophet (SAW), all of the people from his tribe would support him.

They had a meeting to discuss this dilemma. In the end, they decided killing the Prophet (SAW) should be a joint effort, involving a representative of each tribe. The theory was: If there was participation from each tribe in the killing, no tribe would object.

On the appointed night, the representatives from each tribe surrounded the Prophet's house. They would kill him when he came out of his house, they thought.

That night, Allah Almighty revealed to the Prophet (SAW) that he should go to Medina. So, on the very night when the tribes thought they would kill him, he left very quietly. He gave the impression that he had gone to Medina. (People from Medina had been visiting him, and promised him support if he came to their town.)

Instead of Medina, the Prophet (SAW) went to the Cave of Thawr in the nearby mountains, and hid there. The conspirators wanted to know where he had gone, so they could kill him.

In his last night in Mecca, surrounded by enemies, he was with Abu Bakr (RA). Before the morning came, he left with the latter's help.

The tribe's people searched all over for the Prophet (SAW), thinking he must have gone to Medina. They were going up and down the hills looking for him, but could not find him. Once, the enemies were in such close proximity to the cave, it seemed they would certainly find the Prophet (SAW) and Abu Bakr (RA).

Abu Bakr was very fearful they would find and kill the Prophet (SAW). When they were close to being discovered, the Prophet (SAW) saw that Abu Bakr (RA) was afraid for his (the Prophet's) life. The Prophet said, "Do not be afraid because Allah is with us."

So, how did the Prophet (SAW) survive in the Cave of Thawr for several days? Asma (RA), the daughter of Abu Bakr (RA), quietly came out of her house and brought him food and water.

It was very difficult for her to carry it across several miles of desert and hills. She tore her sash into two, and put the food into one of the two parts so she could easily carry it. Thus she is known as "the owner of the two sashes."

So Asma walked for several miles, including through very hilly areas, located the cave, and then delivered the food and water to the Prophet (SAW). When she returned to Mecca, the kuffar suspected she knew the Prophet's (SAW) whereabouts. They beat her badly, attempting to get the information out of her. But she refused to divulge the Prophet's location.

That night, one of Abu Bakr's (RA) allies brought a horse to the Cave of Thawr. The Prophet (SAW) and Abu Bakr (RA) started toward Medina on the horse. One of the unbelievers almost reached them, and was going to attack the Prophet (SAW). Then, something happened to the unbeliever's horse, and he started sinking into the sand. Thus, the Prophet and Abu Bakr escaped from Mecca to Medina.

Once the news reached Medina that the Prophet (SAW) and Abu Bakr (RA) had successfully escaped from Mecca and were on the way to Medina, the people of Medina celebrated. Each one of them wanted that the Prophet (SAW) should stay in their house. Finally, when the Prophet reached Medina, he said, "I will go and stay with the person at whose home this camel stops." In other words, he was very careful not to favor anyone.

Finally, the camel stopped at the home of one of his key sahaba. And the Prophet went and stayed with him. (To be continued)

Note: All quotes in this article are paraphrased, and may not be the exact words of the speakers.




World News

Palestine
Israeli Attacks on Hospitals Continue
December 22 - Fourteen people were killed in an Israeli attack on a hospital in Gaza

Yemen
December 20 - Houthis from Yemen successfully hit Tel Aviv with a missile.

Egypt
December 12 - The United States gave 5 billion to Egyptian dictator Sisi for weapons.




Juma'ah in Laurel, Maryland
By New Trend Staff

On December 20, the New Trend editor attended juma'ah at the Islamic Community Center of Laurel. Laurel is a relatively affluent northern suburb of DC. The center is notable among DC area masajid for following the sunnah of local moonsighting in determining not only the major Muslim holidays, but each Islamic month. In what is a regularly scheduled, fun, family-oriented community event, mosque-goers, including children, go out into the fields around the masjid, and attempt to sight the moon on the appropriate nights.

The masjid, which has men's and women's areas on separate floors, was very warm and welcoming to the New Trend editor. Numerous brothers saw that he was in a wheel chair and helped him out of his car, and then into the musallah. Women are on a lower floor, and watch the khutbah on a television monitor. Laudably, the women seemed very engaged, despite being physically removed from the speaker/khateeb. The current mosque structure is about 30 years old, and the editor remembered visiting it in the late-1980s. But, it will shortly relocate to a new, much larger plot of land, on which a new mosque structure will be erected from the ground up.

Today Maulana Sheikh Adil Khan was khateeb. His entire khutbah hinged on the new mosque construction. He stressed the import of giving zakat for the purposes of building the new mosque. Investing in the new mosque was planting the seed for the future generations, he said.

"We need to spend for the sake of Allah," he extolled the congregation. The Prophet (SAW) asked the people at Badr to give to the Islamic cause, he said. This writer was a bit taken aback by the comparison: Asking people to give to a fledgling, struggling, Muslim community, under threat of extermination—versus donating to a multi-million dollar mosque for a highly established community, which holds regular meetings with the town mayor.

Then, the khateeb quoted verses of the Qur'an describing the traits of the believers, that they are those who: "do good works, give charity," etc. Those people who spend in the way of Allah (i.e. by donating to the construction of a multi-million dollar mosque!) will be blessed, he emphasized.

He quoted the famous hadith of the Prophet (SAW) which says that "When a man dies, his deeds come to an end except for three things: Sadaqah Jariyah (ceaseless charity); a knowledge which is beneficial; or a virtuous descendant who prays for him (for the deceased). The Maulana's point here was that charity given for the mosque construction fell in the first category (sadaqah jariyah). But did it really?

Either way, the emphasis on contributing to a multi-million dollar structure, while Gaza's children have neither food nor water, and inner-city children in both DC and Baltimore don't have proper clothing to wear, nor school supplies—seemed a little off putting, particularly during a khutbah.

Despite the mosque's other strong points, there was no mention of sadaqah for the people of Palestine, who are literally starving. And there was no condemnation of the genocide in Palestine or Lebanon, not even a du'ah. And Allah ho alam. (Allah knows best.)




Syria Looks for Freedom and Stability:
Towards the Future of a New Syria


By Mahboob Khawaja, PhD

Syria becomes a new nation free of bloody authoritarian dictatorship lasting over 54 years. The Arab-Muslim world lacks the capacity to imagine this unthinkable change spearheaded by a people's movement to challenge the atrocities of the former sadistic leader Assad's family denying basic human rights, freedom, and justice to the masses. While socio-political changes are taking shape on the ground, Israel is set on a course of incursion and unwarranted and unjustifiable attacks and bombardment of several Syrian towns to undo the emerging peaceful developments for the people of Syria. Mohamed Al Bashir, the new Prime Minister, speaking from the pulpit of the historic Ummayd Masjid clarified his vision and quest for an inclusive and people-oriented democratic Syria. The US Biden administration is just a spectator and so are the West European allies of Israel all are simply watching and doing nothing to stop the aggressive behavior of Israeli attacks on Syria. Across the globe, voices of reason are loud and clear that on peacemaking and the issues of post-Assad Bashar - New Syria, both America and Israel have lost opportunities for a peaceful accord with the new rulers of Syria and to balance the disequilibrium in which the State of Israel currently exists. The year-long war on Gaza and the forcible expulsion of people from their homeland in the West Bank and other parts of Palestine. Without any allusion, the people of Syria deserve the rights and opportunities to reconstruct their lost freedom, security, and sustainable future. If the international community claims to be informed, law-abiding, and civilized, it should extend all possible assistance to the people of Syria for a promising future.

Discard cynicism and wickedness but be conscious that some contemporary politicians and monsters of history are often two sides of the same picture enriched with perversion and treacherous escape from the facts of the 21st century knowledge-based global affairs. At today's hurriedly arranged Aqaba Conference in Jordan to discuss the issues of New Syria, America and its regional Arab allies appear to be on different pages and in conflicting time zones. Is it meant to acquire USAID or a co-existence with Israel?

The outgoing US administration has a vested interest in keeping occupation of some eastern parts of Syria and free oil flow and its 900 stationed army personnel to continue its illegal presence in the region. It will collaborate with Israel in strategic interests and some groups of Kurds as paid fighters to disrupt the peaceful change of Syria as a united nation free of discord. (Continued)

Read the rest of Dr. Khawaja's article here:

UncommonThought.com/mtblog/archives/2024/12/16/sria-looks-for-freedom-and-stability.php

Dr. Mahboob A. Khawaja specializes in international affairs-global security, peace and conflict resolution with keen interests in Islamic-Western comparative cultures and civilizations, and is the author of several publications including the latest: One Humanity and the Remaking of Global Peace, Security and Conflict Resolution. Germany, 12/2019.




Action Alert - From the Imam Jamil Action Network (IJAN)

Help Imam Jamil to Be Free!

Step 1: Demand Imam Jamil Receive Medical Transfer & Treatment

Imam Jamil Al-Amin, 81 years old, formerly known as H. Rap Brown, had a recent growth on his face that is potentially life-threatening. This is on top of his multiple myeloma (cancer), strokes, other significant medical issues, and age.

A civil and human rights leader, wrongfully imprisoned for the past 24 years, needs your immediate help to stop his "Death By Medical Neglect"!!!

Call the Designation and Sentence Commutation Center

Call: 972-352-4400 ; press 1 for operator (ignore the menu)

Give name and inmate Number: Jamil Al-Amin, #99974-555

Demand they grant Imam Jamil an emergency medical transfer from United States Penitentiary (USP) Tucson to Federal Medical Center (FMC) Butner for his Immediate Medical Treatment!

You may also call the following to have added impact:

Tucson Complex Warden Mark Gutierrez, 520-663-5010  ,  mggutierrez@bop.gov

BOP Southeast Regional Director Shannon Phelps, 678-686-1201  ,  sphelps@bop.gov

Thomas J. Scarantino, Butner Complex Warden, tscarantino@bop.gov

Commander Christy Bunn, Butner Complex Health Service Administrator, FMC, 919-575-3900 x 6081

Director of BOP Colette Peters, cspeters@bop.gov  ,  (202) 307-3198

Step 2: Request Immediate Compassionate Release for Imam Jamil

Letter Writing Campaign to All Relevant Officials Now - January 20

Only the State Board of Pardons and Parole, and the Fulton County, GA, District Attorney's Conviction Integrity Unit have the power to release Imam Jamil because he is a state, not federal, prisoner.

The US president does not have the power to pardon a state prisoner. HOWEVER, in this current

political climate of broader demands for pardons, clemency and commutations, and where, before Jan. 20, we believe there is slim possibility, for key federal officials to send a signal to state officials to grant Compassionate Release. After Jan. 20th, this crack in the door will slam shut more tightly. Therefore, IJAN calls for an organized, concerted letter writing campaign to all relevant officials calling for compassionate release for Imam Jamil - especially because of his age, medical condition and amount of time served and all the reasons cited.

Organize Letter Writing Gatherings; Pass This Through Your Networks

(Below is language to use, along with addresses. Also, there is a form letter you may copy and send.)

Address letters to:

1) Aimee Maxwell, Director
Conviction Integrity Unit, District Attorney's Office, Fulton County Ga
136 Pryor St., SW, 3rd floor.
Atlanta, GA 30303

2) Mr. David J. Herring, Chair,
GA State Board of Pardons & Parole
2 MLK Jr. Dr., SE, #458,
Atlanta, GA 30334

To Your Office,

This is a Request for Compassionate [Immediate] Release for Imam Jamil Abdullah Al Amin, Federal Register #99974-555:

Stated guidelines by the US Sentencing Commission for Compassionate Release are Medical Condition, Age, Family Circumstances and "other" reasons. That within the interest of Justice and due to the mitigating factors of Imam Jamil Al-Amin's pending medical conditions of multiple myeloma, past strokes, Sjogren's Syndrome and an unknown deteriorating condition, his age of 81 years, the 24+ years he's been imprisoned, his exemplary prison record, his overwhelming family/community ties, and that his likelihood of a successful reintegration into society is extremely high, and his likelihood of recidivism is extremely low, I request the granting of immediate, Compassionate Release for Imam Jamil Abdullah Al-Amin.

Sincerely,

[Your name here]

For more information, contact the Imam Jamil Action Network:

ImamJamilActionNetwork.org

919.628.9146 252.907.4443 (South) 347.731.1886 (NY/NJ) 216.296.4617 (Outreach)





Letters

Where Are the Sunnis?

So Sunni in Syria could not fire a single shot at Israel , but had plenty of ammunition to attack the Shia regime.

So Sunni in Turkiye could not fire a single shot at Israel , but had plenty of ammunition to attack the Kurds.

The Israelis have entered Syria , but no resistance because Muslims are too busy to stop the Zionist genocidal baby killers.

Still waiting for Sunnis outside of Gaza to fire their first shot at the Israelis.

From Br. Rich





Alleged United Healthcare CEO's Shooter

By Sis. 'Aisha
Jamaat al-Muslimeen New York City

Luigi Mangione, who allegedly murdered United Healthcare (UHC) CEO Brian Thompson on December 4th, is said to have one of the toughest judges, Gregory Carro, presiding over his trial. Law enforcement authorities still have no motive for the killing. After rummaging through his Reddit and X (formerly Twitter) accounts, there have been reports that the 26-year-old Mangione has suffered from maladies, including inflammatory bowel disease, Lyme disease, brain fog, and spondylosis, which causes spinal degeneration over time. He had surgery to fuse his lower spine, which is said to have led to debilitating back pain.

UHC has been sued a couple of times in 2024. Earlier this year, Gene Lokken's estate sued United Healthcare for allegedly using artificial intelligence (AI) to deny his Medicare Advantage claims. Insurance policyholders pay monthly fees for medical coverage only to be denied necessary medical treatment. Other insurers face similar lawsuits. On November 12th, the Department of Justice and some Attorney Generals (NY, MD, IL, and NJ) sued UHC to block a merger believed to violate antitrust laws.

Mysterious Drones Buzzing Around in the Night Air

In mid-November, thousands of witnesses reported seeing UFOs flying around in the New Jersey night sky. Some of these UFOs had also been spotted flying over Staten Island, NY. Although these UFOs were not identified at the time, the federal government immediately dismissed any concerns, which has led to suspicion by everyone else. The UFOs were later identified as drones. However, no agency has identified the origins of these drones nor who is responsible for operating them. Despite this lack of information, government agencies, including the Department of Justice and FBI, have dismissed any concerns by claiming these drones are not harmful.

Witnesses have questioned the government's dismissal of these unidentified drones and its lack of security concerns. Current Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and three other senators sent letters to the Department of Homeland Security, The FBI, and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) requesting a briefing on the situation. Many lawmakers and citizens have questioned the government's lack of transparency over this unresolved month-long issue.

The American people have a strong distrust of the government. During the 2020 government-imposed shutdown, it is estimated that only 55% of Americans got the COVID-19 "vaccine," even after a strong advertising campaign that included celebrity endorsements and patriotic overtones.
Source: Yahoo.com





Guidance From Sis. Yasmin

A Pilot Converts to Islam While Flying 18,000 Feet Above Saudi Arabia - Da'wah from the Sky; The Sky is the Limit!

A video clip of a blonde, co-pilot accepting Islam at
18,000 feet from the cockpit of an airplane... {!}
A Brazilian pilot is making headlines in the Arab world
after he reportedly took a brief break from guiding
the plane to convert to Islam as he flew a passenger
jet above Saudi Arabia.

Captain Amalo, a Brazilian pilot for an unidentified airline, was filmed reciting the 'Shahada',
[an Islamic creed accepting the religion.]
in tandem with a colleague as they operated
the controls of an aircraft.

According to El Balad news, footage of the pilot taking the important Islamic oath was taken in the cockpit approximately 18,000 feet in the air. Video of the high-flying conversion has now been viewed more than 20,000 times and featured in a number of news outlets across the Middle East.

Mid-air 'Shahada': Brazilian pilot converts to Islam flying over Saudi Arabia at the altitude of 18,000 ft (5486,4 m)
Footage of the unusual mid-air prayer shows a colleague
of the new convert carrying out the religious ceremony
amid the hum of the plane's engines.
It's not known when the event occurred but the pilots explain
that it happened on the way to Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.
"We are here with pilot Amalo from Brazil.
he will say the text of the 'Shahada' during our flight to Taluka," a man sitting in the cockpit can be heard saying.

The captain then reels off the prayer,
which involves stating that....
"There is no God but Allah,
" I testify that Muhammad is the Prophet."
[Captain Amalo adds, completing his quirky mid-air conversion.]

2024-12-22 Sun 15:45:57 GMT/UTC/Zulu

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