A Message from Brother Ashfaq Taufique

“Political Activism for Muslims is no longer an option; it is an obligation.”

We, Muslims, must get out of our cocoons and embrace the fact that we are Americans and as such have a grave civic responsibility to shape our government to deal with the internals of our country and more importantly our role as the leader of the world.

Let us accept the fact that currently, we as a group are a political liability. Changing this will require a grassroot efforts to “Get Out and Vote” campaign. Call me a dreamer, I believe that the day is not too far when major broadcast and cable media will recognize us Muslims as a statistical body. How we voted and were indeed the tipping factor in any of the elections will be the medium of the political pundits discussions. It is only then, that we will have voices to shape our domestic and foreign policies.

Inshaa Allah, Americans will be going to poll on November 6 and we need to be showing up in droves to make our voices heard. We need to make sure that we know the precinct we are voting in and what to expect. It would be best to get a sample ballot before, and understand the manifesto of each candidate before voting.

Anyone who turns 18 on or before November 6 is eligible to vote

Election Date: November 6, 2018

Voter Registration Deadline: October 22, 2018


Here is the link to Register Online:

https://www.alabamainteractive.org/sos/voter_registration/voterRegistrationWelcome.action


Download the PDF form here :

https://sos.alabama.gov/sites/default/files/voter-pdfs/nvra-2.pdf

BIS Fall Festival and APPNA Health Fair 2018

Birmingham Islamic Society, in keeping up with its vision of "improving quality of life for all," hosted the Association of Physicians of Pakistani Descent of North America's (APPNA) National Health Care Day 2018. Here doctors and other volunteers served the community at large with primary medical care, flu shots, cholesterol checks and other services.

Lifesouth blood mobile was invited and members of the Muslim community responded by donating blood to help the community at large.

Families while taking advantage of the health screening and donating blood, enjoyed the Mediterranean and Pakistani food for sale and the children enjoyed the free rides.

A Tool to Help You Decide Who to Vote For

If torture is important to you and you want to know how your congressional representatives have voted regarding torture in the past, you can view the CONGRESSIONAL VOTE SCORECARD. http://www.nrcatactionfund.org/election-resources/congressional-vote-scorecards.

 Here is a message from the National Religious Campaign Against Torture Action Fund.

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Dear Friends,

There are less than 20 days left until America picks a new Congress. I don't have to tell you how important this election is, but I do need your help in making torture important to candidates in this election. The NRCAT Action Fund has created three resources that you can use to tell your congressional candidates that you oppose torture.


1) Print off one of our signs and post it in your house or car window. The bigger the better!


2) Check out our Congressional Vote Scorecards - then write a letter to the editor praising or criticizing your incumbents for their records on torture.


3) Attend a town hall, rally, or other campaign event and use our bird-dogging tips to question a candidate about their views on torture.


Please act today to tell candidates that you want them to oppose torture!.


Sincerely,

Rev. Ron Stief
Executive Director
National Religious Campaign Against Torture Action Fund











The National Religious Campaign Against Torture Action Fund engages in public policy advocacy and electoral campaign work. It is a partner organization of the National Religious Campaign Against Torture.


The NRCAT Action Fund is a 501(c)(4) organization, and any donations you make to this organization are not tax deductible. However, your financial support will make a big difference as we work together to end torture.

If you no longer wish to receive emails from us, please click here to unsubscribe from this mailing list.

Questions? Please email campaign@nrcatactionfund.org

UPDATE: Clothes Collected Reach Bangladesh

As many of you hopefully remember, in January this year, the Birmingham Interfaith Human Rights Committee, arranged a clothing drive organized by Helping Hands for Relief and Development (HHRD).

We received word from HHRD that the clothes have reached Bangladesh. However, we are still waiting for photographs of the delivery event as it took place in Bangladesh.

We want to thank all the donors and volunteers who took part in donating, collecting, sorting, packing and even purchasing some of the clothes from local thrift stores. We want also to thank profusely, the members of Justice Committee of the Unitarian Universalist church who also participated wholeheartedly in this very noble effort.

To see pictures and read the article regarding the collection of the clothes you can read the BISmillah Vision Article here: http://bismillahvision.blogspot.com/2018/01/interfaith-clothing-and-essential-item.html

Refugee Crisis Event at UAB by Farook Chandiwala

I attended an event arranged by UAB Institute of Human Rights at Hill Center on Monday, October 1. The audience was approximately 75 to 100 attendees, and the program consisted of a fantastic film, Non Assistance, on the refugee crisis engulfing Europe.

The film showed how a few individuals put up some of their own personal money and bought a yacht to save refugees fleeing from Africa and the Middle East in dingy boats. The film claws at one's emotions and conscience; I was in tears. There were people of French, German and even Greek nationalities who were shown involved in this very noble project. Doctors without Borders were also shown in the film.

Unfortunately Dr. Tina Reuter-Kemper told the audience at the end of the film that the European Union had seized the boat, and it cannot continue its work any more. I have a copy of the film and I will look into possibility of showing it at BIS and maybe at IAA, hopefully in the near future, in sha Allah.

There were many good questions from the audience, which consisted of students and general community members, including some Muslim sisters, and answers from the director of the institute, Dr. Tina Reuter-Kemper, originally from Switzerland, who is now teaching courses on human rights at UAB. BIS Human Rights Committee is partnering with her committee and Unitarian Universalist Church Social Justice Committee to do programs on human rights issues.

To read UAB’s article on the event: https://cas.uab.edu/humanrights/2018/10/08/assisting-the-non-assisted/

Saving Yourselves and Your Families from Hellfire by Youth Director Rashid Almuntharee

“O you who believe! Save yourselves and your families from a fire (Hell), whose fuel is men and stones, over which are appointed angels who are stern and severe, and do not disobey, they only do that which they are commanded.” [Tahreem:6]

The meaning of “O you who believe”: Abdullah Ibn Mas’ood used to say, “Whenever you read or hear in the Quran “O you who believe” listen closely, because Allah is ordering you with that which is good for you or He is ordering you to stay away from a prohibition.”

As it relates to “Save yourselves and your families from a fire (Hell). This can only be fulfilled through the correct understanding and implementation of the Shahaadah. Knowing the Tawheed and that which negates it. Knowing the Sunnah of our Messenger and that which opposes it.

It is well known that children are the most important part of the family, so it’s upon the parents to protect them. This protection comes from the Divine Guidance sent down by Allah (swt) so they come to their Creator and fulfill His rights and the rights of their parents. We “Save them from the Fire by teaching, guiding, directing and also by keeping them away from any type of harm that will hinder their growth.

Story Time at HCIC is Back by Kirin Nabi

After taking a brief break after Ramadan, Story Time is back. Held on a week night and aimed at children aged two to six, Story Time is a great way to gather at the masjid to listen to stories with Islamic messages, meet with friends, and enjoy praying together in jammat.

September’s theme was Love and stories about our love of Allah, Allah’s love of us, familial love and silly object love were included. We read: Zaydo Potato: Allah Loves Me, Mikaeel and Malaika The Quest for Love, There is Greatness in Me, I Promise, Little Brother for Sale, and Allana’s Bananas. We also did a felt board story and a craft about things we love.

Story Time themes are announced before-hand, and include an activity. Usually the duration is about 45 minutes either starting or ending with Salat-ul Maghrib. Parents need to accompany their children, but registration is not required. 

So, please keep an eye out for the flyers, Facebook event notifications, and BIS emails to know when the next one is, and please come. Feel free to bring a friend too, everyone is welcome.