ICNA Islamic Circle of North America

The mission of the annual Muslim American Society and Islamic Circle of North America Convention is to strengthen spirituality and make Muslims more comfortable about living in North America. The convention theme is "Our faith. Our community. Our society." Many Muslims say they recognize the importance of national security but feel their civil liberties are being threatened.

Read the entire article here: http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=local&id=3754930

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Press Contact: Naeem Baig
Vice President for Public Affairs
Islamic Circle of North America
E-mail:
Office: (718) 658-1199 Extension: 102
Cell: (917) 202-2118

ICNA and Doubleday press have come together to publish the translation of the Qur’an in easy to read American English. Br. Yahya Emerick is working on the translation in conjunction with various scholars who will be reviewing his work.

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Press Contact: Naeem Baig
Vice President for Public Affairs
Islamic Circle of North America
E-mail:
Office: (718) 658-1199 Extension: 102
Cell: (917) 202-2118

This magazine was created by the ICNA Sisters Wing as a resource for the entire Muslim family. It gives updates on the ICNA Sisters’ Wing as well as many other interesting articles about Islam in America and around the world.

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Press Contact: Naeem Baig
Vice President for Public Affairs
Islamic Circle of North America
E-mail:
Office: (718) 658-1199 Extension: 102
Cell: (917) 202-2118

Two years ago, ICNA Sisters’ Wing started a project to establish a chain of Institutes of Islamic Sciences for women throughout North America. At present, we have more than 200 students in 4 campuses located in:
New York, New Jersey, Houston, and Mississauga.

Courses include:
Qur’an  
Hadith and Sunnah   
Fiqh   
Islamic History   
Islamic Literature

For more information visit: http://www.icnasisterswing.com

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Press Contact: Naeem Baig
Vice President for Public Affairs
Islamic Circle of North America
E-mail:
Office: (718) 658-1199 Extension: 102
Cell: (917) 202-2118

The Islamic Circle of North America NY, a leading grassroots Muslim Organization is proud to introduce a new and exciting educational venture, The Islamic Learning Foundation, ILF, an educational Islamic institution based in New York. The main objective for ILF is enriching the lives of Muslims in general and Muslim Youth in particular by educating their minds and affecting their hearts with sound knowledge of Islamic Shariah thus deepening their awareness of Islam as a universal and eternal way of living for mankind and providing a new caliber of Muslim leaders.

       Most Muslims get their Islamic knowledge from Islamic lectures, listening to audio-video tapes, Islamic conferences and conventions and/or weekly Jumuah Khutbahs. There are very few institutions and programs that can provide quality Islamic education for Muslims and even the existing Islamic educational programs today can be very costly with very limited space. The venture of ILF is a timely effort to fill this vacuum. ILF seeks to provide serious Islamic educational experience that will take learning beyond the setting of halaqahs and/or lectures and bring Islamic knowledge into a formal classroom thus adding professionalism and excellence to our programs.

       ILF has appointed Sheikh Dr. Ahmed Nezar Kobeisy a highly qualified Islamic scholar as the Director and resident scholar. He has developed a unique curriculum providing quality higher education in Islamic sciences such as Quranic studies, Hadith studies, Fiqh, Sunnah, Arabic language, and the contemporary issues facing the Muslims today.

      The ILF team invites your serious attention to this worthy cause and asks for your moral and financial support. Allah says in the Quran in (66:6) "O you who believe; save yourself and your families from the fire…" Our beloved Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him said " No one has given his children anything better than teaching them their Deen"

( Tirmizi)

Please visit http://www.islamiclearningfoundation.com

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Press Contact: Naeem Baig
Vice President for Public Affairs
Islamic Circle of North America
E-mail:
Office: (718) 658-1199 Extension: 102
Cell: (917) 202-2118

WASHINGTON: The American Muslim Task force for Civil Rights and Elections (AMT), a coalition of 11 major Muslim organizations, has welcomed Tuesday’s verdict in the case of Florida professor Sami Al-Arian and three co-defendants who were found not guilty on a number of counts related to supporting terrorism, perjury and immigration violations.

Read  the entire article here: http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2005%5C12%5C09%5Cstory_9-12-2005_pg7_39

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Press Contact: Naeem Baig
Vice President for Public Affairs
Islamic Circle of North America
E-mail:
Office: (718) 658-1199 Extension: 102
Cell: (917) 202-2118

Bright lights and four blank white walls around you. No magazines, no radio. Silence, all the time, except your thoughts, those voices in your head. This is the world for Uzair Paracha, alone for the last 30 months. Imprisoned in the MCC Isolation unit in the middle of crowded, noisy downtown New York City, Uzair has suffered terribly from this cruelty. He has lost 60 pounds. In June, the last time I heard from him, he wrote me that though he is only 25 years old, he no longer has the strength to stand.

With his dad Saifullah Paracha still in Guantanamo, after his abduction in Pakistan almost three years ago, the overall effect on the family has been traumatic. Can we imagine the pain, the anxiety? These men, previously clothing importers, do not deserve this inhuman treatment, whatever the real or imagined allegations. It is not right to destroy their minds. It is not right to torture them and their families. What does it require for Muslims to raise their voices? And yes, we may talk, we may complain and lament, but what about effective action on behalf of our brothers and their families? It is late but not too late to organize in the name of justice; zero tolerance for terror, zero tolerance for torture and oppression.

It has been four years since the horror of 9/11. The over 750 detainees I have known during this time have not all been classified as security risks; yet all have suffered, and so have their families, wounded with terrible loss. Have we provided enough support? Only in a few cases. As you know, there have been local defense committees for Professor Al Arian, Al Timimi, Anser Mahmood, Faruk Abdul Muti, for many other imams and activists as well as for simple immigration cases. But CAIR and ISNA and ICNA Relief 9/11 programs and South Asian Network and Muslim Civil Rights Center, etc are severely under-resourced for civil liberties protection and advocacy services.

As in Hurricane Katrina, those in charge of relief are not being given the resources (monies and lawyers) to protect the community as necessary. It is not the government that is failing to support emergency responders – it is not in its interest to do so – but it is the Muslim American community that does not seem to be providing sufficient support, sad to say.

Good citizenship requires us to defend our collective rights when under attack. But even more essentially, our deen surely requires us to protect the captives and the victimized. Then why do we not do more at this time of crisis? Each week, our Muslim newspapers and television stations might feature human rights campaigns; community members would put aside fear and write letters, hold rallies and write large quantities of letters to detainees as well as elected officials. Will our concerns be heard in Washington and around the world?

And we are losing our rights one by one. Last week, an appeals court ruled that former gang member and US citizen Jose Padilla can be held indefinitely by order of the President. Bright lights; four walls; loneliness; forever. While Padilla may or may not have trained with al Qaeda, according to secret evidence, the government has finally withdrawn its charges that he was preparing a dirty bomb. His lawyer will appeal further – but what chances will he have for justice when Bush appoints two new Judges to the Supreme Court? What chances do any of us have?

In the ruin of New Orleans, Americans could not avoid seeing the unequal treatment of the desperate, poor African American residents. President Bush has responded to this crisis by issuing an Executive Order suspending minimum wage for construction workers and others involved in the clean up and reconstruction. True to his extremist Republican ideology, Mr. Bush further impoverishes local workers in the name of "reducing tax costs" while Halliburton gets corporate welfare. God help us!

Recognize the crisis. Do not be fooled by election day lies, but make the best choice available. Even more important, make alliances internally and externally and plan for long-term development. For example, African Americans have long suffered from profiling, prejudice and oppression, but many have taken effective action. Immigrant Muslims can learn a lot from partnership with this community and other minorities. Moreover, socially and religiously conservative Muslims should learn to work hand in hand with more secular Muslims with the vision and skills to build a better world. And those with access to power should report back in such newspapers as this, so we all will benefit, insha’Allah. Or will the leaders merely be content to assemble for their Ramadan photo-op with the President?

Let us Muslims make plans locally and collectively to respond to these injustices. We should advocate on behalf of specific detainees; also for immigration reform and the protection of civil liberties. Write letters, visit prisoners and help with donations. And for the sake of your heart and soul, watch less television, and do not lose yourselves in the isolation unit of the imaginary. You may sit on your couch laughing at the show; but the knock on the door may come at any time; and it may be your last laugh.

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Press Contact: Naeem Baig
Vice President for Public Affairs
Islamic Circle of North America
E-mail:
Office: (718) 658-1199 Extension: 102
Cell: (917) 202-2118

Allhamdulillah, the theme for the upcoming ICNA-MAS Convention has been finalized. After soliciting suggestions for the theme, the convention committee has selected Living Islam, Loving Humanity.

Although many themes were submitted, this theme was the most widely accepted. In its last meeting the ICNA Central Shura approved it.

Insha’Allah, the annual convention will be held in Hartford, Connecticut, from June 30 to July 2, 2006. We invite you to submit your suggestions to the program committee.

Send your suggestions and feedback to convention@icnait.com.

ICNA Book Service was established with the purpose of providing Islamic literature to Muslims living in North America. It has served as a source of obtaining Islamic books  by both Muslims and non-Muslims alike. Visit – http://www.icnabookservice.com

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Press Contact: Naeem Baig
Vice President for Public Affairs
Islamic Circle of North America
E-mail:
Office: (718) 658-1199 Extension: 102
Cell: (917) 202-2118

The goal of UMMAH (United Muslim Movement Against Homelessness) is to raise up a community who are committed to reclaim their rightful place of responsibility in society, while striving to uplift themselves and their communities in which they live.

With a helping hand we reach out to the poor, the hungry, the sick, and the parentless of USA. It is a noble project but nothing can be accomplished with wishes and good intentions alone. Won’t you please extend your helping hand now! We know you will recognize the worthiness of the projects ICNA Relief has established in USA.


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Press Contact: Naeem Baig
Vice President for Public Affairs
Islamic Circle of North America
E-mail:
Office: (718) 658-1199 Extension: 102
Cell: (917) 202-2118

Muslim Women’s Help Network
a sub-division of United Muslim Movement Against Homelessness(U.M.M.A.H.)/ICNA Relief USA

Muslim Women’s Help Network
87-91 144th Street
Jamaica, NY 11435
Tel.: (718) 523-5100
Fax: (718) 658-3434
mwhn@muslimsonline.com

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Press Contact: Naeem Baig
Vice President for Public Affairs
Islamic Circle of North America
E-mail:
Office: (718) 658-1199 Extension: 102
Cell: (917) 202-2118

CASE MANAGEMENT
Since 9/11, ICNA Relief has been active in helping those victimized by the disaster. Through counseling, direct assistance and referrals, we have helped over 650 community members affected by the disaster through loss of job, income or a loved one. By helping them we also help thousands of their family members. Funded by the September 11 Fund, our case managers continue to assist a diverse array of clients. For the underserved we have been able to obtain over $35,000 from the interfaith Unmet Needs Table

DETAINEES RELIEF/CIVIL LIBERTIES ADVOCACY
At the same time, our Detainees Program has helped over 600 detainees and their families through referrals. We have provided over $375,000 in legal and emergency family assistance. We also work with media and elected officials to try to advocate for long term improvement for these families and for our communities so hard hit by anti-Muslim backlash.
American Muslim Detentions
Since September 2001, ICNA Relief has provided financial help to hundreds of families.  Following assistance has been provided:

    * emergency utility bills
    * help monitor the standard of legal care
    * legal bills
    * counseling and advise on Islamic matters
    * escorts to court
    * access to media
    * identify other assistance sources

Though other organizations have helped provide lawyers, ICNA has been the largest source of family help, paying out almost $350,000 total.

On September 11th the United States suffered an outrageous terrorist attack. This event has deeply impacted our nation, with uniquely dramatic effects on Muslims, South Asians, and Arab Americans.  ICNA Relief has responded to this terrible situation by providing assistance for families affected. This group also includes hundreds of families of the Muslim American Detainees, who suffer terrible shame and fear and real economic misery as they are unfairly scapegoated even though no link to terror has been established. Along with their freedom, many have lost their homes, their jobs, even their friends, who may be too intimidated to help them.

Since September 2001 ICNA Relief has provided financial help to over 600 such families, for emergency utility and legal bills, and helped them obtain other assistance when possible. We have provided airline tickets, counseling, escorts to court, and access to media as needed. We also help monitor the standard of legal care and advise on Islamic matters. Though other organizations have helped provide lawyers, ICNA has been the largest source of family help, paying out almost $350,000 total. And the crisis is not over. We receive calls every week from around the country.

Every case is unique:

And many others, who have their own human experience and stories.

ICNA Relief has responded to this crisis situation by providing legal assistance to detainees as well as direct relief payments, counseling and referrals for their families. Most of the detainees are Pakistani or Egyptian, and the rest from a range of countries from West Africa to Indonesia.

We are writing this because of civil liberties and justice issues and to asking your support for these important services to immigrant detainees and victims of discrimination, especially through our community-based advocacy and direct relief programs. All donations go directly to families in urgent need.

There are and will continue to be thousands of immigrant detainees in jails in the United States, with no access to legal assistance or to their families and with little hope for their future.  ICNA Relief is one of the few voices of hope and need your help and support.


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Press Contact: Naeem Baig
Vice President for Public Affairs
Islamic Circle of North America
E-mail:
Office: (718) 658-1199 Extension: 102
Cell: (917) 202-2118

Muslim Family Services in Detroit, MI, is a division of ICNA Relief. ICNA Relief is a social welfare department of Islamic Circle of North America, for implementation of relief and community development projects.

Our Mission
"We assist and facilitate in the attainment and flourishing of the families based on Islamic teachings by educational, counseling, and liaison services."

Activities
Education
*     Workshops for married couples, youths & parents (Conventions/ Islamic Centers/ Schools)
*     Reply email and telephonic questions about family matters
*     Quarterly Newsletter — Nationwide mailing to Islamic Centers; Distribution in Metro-Detroit
*     Website — Q&A, Newsletters, Articles, Reports, Donation
*     Training of Imams and community leaders for family counseling
*     Publish books — Q&A book, subject-matter booklet
*     Develop videos — ICNA Convention workshops

Counseling
*     Pre-marriage counseling
*     Marital Counseling
*     Parental Counseling
*     Psychiatric counseling

Emergency Services
*     Screen applications for emergency help and provide bills payment support
*     Ramadan food basket program

Foster Parenting
*     Be a information bank
*     Awareness lectures
*     Maintain list of potential foster parents

Advocacy
*     Liaison with family courts in Metro-Detroit cities
*     Liaison with foster parent agency
*     Liaison with state social service department
*     Research family issues and develop Islamic solutions
*     Become a subject matter resource center for mainstream and ethnic media
*     Establish subject matter resource relationship with Detroit Public School Board
*     Establish partner relationship with major Metro-Detroit Muslim Communities
             
Development
*     Staff training — courses, conferences
*     Develop volunteer resources from community
*     Staff recruitment
*     Longterm planning and monitoring

Financial Health
*     Seek funding from local Islamic Centers for MFS
*     Seek funding from local Islamic Centers for emergency help services
*     Write grant proposals to City and private foundations

Administration
*     Good housekeeping
*     Courteous customer service
*     Organized customer and internal records
*     Accurate record keeping — monthly, six monthly & annual reports
*     Timely organizational meetings

1. To create awareness and educate the Muslim Community about family issues in America through seminars, lectures, khutubas, newsletter, articles and providing literatures.

2. To provide pre-marriage and marital counseling services by religious ands professional counselors.

3. To represent the Muslim Community regarding Islamic and family related issues in Family Courts.

4. To assist in foster parent services, shelter, food and financial support to the needy families.
Click here for detail Introduction

What Do We Do?

1. Our area of focus is spousal relations, adolescence development and parent-adolescent relations.

2. We organize educational seminars with the cooperation of Islamic Centers. Our series of seminars range from a weekend (Saturday and Sunday) to five weeks (two-three hours each week). One-day seminar could also be arranged. Please contact our office if you like to arrange a seminar in your community.

3. We publish a quarterly newsletter for educational purposes. Send (email) us your name and address if you like to receive a copy of our newsletter.

4. We provide written answers to family related questions. One could email us questions through our website. The website contains answers to all previously asked questions, a moderated discussion forum and other educational material. We request to thoroughly look for answers to your questions on the website prior to sending question(s) to us.

5. We provide individual confidential pre-marriage and marital counseling. Anyone could schedule an appointment for such service by calling our office. We also conduct audio counseling sessions over telephone.

6. We are a resource contact to the local Family Court about Muslim family related issues. One could request our service through the Court or by directly contacting us.

7. We provide all services free of charge regardless of race, gender or nationality.

About Muslim Family Services …..Overview

Muslim Family Services, Detroit is a division of ICNA Relief. ICNA Relief is social welfare department of Islamic Circle of North America, for implementation of relief and community development projects.

Muslim Family Services was established in Detroit in Fall of 1998.

About Our Director
Sheikh Ali Sulaiman Ali has received his basic Sharia education from University of Madina, Saudi Arabia. He received his Ph. D. in Islamic Studies from University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.

Sheikh Ali has been active in educational and philanthropic activities in southeast Michigan for approximately last twenty years. He also gives courses on Islamic studies and other related topics at different Universities.

Discussion Forum — Share Your Experiences & Thoughts
Please email us your experiences, comments, ideas or articles regarding spousal relations, adolescence development and parent-adolescent relations. We would like to share it with others via our newsletter and/or web page under Article section. We delete all identification for questions and comments prior to publishing on print or web. This website is monthly updated and new questions/articles are added.

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Press Contact: Naeem Baig
Vice President for Public Affairs
Islamic Circle of North America
E-mail:
Office: (718) 658-1199 Extension: 102
Cell: (917) 202-2118

ICNA Relief USA is a multicultural human development and community building organization. The purpose of the organization is to address the basic human and social service needs of the undeserved communities with in the United States, through its local chapters, with its head office located in Jamaica, NY, USA. As a vision and value-led organization, ICNA Relief operates under the principle that all people are created equal and when given the tools, will thrive and bring about change in their own lives and the lives of their communities. ICNA Relief’s mission is to promote justice through creating opportunities with young people and families to lead healthy and productive lives. – Visit http://www.icnarelief.org

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Press Contact: Naeem Baig
Vice President for Public Affairs
Islamic Circle of North America
E-mail:
Office: (718) 658-1199 Extension: 102
Cell: (917) 202-2118

Goal
The goal of ICNA shall be to seek the pleasure of Allah (SWT) through the struggle of Iqamat-ud-Deen (establishment of the Islamic system of life) as spelled out in the Qur’an and the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad (SAW).

Program
To invite mankind to submit to the Creator by using all means of communications.

To motivate Muslims to perform their duty of being witnesses unto mankind by their words and deeds.

To organize those who agree to work for this cause in the discipline of ICNA.

To offer educational and training opportunities to increase Islamic knowledge, to enhance character, and to develop skills for all those who are associated with ICNA.

To oppose immorality and oppression in all forms, and support efforts for civil liberties and socio-economic justice in the society.

To strengthen the bond of humanity by serving all those in need anywhere in the world, with special focus on our neighborhood across North America.

To cooperate with other organizations for the implementation of this program and unity in the ummah.

Tarbiyah: Spiritual and Intellectual Training

Major activities for Tarbiyah include:

NeighborNets
Training camps
Study circles
Speakers forums
Night vigils

NeighborNets
NeighborNets provide the foundation for all activities in ICNA. It consists of a small group of members (no more than eight) who gather very week to improve their knowledge, develop brotherhood and to do dawah. All members of ICNA participate in this program.

Tarbiyah Seminars
ICNA organizes one or two days seminars and retreats. Various lectures and workshops are given. These programs are organized at Regional or Unit level.

Study Circles
This activity is organized by units and NeighborNets. Members study books and articles on different  topics and then share their ideas with others in the Study Circle meetings.

Learning by Doing
ICNA workers strongly believe in the concept of   learning by doing. Everyone tries to get involved in Dawah activities and starts learning the tools of this trade by just doing it.

Tutorial Workshops
During ICNA conventions and training camps, workshops are offered on various topics. Learned and professional brothers/sisters in different fields offer these workshops.


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Press Contact: Naeem Baig
Vice President for Public Affairs
Islamic Circle of North America
E-mail:
Office: (718) 658-1199 Extension: 102
Cell: (917) 202-2118