Scroll down for report on "Seventy-Six Percent Hike in New
Yorkers Struggling with Food Insecurity" by Sr. Aisha ,
"Allah Says 'I Have Forgiven Them and Bestowed What They
Have Asked'" by Sr. Yasmin
Qur'an and Hadith Studies with Dr. Kaukab Siddique
Surah Al-'Ankabut on the Munafiqeen
"Do people think they will be left alone after saying "We
believe" without being put to the test. We tested those who
went before them: Allah will certainly mark out those which
are truthful and which are lying. Do the evil doers think
they can escape us? How ill they judge!"
Source: Qur'an, 29:2-4
Comment by Dr. Siddique: I direct these verses describing
the Munafiqeen to the governments of Egypt, Saudi Arabia,
Jordan, and the UAE. The Palestinians came to your doors,
seeking help in a situation of desperation. Their immense
suffering was on full display on your television screens, on
social media, and elsewhere, and you did nothing to help
them. Are you not afraid of jahannum! Even a non-Muslim in
the United States, Aaron Bushnell, set himself on fire, in
response to the Israeli killings of Palestinian women and
children, and destruction of Palestinian schools, water
sources, roads and hospitals. What have you, the rulers of
Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and UAE, done to help the
Palestinians?
World News
Syria: Islamic Groups Take Aleppo
November 29, 2024 - In heavy fighting against troops of
Bashar al-Asad, mujahideen advanced into Aleppo and Idlib.
The advance is significant because it's the first time
Aleppo has been breached since 2016.
Breaking news: On November 30, Islamic groups captured the
city of Aleppo and inflicted heavy losses on the troops of Assad.
Turkey: Is Erdogan Playing Both Sides?
Three Uzbek Muslims who reportedly killed an Israeli Rabbi
in UAE were arrested in Turkey. Turkey then handed them over
to the UAE. Turkey is very supportive of US interests in the
region. Turkish leader Erdogan claims to support Islam, but
has repeatedly betrayed the Deen.
Pakistan
Bushra Bibi, Amin Gandapur Lead Mass Protests Demanding
Imran Khan's Freedom
November 26, 2024 - Caravans of people converged from
various cities to demand that former Prime Minister and PTI
Chair Imran Khan be released from prison. He has been held
since August 2023 on charges which are clearly concocted.
Initially, his wife, Bushra Bibi, was detained along with
him, but was later released on bail.
Huge crowds gathered in Islamabad's famed D-Chowk. The
protestors remained peaceful, but the military-backed regime
attempted to portray them as violent, accusing them, in some
cases, of carrying firearms. Police blocked roads and fired
tear gas into peaceful crowds. Nine hundred forty-seven
(947) people have been arrested. Finally. paramilitary
forces were called in. They opened fire on the protestors.
The rangers were called and they killed scores. By around
midnight, all the protestors had dispersed.
Imran Khan said in a post on X that he would not retaliate,
but that he would continue to protest by peaceful means.
Yet More Treachery from Pakistan's Government for the Daughter of the Nation?
By Nadrat Siddique
On or about December 1, a delegation from Pakistan,
including a top-level Pakistani official, likely Foreign
Minister Ishaq Dar; Dr. Fowzia Siddiqui, the sister of Dr.
Aafia Siddiqui; and an independent Muslim woman physician
(to examine Aafia given the torture she has endured) was to
leave for the United States. That was the fruit of months of
organizing by the Aafia Movement and its supporters in
Pakistan, along with Aafia attorney Clive Stafford-Smith, to
get the Pakistan government's support for Aafia's release.
After a great deal of stonewalling, Shehbaz Sharif finally
wrote an official letter of support for Aafia to President
Biden. This gave Aafia supporters hope that her clemency
petition might actually be accepted by President Joe
Biden.
Along with the letter of support from Prime Minister Shehbaz
Sherif, Aafia supporters also gathered 500,000 signatures on
a clemency petition (organized by a group of Muslim women
supporters of Aafia based in the UK, but with signatures
from around the world). On top of that, nearly 1,000
individual letters requesting clemency for Aafia were sent
to President.
However, it now appears the Pakistan government is
abdicating its responsibility. Sadly, it has not taken even
the initial steps of acquiring visas from the U.S. Embassy
for the delegation, or arranging a single meeting with
President Joe Biden or his staff.
No Thanks to Celebrating Genocide:
Indigenous People and Allies Hold National Day of Mourning;
Palestine Solidarity is Major Theme
By New Trend Staff
November 28, 2024 - Indigenous people ("Red Indians") and
their allies, under the leadership of the United American
Indians of New England (UAINE), held their annual National
Day of Mourning in Plymouth, Massachusetts. Plymouth is the
site where the Mayflower ship delivered the Pilgrims in
1620. Soon after, the Pilgrims and other colonizers
massacred the indigenous people who generously provided them
with food and shelter, helping them to survive in the "New
World."
The event started with a rally with indigenous speakers from
various North American tribes, plus a few from other
countries, followed by a march through downtown Plymouth.
The gathering coincides with "Thanksgiving" every year. Its
major themes are: "We [indigenous people] are not
vanishing," "We are not conquered," and "We are stronger
than ever."
It is organized by indigenous people (with help by local
labor organizers), and only indigenous people are permitted
to speak. With widespread expropriation of indigenous
culture ongoing across society, that in itself makes the
event unusual.
But what was particularly striking about this year's event
was the focus on Palestine. Palestinian flags and kaffiyahs
were everywhere, and speaker after indigenous speaker
expressed support for the Palestinian cause and censured the
genocide in Gaza and Lebanon. It seemed that indigenous
people have a deep understanding of genocide—in all of
its forms—and, as a consequence feel a natural bond
with the Palestinian freedom struggle.
Seventy-Six Percent Hike in New Yorkers Struggling with Food Insecurity
By Sis. 'Aisha Jamaat al-Muslimeen New York City
In 2024, according to Hunger Free America, a nonprofit
organization, there were 8.4 million visits to food pantries
in New York.
It is easy for people blessed with better circumstances to
think that people who are experiencing food insecurity
either poorly planned for their future, or are lazy.
Blessings are just as much a test as is the trials. We
should be grateful to Allah for our blessings and ask for
His help through the adversities.
Anyone can experience food insecurity. Unfortunately, no job
is safe and there are circumstances, such as having to care
for a parent, a sick relative, pet, etc., that can eat away
at your earnings.
The forced government shutdown during the COVID-19 Pandemic
is an example of an unexpected event that took away jobs in
certain sectors putting millions at a disadvantage
overnight. Many people found themselves on welfare for the
first time in their lives!
Before the shutdown, there were reports of adult children
being financially supported by aging parents. These adult
children were either experiencing unemployment or they were
underemployed, which means their wages did not completely
cover the bare necessities: food, clothing, and shelter.
Some wage earners do not make enough to pay for rent, food,
transportation, electric bills or any unforeseen
emergencies.
Hunger Free America CEO Joel Berg stated that the ability
for the middle class to buy a home, start a small business,
send their children to college and retire comfortably are
all "slipping away."
But, how does such a high rate of financial instability and
food insecurity happen in America?
It is the American Way. Other countries care for their
people, whereas America exploits its people. America also
employs measures to divide and conquer them. Racism and
sexism are very effective tools for division.
America does not care how illiterate its people are compared
to the rest of the world (Cuba has a 98% literacy rate)
because the goal is to dumb us down to so that we can
generate profits for the greedy and powerful.
The secular, kufr way of thinking in America is very flawed
and bassackwards.
Why is homeownership viewed as superior to renting? Isn't
having a place of your own good enough? It is cheaper to
rent than own a home. Plus, homeowners eventually pay the
banks two to three times the value for the home the interest
on the mortgage forces you to pay the bank double what the
house was when you "bought it."
Why do we encourage our children to choose white collar
jobs over blue collar jobs? Massive layoffs occur in the
white-collar sector rather than with blue collar workers.
Society needs carpenters, plumbers, electricians,
maintenance workers, etc.
We have been programmed to think the way the profiteers want
us to think. The profiteers thrive while the rest of us
struggle to survive. Our schools (public, private, and
charter) help us develop critical thinking skills, but we
are taught to use these skills to solve other people's
problems, not our own.
We can overcome all adversity with Allah's help (Qur'an
2:153). But, as Muslims living in non-Muslim countries, such
as America, we should question the traditions we follow
there. Do they conflict with our Islamic faith? For
instance, elitism is the reason society discourages people
from going to trade or vocational schools. Elitism is not
Islamic. Islam promotes balance between intellectuals and
laborers.
Is the adversity we experience the result of us following a
flawed practice or belief?
The Quran is our source for empowerment and, although it is
not easy to overcome adversity, recognizing that Islam is
the Way no matter where we are is the solution to our own
individual problems. Improving our circumstances starts with
us (Qur'an 13:11).
Source: NY1.com
Guidance From Sis. Yasmin
Allah Says "I Have Forgiven Them and Bestowed What They Have
Asked" (Hadith Qudsi #14)
Allah (Almighty) has Angels who seek the People of
'Dhikr'...{!}
The 'Hadith Qudsi' are the sayings of the Prophet {Peace be
upon him}
divinely communicated to him.
On the authority of Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with
him) from the PROPHET~ (Peace be upon him), who said...
ALLAH (glorified and exalted be He) has supernumerary Angels
who rove about
seeking out gatherings in which Allah's name
is being invoked...
they sit with them and fold their wings round each other,
fill in that which is between them and
between the lowest heaven...
When [the people in the gathering] depart,
the Angels ascend and rise up to heaven...
PROPHET {Peace be Upon him} said...
Then ALLAH (mighty and sublime be He)
asks them [though] HE is most knowing
about them...
From where have you come ?
And they say...
We have come from some servants of
Yours on earth.
They were Glorifying You ... 'Subhan Allah'
Exalting You 'Allahu Akbar'
witnessing that There is no God but You... 'La ilaha Illa
Llah'
Praising You...
'Alhamdulillah'"الحمد
لله"
and asking favors of You.
HE says...
And what do they ask of ME...?
They say:
They ask of You Your Paradise...{!}
ALLAH says...
And have they seen My Paradise...?
They say:
No, O Lord.
ALLAH says...
"And how would it be were they to have seen
My Paradise" ?
They continue ...
And they ask protection of You.
ALLAH says...
"From what do they ask protection of Me" ?
They say...
From Your Hell-fire, O Lord...{!}
ALLAH says...
And have they seen My Hell-fire ?
They say:
' No'...!
ALLAH says...
'And how would it be were they to have seen
My hell-fire'... ?
They say:
And they ask for Your forgiveness
The PROPHET {Peace be upon him }said:
Then ALLAH says...
*I have forgiven them and I have bestowed
upon them what they have asked for and
I have granted them sanctuary from that from which they
asked protection*{!}
They say...
O Lord, among them is so-and-so,
a much sinning servant, who was merely
passing by and sat down with them.
ALLAH says...
"And to him [too] I have granted forgiveness".
he who sits with such people shall not suffer...{!}