Jake Lang, a pardoned January 6th, 2020 rioter, led an anti-Muslim protest at Gracie Mansion, the home of New York City Mayors. Mayor Mamdani lives there with his wife; they were not there at the time of this rally. His rally was called "Stop the Islamic Takeover of New York City," and there were counter demonstrators from "Run Nazis out of New York City."
It was during this rally that a few young men were seen communicating with one another as one threw a smoke bomb at the police. They scaled the barricade set up around the rally, but NYPD police apprehended them. Two men, Emir Balat, 18, and Ibrahim Kayumi, 19, were arrested. There are reports that both young men confessed to having been influenced by ISIS. However, after careful analysis, the bombs were considered ineffective and harmless. However, the video shows the fuse to these bombs being lit and the bombs smoking at the feet of NYPD officers, who jumped out of the way.
Both young men are from Pennsylvania. Both young men are being charged with federal crimes, including associating with a foreign terrorist organization and using weapons of mass destruction, which, if convicted, will result in life imprisonment. The use of weapons of mass destruction alone carries a life sentence.
According to Justice.gov, Balat and Kayumi allegedly said and did the following while in police custody:
Balat said, "This isn't a religion that just stands when people talk about the blessed name of the prophet . . . We take action! We take action!" He then asked for a piece of paper where he wrote: "All praise is due to Allah lord of all worlds! I pledge my allegiance to the Islamic State. Die in your rage yu [sic] kuffar! Emir B."
Kayumi simply said, "ISIS" when someone from the crowd of onlookers asked him why he did what the police say he did.
Although Mayor Mamdani was critical of any bombs being used at a protest, he still plans to disband the NYPD's Strategic Response Group (SRG), which many people applaud for apprehending Balat and Kayumi. The SRG is trained for counterrorism and crowd control.
Mayor Mamdani is doing so in response to public outcry and a resulting lawsuit filed and won by the New York State Civil Liberties Union (NYSCLU). It was during the Black Lives Matter-led protests against George Floyd's murder. Protesters and civil liberties groups accused the SRG of brutalizing protesters and violating their rights.
According to City Hall spokesman Sam Raskin, "Mayor Mamdani remains committed to disbanding the Strategic Response Group, and the administration is currently working with the police department on how to do so in a manner that both keeps New Yorkers safe and protects First Amendment rights."
(Source: NY1.com and Justice.gov)
Salaam,
Sis. 'Aisha Jamaat al-Muslimeen New York City
Guidance from Sis. Yasmin
*EIGHT (8) BASIC MISTAKES MUSLIMS MAKE WHEN PAYING 'ZAKAT-AL-FITR'*~{A BENEFICIAL POST}~Alhamdulillah~
'Bismillah Walhamdulillah Was Salaatu Was Salaam `ala Rasulillah'.
**************************************************************
As Salaam Alaikum Wa Rahmatullah .
8 Basic Mistakes Muslims make when Paying 'Zakat Al-Fitr'.
Ibn `Umar (R.A) reported that...
Prophet (Sal Allahu`Alayhi wa Sallam),
made Zakat al-Fitr compulsory on every slave,
freeman, male, female, young and old among the Muslims,
one Saa`(a measurement) of dried dates
or one Saa`of barley.
[ Source: Sahih Bukhari - Arabic/English, vol. 2, p. 339, H # 579]
Mistake # 1~ Paying at Eid Salah.
Some people go to Eid Prayers and drop
some money into the donation box thinking
that they have paid their
Zakat al -Fitr.
No ! Zakat al-Fitr, which is food,
must be in the hands of the needy family
BEFORE the Eid Prayer !
If someone goes to Eid Prayer and pays then it
is GUARANTEED that the money will NOT
arrive on time !
Mistake # 2 snail mailing the money overseas
[basic principle as before]
The Zakat al-Fitr, food, MUST be in the hands
of the needy BEFORE Eid prayer.
one cannot mail the money
overseas and have it arrive in the hands of the
needy after Eid Prayer is over!
However, if one is able to get the Zakat al-Fitr
to the needy overseas BEFORE Eid prayer
is conducted in their locality,
then In Shaa Allah it's alright.
Mistake # 3~ Not Paying.
Yes, as simple as this error is, it is
to skip the payment of Zakat Al-Fitr.
EVERYONE must pay Zakat Al-Fitr,
for each & every member of the household.
so if you have 8 people in your house,
'Zakat Al-Fitr' must be paid X 8, even if the
youngest member is just a few days old !
Mistake # 4~ Confusing Zakat ul-Fitr with
Zakat ul-Maal.
We are talking about Zakat al-Fitr here
(think "Iftar"- meaning to say 'Ramadan'.).
'Zakat Al-Maal'
('Maal' literally means wealth),
is the Zakat due on ones money, etc.
and that could be due any time
during the year depending on when it was due.
Mistake # 5~ Giving money instead of food .
Although some scholars have allowed
giving money instead of food,
the spirit of Zakat Al-Fitr
is to give food to the needy of the community,
NOT money.
(one can give money to the local 'Masjid'
in charge and they can give food with that
money on time as specified .
The Companion of the Prophet
[PEACE BE UPON HIM]
Abu Sa`eed al-Khudree, {Radi Allahu `Anhu} said...
'In the Prophet's time, we used to give it
(Zakat-al-Fitr) as a Saa`of food, dried dates,
barley, raisins or dried cheese".
[Source: Bukhari - Arabic/English vol. 2, p. 340,~H # 582]
Mistake # 6~ Giving one's Zakat al-Fitr to a
charitable building project.
Some people mistakenly give their Zakat
Al-Fitr to a charitable building project:
like the building of a Masjid, or Islamic school.
There is a difference of opinion on this issue,
but suffice it to say that the spirit of
Zakat Al-Fitr is that the needy should have
plentiful food on Eid.
{'In Shaa Allah'}
All eight (8) types of recipients of Zakah mentioned in the 'Quran' are HUMANS, not "building projects".
Mistake # 7~ Giving Zakat ul-Fitr to non-Muslims.
Charity is given to both Non-Muslims and Muslims.
However, Zakat al-Fitr charity is something
exclusive that's given the MUSLIM poor and needy.
Hence, one could not give
Zakat Al-Fitr to any needy person on the street.
"Regular" charity can be given to them,
but not Zakat Al-Fitr.
Mistake # 8 ~Delaying distribution.
Sometimes Masjids might collect
Zakat Al-Fitr money and then put it in a bank!
It doesn't reach the needy for months and months !
The correct method is to give Zakat Al-Fitr
immediately when it is due.
~ My 'Salaams' to all ~
*******************************************
Y a s m i n.
"All that is on earth will Perish. But will abide {Forever}
the Face of thy Lord, full of Majesty, Bounty and Honor"
{'Qur`an'- Surah Al-Rahman-55.26-27 }
