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Page 2 The Islamic Bulletin Issue 3 Page 3 The Islamic Bulletin Issue 3
Dear Editor:
How very happy I am to have
discovered your wonderful
edition of the Islamic Bulletin! I
am a native born American who
was first introduced to Islam
and the Koran in 1984. It took
me until January of 1989 until I
finally embraced Islam in com-
plete submission to God’s Will.
Since then, I have endeavored
to practice the principles of the
Koran in theory and in practice.
I must admit that at times it
seems a very lonely journey as I
have no contact with other Mos-
lems on a regular basis and have
only the Koran for guidance.
But what a gift and a blessing
that has been in my life! I can’t
imagine my life now without
the beauty of the Koran. God
has indeed allowed me to see
and be blind no longer.
This is why it is such a joy for me to find your new bulletin available
for even non-Arabic, Native American people. I don’t have any
formal training in the practices of Islam and must rely on the word
of God as I read it in the blessed Koran. Being a single woman,
responsible for my own livelihood, I have found it difficult to in-
corporate all the strictures into my daily life, but I do the best I can
and have hope that God is pleased with my sincerity and efforts.
Your articles in the Islamic Bulletin give me the feeling that I am not
alone in my search for God’s path and a real help in understanding
and learning the Islamic laws and practices.
The prayer time schedule is really great as are the various articles.
Even the Kid’s Comer is informative for me as I am probably more
ignorant than a child born into Islam!
So, I guess the reason for this letter is just a great big THANK YOU!
Please keep them coming!!!!
Sincerely,
Pamela J. Barrett,
San Francisco
Response:
Assalamu Aleikum
Dear Pamela:
Thank you for your letter, it was very moving. You should realize that
God is the best companion of all. Once you have foundGod, you have
found peace. It is only then do you realize that your hardships and
patience in this life will be rewarded. A person can have all themoney
in the world and still not find peace and tranquility. As The Almighty
says in the Qur’an: “Those who believe, and whose hearts find
satisfaction in the remembrance of God: for without doubt in the
remembrance of God do hearts find satisfaction.” (Qur’an 13:28)
Today, many Muslims in general lack the qualities of the believers
which God has described in the Qur’an. The Muslims who follow
the teachings of the Qur’an and the ways of the Prophet are the
kind of people one should associate with. The Prophet (s.a.w.)
has assured us that these types of people will always exist in every
generation until the day of judgment.
Letters To T he Editor
First Jumha Prayers in Albania
For the first time in 23 years the sounds of The Muazin (the caller
of prayers) reverberated through Tirana, Albania on January 19,
when the Muslims of this only majority Muslim state of Europe,
offered Jumha prayers in the centrally located Etem Bay mosque.
Besides the Muslims attending the Jumha prayers, there were more
than 15,000 onlookers gathered to witness this historic event which
was led by Imam Ibrahim Bala.
Albania had been, until this time, maintaining an iron-fisted stance.
God-willing, this is the start of many more Islamic events that will
be taking place in Albania.
1000 Year old Mosque’ s Ruins Discovered in
Kenya
Archaeologists have discovered the ruins of a 1000 year old mosque
on the Kenyan coast, the oldest known trace of Islamic culture in
East Africa.
Richard Wilding, Head of Coastal Archeology at the National Mu-
seum of Kenya, said: ‘The mosque, believed to date from around
950 A.D. was found among the ruins of a small trading community
on Pate Island near the Somali border. It was a small rectangular
building with stone foundations, discovered beneath a mosque of
later construction.’
The mosque was discovered by a team from Oxford University in
Britain, led by Dr. Mark Horton.
Q uranic Computer in Thailand
The Islamic Social and Development Foundation of Thailand
has developed a new computer system which could display the
complete text of the Holy Quran coupled with its interpretation
in English and 13 other languages. This system called “Dara” was
displayed at the Gulf Computer Exhibition in Dubai (UAE). The
computer also has a printer and voice capability. At the press of
a button, the entire Holy Quran could he seen and heard on the
computer.
Need to contact us?
Web Address:
E-Mail:
Editor, Islamic Bulletin
P.O. Box 410186
San Francisco, CA 94141-0186, USA
Muslim World’s Largest L ibrary
The Muslim world’s largest library is in Saudi Arabia’s holy city
of Mecca.
The library, which was built at a cost of 40 million riyals (10.9
million dollars), has more than 40,000 books, 2,000 manuscripts,
microfilms, and periodicals.
Some of the material dates back to the fifth Islamic century.
And Here in the US...
Muslim Imam Gives Opening Prayer in Tennesse
State Senate
On Thursday, March 7, 1991, the prayer service opening the
Tennessee State Senate Session was Sura Al-Fatiha.
It was recited by Imam Ilyas Muhammed of Nashville, Tennessee.
History was made in all of the United States as Tennessee was the
first state to have a member of the Islamic faith to open a State
Senate Session.
However, this was not an easy task to accomplish. Seven years ago
Imam Muhammed wrote a letter to the Tennessee State Senate
stating that since Tennessee represents a cross-section of faiths,
the Islamic faith had been omitted and not represented in the
Senate or House of Representatives.
His letter further stated: “As a representative of the Islamic
faith, an Imam (minister), I nominate myself to be included and
invited as ‘Minister of the Day’, to open the session in prayer.
The Muslim prayer that is used is universal to open all meet-
ings, services, etc. It is called ‘Al-Fatiha’ (Arabic meaning ‘The
Opening’). It is the first Sura (chapter) in the Holy Book of the
Muslim, the Qur’an.
“The substance or contents of the prayer offends no group or
single person, nor does it defy or single out any of God’s righteous
Prophets. It is a most beautiful and comprehensive prayer--short
and concise. It is usually recited first in Arabic and followed by
the English translation.”
After receiving Imam Muhammed’s letter, approval was given.
In his opening statement, Imam Muhammed related: “On
behalf of the Muslim American Community of Nashville of
Tennessee, the Muslim Community of America and the inter-
national community of over one billion Muslims, who bear
witness to the existence and unity of One God, I express our
profound and humble appreciation... for this occasion that
could pass by in insignificance as just another procedural
prayer opening the session of the Senate. However, this occa-
sion is highly significant beyond what is immediately realized
and moreover historical and destined to be a part of the history
of Tennessee. This marks a first for Tennessee Government and
to my knowledge a first for America, that a representative of
the Islamic faith has been granted the opportunity to lead the
Senate or House in prayer.”
Indeed this was an historic event for Muslims everywhere. To have
Islam recognized and included in our government, is the giant step
for much more progress to come.
See also the S.F. Chronicle, Mar.8, 1991 Page A7.
The Frontal Lobes and H igher Mental Functions
Keith L. Moore, Abdul-Majeed A. Zindani and Mustafa A. Ahmed
For many years, the anterior or frontal parts of the brain, called the
frontal lobes, were thought to be silent areas of the brain which
had little to do with the control of the functions of the body. The
reason for these ideas were prevalent was because when the nerve
fibers entering and leaving the frontal lobes were severed or cut,
there was no noticeable change in the activities of animals.
Similar observations were made in human beings who had their
frontal lobes damaged or had the fibers associated with them
severed during accidents. The fact that stimulation of the anterior
parts of the frontal lobes resulted in no movements of the body,
contributed to the idea that the frontal lobes were silent.
It has been found that if these areas of the brain are stimulated, no
movement occurs, and so they were called the silent areas of the
brain. If the motor area of the brain is stimulated, movement of
the various parts of the body will result. Thus this area, as well as
the sensory and visual areas, could be recognized, but the frontal
area was considered to be silent.
However, in the last fifty years it has been learned that the frontal
lobes are concerned with some of the highest mental functions of
animals and human beings. Electroencephalographic and electro-
physiological studies have shown that patients and animals with
injuries to the frontal lobes often have a reduction in their mental
ability, and in human beings there may be a lowering of ethical
standards. Patients present with signs of complacency and self
satisfaction, and they frequently show signs of boastfulness. Their
powers of concentration, their initiative and their endurance are
also reduced.
Memory of recent events suffers when the fibers passing to and
from frontal lobes are cut (e.g. following a lobotomy), and the pa-
tient’s capacity for solving problems is greatly reduced, especially
those which require considerable intellectual ability. The patient’s
power of judging his own situation is impaired, and his awareness
is reduced to the present and to himself.
In summary, the frontal lobes are now known to be very import-
ant parts of the brain, because they are involved in the highest
mental functions.
We make plans within these lobes and so they affect the action
and functions of other parts of the brain, e.g. our thoughts, our
feelings and our sensations.
The Qur’an has described the relationship between the frontal
lobes of the brain, and the ethical behavior of human beings, as
in the following verse:
“Do you see who forbids a servant of Ours (God) when
he (turns) to pray? Do you see if he who prays follows the
guidance and enjoins righteousness? Do you see if he who
obstructs rejects (Truth) and turns away? Does he not know
that God sees? Let him beware! If he desists not, We (God)
will punish him upon his forehead - a lying, sinful forehead!”
(Quran 96:9-16)
The word used in the last two verses above is an-nasiyah, which
means “the forehead”. The forehead in this statement obviously
refers to the frontal lobes of the brain which lie behind of posterior
to the frontal bone in the forehead.
The act of lying is initiated by the mental activities in the frontal
lobes, and their instructions are then carried out by the speech
organs during the act of lying. Similarly, sins are planned in the
frontal lobes before they are carried out by the eyes, hands, sexual
organs, etc.