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IN THE NAME OF GOD, MOST BENEFICIENT, MOST MERCIFUL
Posted by admin on Apr 07, 08 | 11:39 am
Saturday, April 12th @ 6 pm: Dr. Paul Larudee is a San Francisco Bay Area activist calling for justice in the Palestine-Israel conflict. He was born to an Iranian Presbyterian minister and his American missionary spouse in 1946 and grew up in the American Midwest.
He has visited the Palestinian region ten times since 1965, including four times with the International Solidarity Movement, a Palestinian-led movement that applies nonviolent principles to resist the Israeli occupation of Palestinian land. Paul was among seven ISM volunteers wounded by Israeli gunfire in April, 2002 in an otherwise nonviolent attempt to help Palestinian families. This month he will share his personal stories and insights with AMILA and provide a glimpse of how the parties to the conflict view themselves.
Dr. Larudee is one of the founders of the Free Gaza Movement, which seeks to break the siege of Gaza through seaborne nonviolent action. He holds a Ph.D. in linguistics from Georgetown University and spent 14 years in Arab countries as a contracted U.S. government adviser. His publications can be found by searching on his name and at his weblog, www.hurriyya.blogspot.com
More information is available on the [url=http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=27159480229
]Facebook event page[/url].
Location: Home of Juveria Aleem, Oakland, CA
Please RSVP to sheikh_aa@yahoo.com
Potluck Dinner: Please bring a dish to share. If you do not bring a dish, please bring $7 for pizza.
AMILA Gatherings are open to all.
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Posted by admin on Mar 04, 08 | 1:59 pm
Wednesday, March 19th @ 7 pm (Facebook event link): Dr. Mohja Kahf was born in Damascus, Syria and was raised in Utah, Indiana, and New Jersey. She received her doctorate from Rutgers University in Comparative Literature and currently teaches at the University of Arkansas. Her first book, 'Western Representations of the Muslim Woman' (UT Press, 1999), explores the image of Muslim women in medieval and Renaissance European literature. Her novel, 'The Girl in a Tangerine Scarf' (2006) was just announced Book of the Year in Bloomington, Indiana.
Mohja Kahf's poetry has been published in literary anthologies and journals since the early 1990s, recently appearing in The Paris Review and The Atlanta Review. She has competed in the National Poetry Slam (Chicago,1999) and in 2002, she received an Arkansas Arts Council grant for literary achievement.
Bay Area AMILA helped birth one of her first creative projects, however, when Mohja wrote a play called 'In a New Light (The Muhajaba on the Motorcycle)', which was produced and performed by AMILA members in the early 1990s. She has presented other work at AMILA events, including her dissertation on the image of Muslim women in European literature, as well as her story, 'Lost Pages from Bukhari'. We will continue this tradition and feature her latest work at this upcoming gathering.
Location: Mudraker's Cafe, 2801 Telegraph Avenue Berkeley, CA 94701 (510) 649-7315
AMILA Gatherings are open to all.
Posted by admin on Dec 26, 07 | 1:10 pm
Saturday, January 12th @ 6pm: Imam Faheem Shuaibe will be joining AMILA this month to address the visible divide between African American Muslims and Immigrant Muslims. Many have argued that mainstream Muslim America has marginalized the concerns and leadership of the large number of African American Muslims to the detriment of the entire community. Why does a divide exist between these important segments of the American Muslim community? How can we bridge the divide and move towards cooperation and integration?
Imam Faheem Shuaibe is the resident Imam of Masjidul Waritheen and the director of the Clara Mohammed School in Oakland California. He is both an author and lecturer who has given lectures, seminars, and workshops to hundreds of audiences for over sixteen years on the topics of Islam, world politics, human relationships, and societal evolution. He is listed in the International Who's Who Among Intellectuals, and the National Who's Who Among Public Speaking Professionals.
Location: Home of Azhar Husain. Fremont, CA
Please directly contact Azhar for the address and directions. He is near the Mowry Ave & Cherry Lane intersection in Fremont close to the BART station.
Email: azharhusain(at)gmail.com
Phone: (408) 398-9464
Potluck Dinner: Please bring a dish to share. If you do not bring a dish, please bring $7 for pizza.
AMILA Gatherings are open to all.
Posted by admin on Dec 04, 07 | 1:02 am
Saturday, December 8, 2007, 11:00 am – 1 pm - (Potluck brunch at the start of our meeting) In observance of International Human Rights Day on December 10th, this month's AMILA gathering will be focusing on the often conflicting relationship between Western human rights, the Islamic tradition, and contemporary Muslim societies. Helping us to explore this theme will be Dr. Muneer Fareed, who has called on Muslims to address glaring human rights abuses occurring throughout the world. Since his arrival in the United States in 1989, he has served the Muslim community in various capacities, including imam and scholar-in-residence for the Muslim community in Metropolitan Detroit and instructor at the ALIM Program.
Dr. Muneer Fareed is currently the Secretary General for ISNA, the Islamic Society of North America. Previously, Dr. Fareed was an associate professor of Islamic studies in the Department of Near Eastern and Asian Studies at Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan. Dr. Fareed's fields of interest include Qur'anic Studies, Islamic Legal Reform, and Islam in the Modern World. He has authored "Legal Reform in the Muslim World: The Anatomy of a Scholarly Dispute." He holds a doctorate in Islamic Studies from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.
Location:
Home of Atif Qureshi
Fremont, CA
Please directly contact Atif for the address and directions. Also, it's one mile from the Fremont BART station.
Email: atif@hotmail.com
Phone: (925) 324-9729.
Potluck Brunch: Please bring a dish to share. If you do not bring a dish, please bring $7 for pizza.
AMILA Gatherings are open to all.
Posted by admin on Nov 03, 07 | 10:03 am
Saturday, November 10, 2007 at 12 pm: Please join us for an afternoon of ice skating and lunch. Bring the kids and the whole family! Even if you're not a skater, enjoy the outdoor scenery of the Embarcadero and join us for lunch afterwards.
Date: Saturday, November 10, 2007
Time: 12:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. ice skating. The 90 minute skating session begins promptly at noon and ends at 1:30. Please get there at 11:30 to pick up skates and meet other AMILA members at the entrance of the ice rink.
Location: Justin Herman Plaza, adjacent to Four Embarcadero Center and across from the historic Ferry Building
Admission: Adults $8.50/Children ages 10 and under $5.00
Skate Rentals: $3.50 (Hockey skates available for $1 extra)
Ice skating will be followed by lunch at Chevy's.
Chevy's Location:
2 Embarcadero Center
San Francisco, CA 94111
(415) 391-2323
Embarcadero Center Parking: 4 hours FREE parking with validation from retail stores, restaurants (Chevy's), EC Cinema. ($5 minimum purchase).
Directions from Bart Embarcadero Station: Walk toward the Ferry Building and turn left at the end of Market Street. You should see the ice skating rink in Justin Herman Plaza.
Other Upcoming Events:
December 8 - Monthly Meeting, Details to follow
December 17 - Movie and dinner, The Kite Runner (Location tbd)
(More here)
Posted by admin on Oct 10, 07 | 8:05 am
Come join AMILA for a post-Eid gathering at Mudraker's Cafe in Berkeley, one of the newest halal cafes.
Mudrakers Cafe
2801 Telegraph Avenue, Berkeley, CA 94701
Saturday, October 20, 6:00PM – 9:00PM
It's a great opportunity to socialize with other Bay Area Muslims. Bring a friend. You don't have to be an AMILA member to attend an AMILA activity. For more information and to RSVP, [url= click here.
Mudraker's Cafe is offers a large selection of fresh sandwiches, organic juices, salads and cafe drinks.
Cost: Food and drink about $8-12 per person, depending on what you order.
Any questions? Contact director(at)amila.org. (More here)
Posted by admin on Aug 22, 07 | 12:39 am
Each Ramadan since AMILA's birth, we have joined together in a beautiful, remote location to enhance the spiritual rewards which this special month brings to us. The retreat aims to bring participants closer to Allah (swt), foster ties of brotherhood and sisterhood between participants, and increase knowledge in matters of Islamic worship. Our annual Ramadan Spiritual Retreat is now an AMILA tradition, and is looked forward to by members and non-members alike.
For this Ramadan retreat we would like to focus on the connection between Islam and nature. "We shall show them Our signs upon the horizons and within their souls until it is clear to them that He is the truth." Quran 41:53. How can we use nature to nurture our spirituality and rememberance of Allah? What are our duties to preserve and respect all of Allah's creations? We hope to use our time in nature at the retreat to examine the inspiration and signs of Allah around us.
This year we will have sessions hosted by community leaders as well as some sessions facilitated by group members. We are very happy to welcome back Sheikh Alauddin Al-Bakhri as one of our speakers this year.
AMILA's Sixteenth Annual Ramadan Spiritual Retreat will, Insh'Allah, be held the weekend of Sept. 22-23, 2007. The retreat will start on Saturday at 10:00 AM and end on Sunday at 1:30 PM. It will be held this year at the Pigeon Point Lighthouse and Hostel off of Highway 1 (20 miles south of Half Moon Bay). The program will include lectures, discussions, group reflections on the Qu'ran and Hadith, iftar, dinner and suhoor, individual meditation, inspirational readings, taraweeh and tahajjud prayers, and outdoor hikes along the coast.
In keeping with our theme, we want to make a concerted effort to "go green." We are asking participants to bring a plate, a bowl, a mug, a water bottle and utensils. This will eliminate the use of styrofoam and plastic. We will still have limited quantities of these items but we ask that each of us do our part for the environment.
Click here to register online.
Posted by admin on May 05, 07 | 4:37 am
Saturday, May 12 at 6:00 pm: Please join AMILA for our next gathering on May 12th at 6pm in Fremont. We will be having a roundtable discussion among the attendees debating aspects of Muslim identity. In the wake of the recent PBS series on Islam and Muslims, it is imperative that Muslims flesh out modes of politics, thought and spirituality to define themselves for themselves. Please come ready to share your thoughts on some of these issues. RSVP here and we will send you the location and directions a few days before the event.
Dinner:
Our meetings are traditionally potluck. Please bring either $7/person to contribute to pizza money
OR PREFERABLY: Last names beginning with:
A-Q: Please bring a main dish to share,
R-Z: a dessert.
Brief Outline for Evening:
1. Attendees bring dish or pizza money.
2. Sign-In at Door
3. AMILA Dua ~3 min.
4. AMILA Announcements: Ramadan Retreat, Membership~5 min.
5. Go around the room and introduce each other ~5 min.
6. AMILA elections ~ 5 min
7. Discussion: Bring articles, books, your opinions and open minds to share
8. Dinner/Maghrib
9. Gathering Conclusion
Enter your name and e-mail to RSVP to the Evite. Address will be sent to those that RSVP. (More here)
Posted by admin on Feb 12, 07 | 2:09 am
Saturday, March 10 at 5:00 pm: Please join us for a very special evening with longtime AMILA member and member of the ISNA Shura Council Ameena Jandali, as she speaks to us about "Global Warming And The Environment: Our Responsibility, Our Response." RSVP here and we will send you the location and directions a few days before the event.
Posted by admin on Nov 11, 06 | 5:51 pm
Sunday, November 12th, 9:30 am: Asalaamu Alaikum! Please join AMILA for a hike to the peak of Mt. Diablo, where at 3850 feet above sea level, you can see much of northern California, from the Farallon Islands in the west to the Sierra Nevada mountains in the east. Mt. Diablo is second only to Mt. Kilimanjaro in Africa in the total land area that can be seen from its peak. With the recent storms, the air should be very clear. The weather on Sunday is expected to be cool and dry, with some cloudiness.
We're going to meet at Atif Qureshi’s home in Danville at 9am and carpool into the park, driving up to the Juniper Trail region part way up the mountain, and hike to the peak. We expect the total hiking portion to be between 3-4 miles roundtrip.
9:00 AM Meet at Atif's Place
9:30 AM Depart Atif's Place to Carpool into Mt. Diablo Park
Break for Lunch at either Zachary's Pizza or Tandoor Cafe (zabihah) both are in San Ramon ~5 miles away. We expect this to end in early afternoon, including lunch.
The weather is expected to be dry, and partially cloudy. If it rains, we have an alternate activity option of a nearby early movie and lunch.
We expect to hike between 3-4 miles (round trip). You should wear appropriate shoes and layers of clothing, as it could be cool. Things to bring: small pack with bottled water, snack, binoculars, camera. Cash for lunch and movie (if it should rain.) There is a museum and observation point at the top of the mountain, where we can view fossils and some history of Mt. Diablo.
To RSVP and get the meet-up address, visit our online Evite.
Posted by admin on Oct 25, 06 | 12:33 am
Come join us for an AMILA Eid Get-Together on Friday, October 27, 2006 at 7:30 pm. Come out for an AMILA dinner at an all American, halal restaurant, NY Wings in San Francisco.
NY Wings
663 Valencia St.
San Francisco, CA 94110
(415) 863-7755
Please RSVP to sheilabari(at)comcast.net
Posted by admin on Sep 29, 06 | 12:49 am
Salam everyone and Ramadan Mubarak! We would like to invite you to Iftars being hosted by AMILA members at their homes. Please note that these Iftars are potluck and will be over in time for taraweeh prayers.
Saturday, Oct 7th: Nazir Residence, San Ramon, CA.
Sunday, October 15th: Chan-Malik Residence, Hercules, CA.
Sunday, Oct 22nd: Shah Residence, San Francisco, CA
Hope to see you all there, and thank you again to the hosts for volunteering their homes!
Also: The Islamic Society of San Francisco, Bay Area Jews of Conscience,
and the American Muslims Intent on Learning & Activism invite you to join us for a joint
Ramadan and Yom Kippur Break the Fast Potluck/Celebration/Benefit
A celebration of culture, resistance and solidarity through ritual, prayer, politics, poetry, music & food
Monday, October 2nd from 6:30 to 9:30pm
St. Boniface Church 133 Golden Gate Avenue
San Francisco (between Leavenworth and Jones streets)
$5-$50 donation requested at the door; no one turned away for lack of funds.
Posted by admin on Aug 30, 06 | 2:36 pm
September 16, 2006, 7:00 AM - 2 PM
Union City & San Jose, CA
AMILA will be conducting two simultaneous Garage sales to help raise funds for the proposed AMILA Eid Gift Drive. One may occur in San Jose and the other in Union City. Donations of usable, sellable goods are being solicited both in advance and especially on the day of. Please do consider that we are a volunteer effort and do not have many resources to handle donations that are not in good selling condition (meaning, no junk please). If you would like to help take this project off of the ground, please e-mail: director@amila.org
Why Go?: Garage Sales attract an interesting lot of people. It's a fun day to help get rid of unwanted goods to help support a good cause with other Muslims that want to help support the community-at-large.
Location 1: 511 N Cascade Terrace, Sunnyvale, CA, (408) 274-4598 for info
Location 2: 3303 Delta Road, San Jose, CA 95135, (408) 739-2142 for info
Posted by admin on Jul 21, 06 | 6:34 pm
Saturday, August 12, 2006 at 6:00 pm: Dr. George Bisharat, a professor at UC Hastings College of the Law with wide experience in legal anthropology and the Middle East, will discuss the ongoing crisis in Lebanon. His most recent commentary on the issue was published in USA Today: “Did Israel really need to savage the beauty of Beirut?”
George Bisharat joined the Hastings faculty in 1991, after serving four years as a Deputy Public Defender for the City and County of San Francisco. He conducts the Criminal Practice Clinic and teaches Criminal Procedure, Law and Social Anthropology, and Law in Middle East Societies.
Professor Bisharat graduated cum laude from Harvard Law School in 1983 and holds a B.A. in anthropology (UC Berkeley, 1975), an M.A. in history (Georgetown University, 1979), and a Ph.D. in anthropology and Middle East studies (Harvard University, 1987).
He has lived, studied, and traveled throughout the Middle East and North Africa, with extended sojourns in Beirut, Tunis, Cairo, and the Israeli-occupied West Bank. His field of specialization is legal anthropology, the cross-cultural study of law, legal institutions, and modes of dispute processing. His study of the impact of Israeli occupation on the Palestinian legal profession of the West Bank, Palestinian Lawyers and Israeli Rule: Law and Disorder in the West Bank, was published in 1989. In recent years, Professor Bisharat has consulted with the Palestinian Legislative Council over the structure of the Palestinian judiciary, reforms in criminal procedure, and other aspects of legal development. He also is concerned with problems of social identity, ethnicity, race, and racism, and their interrelations with law and the legal system in the United States and abroad.
Posted by admin on May 12, 06 | 11:42 pm
Saturday, May 13, 2006, 4pm - 10pm Piers 30-32, San Francisco: The May AMILA Gathering will be taking place at KFOG Kaboom! AMILA is making plans to view the evening fireworks display on one of the tour boats that will be out in the bay. For those that show up to events fashionably late, this won't be a good one to do that, for if you do...you will miss the boat! For those that are interested, the plan would be to meet up during the day to enjoy the free KFOG events and then gather up to get on the boat for the evening fireworks display. As of now, each person would be responsible for purchasing their own ticket(s) for the boat ride. This event is a terrific concert followed by an AMAZING fireworks show over the SFBay. A very fun event you don't want to miss.
We will use Rendezvous Charters for the boating or 415-543-7333. Please buy your tix directly through them. The idea is we will sail from the dock (near the Ball Park) and do a little cruise around the bay. We usually go up near Alcatraz before coming back for the fireworks. (More here)
Posted by admin on Apr 12, 06 | 12:03 pm
Saturday, April 15, 3 - 5:30 pm: The Prophet Muhammad was born on the 12th day of the Arabian lunar month of Rabi` al-Awwal, some 1,435 years ago. He, the Beloved, lived every moment for the betterment of all creation. As an expression of love and gratitude, every year Muslims across the world commemorate his arrival through poetry, song, and reflection.
Please join AMILA for an afternoon at UC Berkeley to celebrate the birth of the Prophet, on the 8th floor of Barrows Hall on the UC Berkeley campus. The event is presented by the UC Berkeley MSA, and the performance will center around a classical Ottoman narration of the Prophet's birth, accompanied by verse in English, and Urdu, and choral refrains in Arabic.
For more information, please visit birthofaprophet.org.
Posted by admin on Feb 16, 06 | 12:03 pm
Sunday, March 5, 2006, at 5:00 pm: (Note: Please RSVP to sheilabari(at)comcast.net for this event.) Fawaz A. Gerges, a Fellow at the Institute for Social Policy and Understanding, earned an M.Sci., London School of Economics and a D.Phil., Oxford University. He holds the Christian A. Johnson Chair in International Affairs and Middle Eastern Studies. Senior analyst and regular commentator for ABC Television News. He is also a commentator for "Morning Edition," NPR. He appeared on many television and radio networks throughout the world, including CNN, CBS, NPR, the BBC and, Al Jazeera. Taught at Oxford, Harvard, and Columbia universities and was a research fellow at Princeton University for two years. He has won several academic awards, one of which is an 18-month MacArthur fellowship. Special interests: Islam and the political process, fringe Islamist (jihadist) movements, Arab politics, American foreign policy in the Middle East, the modern history of the Middle East, history of conflict, diplomacy and foreign policy, historical sociology, and international relations. Spent several years conducting field research on relations between the Islamists, jihadists and the West, particularly the United States, in several Middle Eastern countries. Author of the forthcoming: The Jihadis: Unholy Warriors (Harcourt Press, fall 2 005), and The Road to 9/11 (Cambridge University Press, Sept. 2005). His books include the following: America and Political Islam: Clash of Interests or Clash of Cultures? (Cambridge University Press, 1999); The Superpowers and the Middle East: Regional and International Politics, 1955-1967 (Oxford and Westview Press, 1994); and The Clinton Administration's Approach Toward Islamist Movements (The Council on Foreign Relations: New York, 1999). Articles and essays have appeared in Foreign Affairs, Foreign Policy, Survival, The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Los Angeles Times, The Christian Science Monitor, The International Herald Tribune, The Baltimore Sun, The Nation, Harvard Journal of World Affairs, The Oxford International Review, British Journal of Middle Eastern Studies, The Middle East Journal, The Beirut Review, Al-Mustaqbal Al-Arabi, Al Hayat, Al-Safir, Al-Nahar, Al-Mustaqbal, and in other journals and anthologies.
Posted by admin on Feb 01, 06 | 2:00 am
February 11, 2006 at 6:00 pm: In the last few years we have seen tremendous enthusiasm on the part of the U.S. in promoting democracy to countries in the Middle East. The idea of democracy promotion has been expediated recently as a result of the September 11th attacks and the war in Iraq. It's clear now that the Bush administration is eager to help build democracy as a way to increase its own security and bring stability to the region. It has also been suggested that the goal is to "bridge the divide" and improve the relationship between the West and Muslim World.
Can in fact the US promote democracy to a region like the Middle East - a region that does not share the same Western liberal tradition? Has this effort worked? What has this effort entailed? Has it been successful? What are some of its shortcomings?
With such queries in mind AMILA presents Farid Senzai, a Fellow and Director of Research at the Institute for Social Policy and Understanding (ISPU). He is also an adjunct professor of Political Science at California State University and Santa Clara University. Prior to joining ISPU, Mr. Senzai was a research associate at the Brookings Institution where he researched U.S. foreign policy towards the Middle East. In addition, he was a research analyst at the Council on Foreign Relations where he worked on International politics. He has also served as a consultant for Oxford Analytica and the World Bank. Mr. Senzai received his MA in International Affairs from Columbia University and is completing his Ph.D. in Political Science at Oxford University.
Posted by admin on Jan 09, 06 | 8:08 am
Saturday, January 14, 2006: Have you wanted to see the new (and considered controversial by some) movie "Munich"? Want to analyze it in the company of friends? Then come join us as we catch a 3:30 showing of "Munich" at the AMC Saratoga 14, followed by dinner at Cucina! Cucina! Italian Café (right next to the movie theater). AMC Saratoga 14 is located at 700 El Paseo De Saratoga, San Jose, CA 95130 (near the intersection of Saratoga and Campbell Avenues). If you'd like to just join us for dinner, come meet us at Cucina! Cucina! Italian Café next door at 7:00 pm (1000 El Paseo De Saratoga, San Jose, CA 95130).
Posted by admin on Dec 05, 05 | 9:16 pm
Saturday, December 10, 2005, 3:30 pm, with pot luck dinner following: What is the state of the world and why should we care? For International Human Rights Day, AMILA presents a talk with UC Human Rights Professor Rita Maran, renown for the diversity of her human rights work around the world, on the relevance of human rights work and how we fit in. There will be time for questions and answers.
Dr. Rita Maran's human rights work spans the world. She was an elections monitor in Kosovo, participated in the women's conference in Beijing, and as a Fulbright senior scholar in 2000, she taught International Human Rights Law at the University of Indonesia in Jakarta. She is currently president of the United Nations Association-USA East Bay Chapter.
Her extensive resume includes work as a Human Rights Analyst in Bosnia with the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) in 1997 and 1998, where she inaugurated a human rights education project with NGOs in Bosnia. Dr. Maran also authored the book "Torture: The Role of Ideology in the French-Algerian War". (More here)
Posted by Atif on Nov 03, 05 | 4:14 am
Saturday, November 5, 2005, 3 pm - 7 pm: There will be an AMILA Eid Celebration at the home of Dean and Marta Mulla. We are thrilled that Dean and Marta Mulla are hosting our Eid celebration this year. Please join us for great company and wonderful food! The main course will be provided. (More here)
Posted by admin on Oct 30, 05 | 11:53 pm
NOTICE: Due to exhaustion, Mukhtar Mai has decided to cut her trip short and return to Pakistan. Therefore, this event has been cancelled. She will join us, inshallah, in January 2006.
In 2002, Mukhtar Mai was gang-raped in public on the orders of a village tribunal in retribution for a crime her younger brother allegedly committed. Defying social stigma, Mukhtar Mai refused to be silent and took the rapists to court. She used the compensation money she received to start the first school in her village. At this school, Mai and her friends work to provide young girls with the knowledge and understanding that will give them more power in the world, more awareness of their rights, and more dignity to fall back on when those rights are challenged. Come hear about this courageous woman's journey from rape survivor to community educator.
Saturday, November 5, 2005, 3 pm - 7 pm: There will be an AMILA Eid Celebration at the home of Dean and Marta Mulla. We are thrilled that Dean and Marta Mulla are hosting our Eid celebration this year. Please join us for great company and wonderful food! The main course will be provided. Click here for directions and more event details.
Posted by admin on Oct 06, 05 | 11:36 pm
As we prepare for our fourteenth annual Ramadan Spiritual Retreat, we would like to wish you a blessed Ramadan. Please join us this month for our annual potluck iftars, held every Sunday during Ramadan: Ramadhan Iftars are as follows:
Sunday, October 16: Potluck at Munira and Ali Albukhary's place at 1227 Bonita Avenue, Berkeley, CA 94709. Tel: 510-526-9511
Sunday, October 24: Dinner (not potluck) at Shehnaz and Ahsan Khan's place. RSVP to Shehnaz (and get directions) at shehnazkhn(at)yahoo.com.
Sunday, October 30: Potluck at Maha ElGenaidi's place, 1375 Civic Center Drive #14, Santa Clara, CA, 408-985-9424 @ 5 PM (Daylight Savings Time in Effect).
Please e-mail info@amila.org to request a copy of our most recent newsletter which contains more information and details on upcoming events.
Posted by admin on Sep 13, 05 | 10:29 pm
Each Ramadan since AMILA's birth, we have joined together in a beautiful, remote location to enhance the spiritual rewards which this special month brings to us. The retreat aims to bring the participants closer to Allah (swt), foster ties of brotherhood and sisterhood between participants, and increase knowledge in matters of Islamic worship. Our annual Ramadan Spiritual Retreat is now an AMILA tradition, and is looked forward to by members and non-members alike. This Ramadan retreat we would like to ask the question, "can I do this (fasting) out of love rather than obedience?"
"Some people fast and all they get from it is hunger and thirst, some pray and all they get is physical exercise, some go on hajj and all they get is travel." (hadith qudsi)
We will explore various aspects of fasting, including the role of love and opening the heart as fundamental and inner elements of the ritual practices of Islam. These are thoughts from Br. Robert Frager, who along with Sister Ayhan, and Br. Hakim Archuletta, will be our honored guests. The speakers' bios may be found at the AMILA website and in the retreat reading materials.
AMILA's Fourteenth Annual Ramadan Spiritual Retreat will, inshallah, be held the weekend of October 8-9, 2005. The retreat will start on Saturday at 9am and end on Sunday at 1:30pm. It will be held this year at the Marin Headlands Hostel in Sausalito, CA. The program will include lectures, dhikr sessions, group relflections on the Qu'ran and Hadith, iftar, dinner and suhoor, individual meditation, inspirational readings, taraweeh and tahajjud prayers. This year we are fortunate to also offer an outdoor session lead by Br. Robert Frager.
Update: The 2005 retreat is now full! Thank you for registering! (More here)
Posted by admin on Sep 05, 05 | 12:20 am
Saturday, September 10, 8 pm: Please join AMILA for an evening at the theatre to watch The Domestic Crusaders, a new two-act play about Muslim Pakistani-Americans by the young playwright Wajahat Ali. The Domestic Crusaders (http://www.domesticcrusaders.com) focuses on one day in the life of a modern Muslim Pakistani-American family of six eclectic, unique members, who convene at the family house to celebrate the twenty-first birthday of the youngest child. With a background of 9-11 and the scapegoating of Muslim Americans, the tensions and sparks fly among the three generations, culminating in an intense family battle as each "crusader" struggles to assert and impose their respective voices and opinions, while still attempting to maintain and understand that unifying thread that makes them part of the same family.
"Wajahat Ali is a major new voice in American literature. His play is to Muslim American theatre what A Raisin in the Sun is to African American theater." - Mitch Berman, head of Center of Literary Arts, SJSU
"Domestic Crusaders pulls the audience into a special highly charged location where antic politics and deep poetics of subcontinental/California culture intersect and set off a million illuminating sparks." - Michael Wolfe
The play starts at 8:00 pm sharp and will promptly be followed by dinner at P.F. Chang’s, just 3 blocks from the theatre. Please purchase tickets in advance through www.ticketmaster.com or by calling (408) 998-TIXS. ($15 general public, $10 students) The theter is located at the San Jose State University Theatre, 5th and San Fernando, next to the King Library. P.F. Chang’s is located at 98 S. Second Street, San Jose, CA 95113. (More here)
Posted by admin on Jul 27, 05 | 5:51 pm
Saturday, August 13th at 6:00 pm:
"The abuse started as soon as I put my feet in U.S. My husband left me every day to go to work, leaving me at home without any food. He locked the phone in the closet so I don't call anyone. I had no money to ride the bus. I cried all the time. My husband continued abusing me physically and emotionally every day." -- Iranian woman in NISA newsletter
If the Prophetic injunction is to be kind to our spouses, why is domestic violence rampant in our communities? Where do abused Muslims go when they need help, and what kind of help do they need? Most importantly, what are we doing to serve them?
Join AMILA for a discussion on these issues with our speakers from NISA (North American Islamic Shelter for the Abused). Dr. Rajabally and Mrs Hyder will share their experiences of being involved with the first organization in the local community to cater to the needs of the Muslim victims of domestic violence. (More here)
Posted by admin on Jun 28, 05 | 10:52 pm
Saturday, July 9, 11am to 4pm: Every summer, AMILA holds a fun picnic for the Bay Area Muslim community. This year, the picnic is at Lake Elizabeth in Fremont, Redwood 1 picnic site. There will be no speaker; instead, there will be food and games, for both children and adults. Child-friendliness: Please feel free to bring kids of all ages. Please bring picnic foods such as halal meats, vegetables for grilling, salads, snacks, and drinks. Please note the timing of this event and arrive on time.
Location: 40000 Paseo Padre Parkway, Fremont CA 94538. This year, the picnic is at the Redwood 1 picnic site. Please follow the AMILA signs to the exact campground or call (510) 790-5541 for information.
Directions: From the East Bay/San Francisco: I-880 South- go 29.2 mi. Take ramp toward STEVENSON BLVD - go 0.3 mi. Turn left on STEVENSON BLVD - go 1.5 mi. Take ramp onto FREMONT BLVD - go 0.2 mi10. Turn left on MISSION VIEW DR - go 0.5 mi. Turn left on PASEO PADRE PKWY - go 0.1 mi. Arrive at 40000 PASEO PADRE PKWY, FREMONT, on the right.
From the South Bay: I-880 North - go 12.7 mi. Take the AUTO MALL PARKWAY exit - go 0.3 mi. Turn right on AUTO MALL PKY - go 0.2 mi. Turn left on GRIMMER BLVD - go 2.5 mi. Turn left on PASEO PADRE PKY - go 0.5 mi. Arrive at 40000 PASEO PADRE PKWY, FREMONT, on the right. (More here)
Posted by admin on Jun 02, 05 | 12:58 pm
Saturday, June 11th at 6:00 pm: In recent times, ethical and moral issues surrounding what constitutes the beginnings and end of life have become the focus of various national debates. Such debates raise a host of questions for American Muslims. For example, what if Terry Schiavo was Muslim? Is abortion ever permissible in Islam? What is the Islamic viewpoint on the use of contraceptives for birth control? On stem cell research? On cloning? And most importantly, how do we as American Muslims deal with such issues?
Join AMILA for a lively discussion in which we'll hear Islamic viewpoints on these moral and ethical questions with speakers Dr. Shamim Sinnar and Ahmed Kamal Sultan Salem. Dr. Sinnar will offer a Muslim American physician's perspective on her encounters with issues of abortion and euthanasia during her medical residency, while Salem will address questions of Islamic jurisprudence surrounding such questions. (More here)
Posted by admin on Apr 26, 05 | 11:42 pm
Saturday, May 7th, 2-4 pm: Issues of gender and women's rights have taken a controversial center stage in discussions both amongst and about American Muslims today. Writer and activist Asra Q. Nomani has been at the hub of many of these debates. One of the organizers of the recent woman-led jum'ah prayers in NYC, Nomani entered the public eye in June 2004 when she and a group of seven Muslim women calling themselves the Daughters of Hajar marched in through the front door of a mosque in Morgantown, WV and demanded to pray in the main hall. She is also the organizer of the current "Muslim Women's Freedom Tour," described as "a call to action for lovers of justice and compassion," in which "women take their rightful place along side men in the Muslim community."
A former Wall Street Journal correspondent, Nomani is the author of Tantrika (HarperSanFrancisco, 2003) and currently lives in Morgantown, WV with her son Shibli. Today, she will discuss her latest book entitled Standing Alone at Mecca: An American Woman's Struggle for the Soul of Islam (HarperSanFrancisco, 2005), in which she recounts her recent hajj pilgrimage to Mecca. Please note, this afternoon's event is an opportunity for a discussion with a notable author in which the utmost standards of respect and good conduct should prevail, insh'Allah. (More here)
Posted by admin on Apr 09, 05 | 10:53 pm
AMILA is proud to be an endorser of the From Attica to Abu Ghraib Conference which will be held on Fri.-Sat. 4/22-23 at St. Joseph the Worker the Church (Fri.) and UC Berkeley’s Dwinelle Hall (Sat.). The event is an organizing conference on human rights, torture, and resistance, and features opening night speaker Cynthia McKinney, the Georgia congresswoman recently reelected to office in ringing vindication of her opposition to U.S. torture and human rights abuses. If you’d like to attend or for more info, visit the conference web site at www.attica2abughraib.com, or contact Sylvia Chan at swchan77(at)berkeley.edu.
Posted by admin on Mar 20, 05 | 9:38 pm
Saturday, April 9th at 6:00 pm: Our April speaker, Lizanne McBride of the International Rescue Committee, will focus on the Indonesia tsunami response, presenting a brief description of how relief and reconstruction efforts have evolved over the last few months, including discussion on how effectively communities and individuals are coping, the challenges still faced in terms of immediate recovery, and the prospects and constraints towards long-term development. Discussion will focus on a more behind the scenes look at interventions currently underway and what individuals and communities can still do to support the efforts. Lizanne McBride, a visiting Fellow at Stanford University’s Centre of Democracy, Development and Rule of Law, is currently the Director of the Post-Conflict Development Initiative within the International Rescue Committee (IRC) – a humanitarian agency supporting refugees and communities impacted by violent conflict. In her current position, Ms. McBride is responsible for policy, strategy and technical support for country programs transitioning from emergency relief to reconstruction and development. Ms. McBride previously served as the IRC’s Country and Deputy Director in Rwanda, where she worked on a range of issues including health, public infrastructure development, democracy and governance, child and family welfare, and sexual-gender violence. She also worked in Tanzania in several Burundian, Congolese and Rwandan refugee camps, supporting community services operations and general emergency response work during crises. (More here)
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AMILA NEWS & VIEWS: |
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Posted by admin on Aug 29, 06 | 11:00 pm
We are considering putting together 1-2 AMILA Garage sales to help raise funds for the proposed AMILA Eid Gift Drive. One may occur in San Jose and the other in Union City. Donations of usable, sellable goods are being solicited both in advance and especially on the day of. Please do consider that we are a volunteer effort and do not have many resources to handle donations that are not in good selling condition (meaning, no junk please). If you would like to help take this project off of the ground, please e-mail: director@amila.org
Posted by admin on Sep 02, 05 | 6:03 pm
There will be an AMILA caucus at the 44th annual ISNA conference in Chicago on Sunday, September 4th at 2 pm. Meet us at Suite 204 at the Embassy Suites hotel, which is right across form the Rosemont Convention Center. If you want to learn more about AMILA, visit booth 1837 anytime over the weekend.
Posted by admin on Sep 01, 05 | 8:28 am
AMILA was featured on NPR's "Morning Edition" in a report by Hana Baba on Muslim groups that take on controversial topics in the Muslim community. Featured prominently was AMILA director Moina Noor, as well as several recent AMILA meetings. You can listen to an MP3 of the report here.
Posted by admin on Feb 28, 05 | 11:51 pm
We're very pleased to announce that ING and AMILA have joined forces to form a Bay Area Book Club called "ZIA", in which you're invited to participate. Our purpose is as follows: 1) To keep abreast of the flurry of new books being written about Islam & Muslims since 9/11. 2) To be a venue for enlightened & civil discussion among Muslim activists on contemporary issues concerning Islam, and, 3) To be a valuable resource for improving the effectiveness of Muslim outreach with the general public. The Club will focus on contemporary books only that are written by Muslims or non-Muslims about Islam. The first book, which will be covered over two meetings will be "Progressive Muslims: On Justice, Gender and Pluralism," edited by Omid Safi. Meetings will be monthly, on the first Sunday of each month from 4pm to 6pm, starting on April 3rd. Meeting locations will alternate between the east and south bays in the San Francisco Bay Area. Ideally, members of the book Club should be Muslims who are activists, i.e. actively engaged (outside of their employment) in activities, which serve their community (Muslim or otherwise). Stay at home moms are included in this category and are most welcome to join the Club. The Club's name will be ZIA, which is the Urdu word for 'light' (from the Arabic word 'Dhia'). In English, the first two letters in ZIA are the first letters of the founding groups, ING and AMILA. For more information on the Club & its first meeting, please go here. To join the Club, go here.
Posted by admin on Dec 12, 04 | 7:40 pm
Alhamdulillah, during this past Ramadan, AMILA was blessed enough to host a series of wonderful events which provided rich, rewarding, and memorable experiences for all involved. From the reflection and camaraderie of the Spiritual Retreat, to the fun, festive, and well-attended iftaars held all over the Bay Area, to our annual Toy Drive, the sense of community, faith, and spirit resonated throughout the month, and as one AMILA member said, "provided (for) some incredible and inspiring events and projects during those past few weeks."
This year's Spiritual Retreat once again took place in the beautiful coastal setting of Pigeon's Point, 27 miles north of Santa Cruz. With full registration, we hosted esteemed speakers Camille and Kabir Heminski on Saturday and Imam Bilal Hyde on Sunday. Camille gave a talk on women and Sufism while Kabir discussed the notions of spiritual development through Sufi practices. The next day, Bilal Hyde led an amazing dhikr after fajr prayers which was followed by a challenging discussion about the changing perceptions and practice of Islam in America. Such stimulating discussions, along with an amazing nature walk, glimpse of seals, and wonderful conversations made this an inspirational weekend for all who attended. Special thanks to Nasreen Hussain for her all her hard work coordinating the program for this event!
Iftaars were held throughout the month at various locations throughout the Bay Area. Thanks to Farhan Memon and Moina Noor, Ali Zareh and Munira Abdulkary, Nabila Mango, and Chloe and Hasseb Chaudhry for sponsoring gatherings in their homes. Each one was a special event, and the final Eid and moonsighting gathering at the Chaudhry's delighted parents and children alike with its trip to hills to spot the Ramadan moon. Mash'Allah!
Last but not least, our annual toy drive was a resounding success! By collaborating with the Marine's Toys for Tots program, we delivered 75-80 Eid gifts to needy Muslim children in San Francisco's Tenderloin.Thanks so much to steering committee member Jessica Livingston, who made this possible by coordinating the event and hand-picking each of the gifts!
Posted by admin on Sep 10, 04 | 12:08 am
"No blood for oil." It's an oft-used idiom associated with the movement against American involvement in the Middle East, an involvement which-either directly or indirectly-affects the lives of Muslims worldwide. Implicit in the phrase is that the issue of oil is inextricably linked to that of life itself; in other words, that the relentless pursuit of oil by a small few threatens the lives of many, many others, both Muslim and non-Muslim alike. Yet how many of us actually understand the connections between the quest for oil and its impact on human life? Besides a vague notion that the U.S. is "over there" in order to get oil for people "over here," many of us (including those who employ this phrase to oppose U.S. involvement in the war) might not have a clear grasp on the links connecting the issue of oil with other critical issues-such as terrorism, attacks on Muslim civil liberties in the U.S. (via Homeland Security and the Patriot Acts) , the Israel/Palestine conflict, the environment, globalization, and most importantly, the very continuation of human and natural life. (More here)
Posted by admin on Jul 05, 04 | 8:06 pm
Recently, AMILA was asked to endorse an amicus brief being prepared by Amnesty International for the Supreme Court regarding the execution of juvenile offenders. The brief argues that all religions are unified in finding it objectionable to execute juvenile offenders. When the issue was first presented to the steering committee a couple of months ago, we did not yet have a copy of the brief with the Shariah citations on the juvenile aspect of the death penalty, so the committee tabled the issue for further discussion. Last month however, a statement with sharia citations was created by Dr. Azizah al-Hibri and Karamah, the Muslim Women Lawyers for Human Rights, and the issue of AMILA signing onto the brief was once again brought up for discussion. At the June steering committee meeting, SC members unanimously voted to sign onto the brief, following a lively discussion which acknowledged that the American definition of "juvenile" as an individual under the age of 18 was one defined by cultural context, not classical fiqh. (More here)
Posted by admin on Jun 18, 04 | 5:41 pm
As Muslims, we uneqivocally disavow and condemn the actions of those individuals who in the name of Islam have murdered Paul Johnson.
Islam is a religion that strives for justice through peace. It does not condone the killing of innocents. Our Prophet, Muhammed (Peace be Upon Him) said that the taking of one life was the killing of all humanity, and the saving of on life was the saving of all humanity.
We extend our condolences to the family of Mr. Johnson and pray that his killers are brought to justice.
American Muslims Intern on Learning and Activism (AMILA) is a Bay Area based community organization helping to build the American Muslim community through activism, Islamic education, spirituality, and networking with other Muslim groups. (More here)
Posted by admin on May 03, 04 | 5:11 pm
A few days ago, while doing research, I happened upon a book listing works in Islamic law. Dated only about 20 years ago, I saw that many books that I have used in my own research were listed as being "unpublished, in manuscript form only." Wonderful, precious works, such as Ibn Abi Zayd's Nawadir wa'z-Ziyadat, and Fandalawi's Tahdhib al-Masalik, both of which are now safely preserved in printed format. A quick glance at the bibliography of the latter, published only within the last 5 years, indicates that atleast 25% of the editor's sources were even as of then available only in manucript form. Indeed, however much we retain of our own intellectual heritage, it is really only a fraction of what exists. Such is the changing nature of knowledge, even when it is materially fixed. (More here)
Posted by admin on Apr 30, 04 | 3:58 am
Our April meeting featured a very talented member of the community, Nazanin Shenasa, who gave a presentation on the symbolism and philosophy behind her work and her evolution as an artist. In addition, she brought several samples of beautiful handmade textiles and showed an extensive slide show presentation of her projects.
Posted by admin on Mar 14, 04 | 2:32 am
Our March meeting with filmmaker Michael Wolfe, co-sponsored by the ISSU of Stanford, had unexpected treats for everyone. In addition to speaking about his latest film projects, one about Al-Andalus and religious tolerance, and the other about an African prince sold into slavery and freed after 40 years, we were the first to see an 8-minute sneak preview of the Al-Andalus film, due to be shown on PBS in late 2005. Also, attendees got free DVD copies of "Muhammad: Legacy Of A Prophet"! See more about this film at theislamproject.org and pbs.org/muhammad.
Posted by admin on Feb 15, 04 | 5:16 pm
Our February gathering featured a special discussion and presentation by Imam Zaid Shakir of the Zaytuna Institute. He spoke eloquently about Islam and the African-American experience, and discussed the historical achivements of African Muslims both before and after the advent of the slave trade. Over 30 people attended the event, held in the Oakland Rockridge Public Library. Inshallah, we will continue to work with Imam Shakir and the Zaytuna Institute.
Posted by admin on Jan 18, 04 | 5:17 pm
For our January gathering, we had a productive discussion about the role of Muslims in the upcoming elections. Congressional candidate Maad Abu-Ghazaleh, running against pro-war Congressman Tom Lantos in the 12th district, took time out of his busy campaign schedule to talk about some of the issues he was facing in the election. As a result of the meeting, some of the AMILA members who were present decided to experience the democratic process first hand, and spent a day walking from door to door in support of Maad's campaign.
Posted by admin on Jan 10, 04 | 1:38 pm
One of the most critical achievements of AMILA has been, with the grace of Allah (swt), to offer a working example of religious balance and moderation, veering neither to the right nor the left. We envision this path of balance as being that which adheres to the essential prescriptions of the Qur'an and the Sunnah as traditionally defined (on aqida, ibada and kaba'ir), and at the same time is open to discussion of alternative viewpoints on non-essential (ie "non-core") teachings of Islam. Although it is easy to take AMILA for granted, and to assume that it will always be here, this is not the case. Just ask those who do not have an AMILA in their locality. AMILA is the fruit of years of single-minded dedication by several individuals, each of whom have made taken it upon themselves to forward the work and vision of this organization. And now we call upon you -- if you believe in our vision -- to come forward and continue our labors. (More here)
Posted by admin on Nov 10, 03 | 3:02 am
The November AMILA Gathering, our 11th anniversary meeting, featured various Ramadan dishes from around the world that were lovingly prepared, photographed, (& eaten) by the 50 attendees. Look for an upcoming Ramadan cookbook featuring these and many other recipes for sale on this site as a fundraiser for AMILA activities. Special thanks to Imam Bilal Hyde, who was one of our speakers at this year's Ramadan Spiritual Retreat, for providing us with valuable insight on the success of Muslims in America.
Posted by admin on Oct 23, 03 | 2:43 am
We'd like to thank September's guest, San Jose Mercury News reporter Matthai Chakko Kuruvila, for sharing with us his observations of the Muslim community and the challenges he faces reporting on it. There was a lot of frank discussion about how to stay true to journalistic integrity and be fair to the community. Inshallah, we plan to keep in touch with Matthai so that this goal can be reached. Thanks also to Tanvir Hassan & Hena Akhtar for sharing their home with us. Our October gathering was a bit of deja-vu for veteran AMILA members, as AMILA co-founder Asifa Quraishi joined us for a spirited discussion about madhab methodlogies. The group wasted no time in tackling several issues that face the Muslim community, focusing mainly on how implementations of Islamic law impact Muslim women. Thanks as well to long-time AMILA supporters Marghoob & Iffat Quraishi (Asifa's parents) for hosting the meeting.
Posted by admin on Oct 05, 03 | 3:07 pm
Many of you came out to work on the community mural at the July monthly gathering. Well, your efforts paid off, because the mural has since been installed, and looks fabulous! Go here to see the finished work. The meeting was followed by a celebration of alliances between the Muslim, Arab, South Asian and Japanese communities. On August 9th, AMILA held its 11th annual picnic. We had a mix of regular attendees and new faces with plenty of little kids running around and soaking each other with water balloons. Unfortunately we've heard from some members that they couldn't find the location and from others who said that it took them a long time to find our spot. In hindsight it's easy to see how directions to the location weren't as clearly explained as they could have been. On behalf of the Steering Committee, we apologize if you came to the picnic and were unable to find us. Inshallah next year we will make a better effort to ensure that this oversight doesn't occur again.
Posted by admin on Oct 05, 03 | 2:58 pm
The shariah, in fact, is not at all the externalistic system of rules that the phrase "Islamic law" connotes. The rules that comprise the shariah, that theoretically govern our actions, are like the continents upon the earth's surface. Deeper than the shallow glance, is the place where the shariah does its real work, where it functions to shape the individual's nafs so that he or she can truly become a mu'min, a keeper of the primordial covenant. It is in those depths, that each of us grapples with the shariah, parts of ourselves pulling us ever downward into darkness, parts of us pulling us upward toward the light and the breaking surface. The truth is that the arduous process of acting rightly in the world, happens mostly on the inside. The shariah is, in reality, a spiritual path. (More here)
Posted by admin on Jul 23, 03 | 12:32 am
A core principle of Islam is that of tawhid, or unity. Not only does this mean the unity of Allah (swt), but also, through Him, of all creatures, by virtue of being part of His creation. At no point does a person, an object, or a place - no matter how mundane - ever stop being part of the divine plan, imbued with the divine spirit. Muslim architecture mirrors the principle of tawhid by making few conscious divisions between the sacred and the secular. Structures often combine within themselves both aspects: a masjid may at other times function as a madrasa, a caravanserai, a hospital, or even a vending stall. (More here)
Posted by admin on May 23, 03 | 12:02 am
Through the efforts of Nadeem (AMILA Project Coordinator) and Sr. Munira Zareh (ICCNC), plans are underway to conduct a once-monthly soup kitchen out of the ICCNC in downtown Oakland. We're planning this effort with the intention, inshallah, of building toward a weekly or even nightly soup kitchen as our success builds. Special thanks to St. Vincent De Paul for helping "seed" the project with food from their kitchen. This will be a great project to feed the poor in downtown Oakland, but we can only succeed with your consistent help! For more information, or to volunteer, contact Nadeem Bawani at jadugar09(at)yahoo.com.
Posted by admin on Dec 22, 02 | 5:01 am
AMILA is planning to set up tables at Bay Area prayers locations on the day of Eid al-Adha (in the first week of February), in order to collect donations for next year's gift drive. We hope through this effort to collect nearly the entire amount needed. All money collected by AMILA for the toy drive will go directly to that effort and remain distinct from other AMILA activities. If you can help staff tables, make posters, make arrangements with masajid, or would just like to donate, please contact Hina Azam. (More here)
Posted by admin on Nov 09, 02 | 5:09 pm
By Asifa Quraishi: If you're looking for AMILA memories, I guess I'm as far back as you can go. The group was conceived in the late summer of 1992 around my beloved coffee table in my living room. We had been talking for several weeks about the frustration we and others in our generation were feeling at not having a real outlet for our interests in furthering Islamic values and work in American society (it's a long and different story about why the existing organizations and mosques weren't appropriate, but suffice it to say, we thought there was a lot of talent out there that wasn't getting tapped fully). So we figured we'd invite over the bulk of the entries in our collective address books and see if there was any interest in creating a sort of community for each other. (More here)
Posted by admin on Oct 13, 02 | 2:31 am
Born out of necessity ten years ago in the Bay Area, AMILA has been an ongoing experiment in identity and culture. And despite all the uncertainties that such a process entails, our success has been truly remarkable. Now recognized as one of the nation's most dynamic Muslim organizations, AMILA is entering its second decade as an influential voice among Muslims and non-Muslims alike. (More here)
Posted by admin on Sep 13, 02 | 2:00 pm
Today (9/21) a dedicated group of AMILA volunteers showed up at 7 a.m. in order to sell items and donations for the AMILA Eid Gift Drive Fundraising Garage Sale, which raises funds to provide toys at Ramadan for Bay Area children in need. Thank you to everyone who helped with the AMILA garage sale this year, through your generous donations of time and items. Once again, it was a huge success, enabling us to help many children throughout the Bay Area this Eid. Much to our own amazement, we made $1200 today.
Posted by admin on Sep 10, 02 | 2:00 am
AMILA thanks the hundreds of people who turned out for our "Walk for Remembrance & Peace" this past Sunday in Oakland. We prayed together, made new friends, spoke out against terrorism, and committed ourselves to working for peace. Media coverage of our "Walk for Remembrance and Peace" included TV reports on local affiliates for NBC and ABC, KRON, and Spanish language station Univision; newspaper articles in the Oakland Tribune (front page story and pictures), San Jose Mercury News, San Francisco Chronicle, and the Contra Costa Times. Radio reports were heard on KCBS, KPFA Pacifica Radio, and KQED. Watch the news videos and read the articles here.
Posted by admin on Jun 02, 02 | 9:32 pm
In May, the AMILA Steering Committee had a networking event with Nosei, a Japanese-American activist group. There was discussion on Islam and the Muslim community's reaction to 9/11. Nosei members shared with us reflections on Japanese internment during WWII. One of the guests included veteran activist Yuri Kochiyama, a former internment camp resident who worked on Japanese reparations, nuclear disarmament, and international prisoners' rights. She was also a close associate of Malcolm X, and she was photographed holding him after he was assassinated at the Audubon Ballroom on February 21, 1965. (More here)
Posted by admin on Apr 22, 02 | 10:15 pm
Special thanks to Yusuf and Safiyya Saib for hosting the April meeting with Prof. Ahmad Dallal. Alhamdulillah, the meeting was well-attended, with over 40 people, including a number of children. Prof. Dallal gave an overview of 20th c. Islamic reformist movements, which was then followed by discussion which ranged from the problem of authoritarianism in contemporary political Islamist ideology, to the current situation in Palestine and the way it is utilized by Arab-Muslim and Western states alike. The discussion went till atleast 10 pm, and we thank Prof. Dallal as well as the hosts for their patience with us. (More here)
Posted by admin on Apr 22, 02 | 10:14 pm
Hosting is a great way to get to know the AMILA community and to become a more integral part of it. Your home should have a continuous space capable of fitting about 25-30 people (on the floor is fine), and ideally will have a side room or yard where children can play. Hosts are asked to provide drinks and paper/plasticware, and to find a nearby pizza (or other halal) place that delivers. Also, AMILA Steering Committee meetings are normally held at the hosts' home three hours prior (i.e., at 3 pm or so), and we try to be as unobtrusive as possible. Email us at admin(at)amila.org if you're interested. (More here)
Posted by admin on Mar 03, 02 | 10:17 pm
Members of AMILA participated in a "Day of Remembrance" on February 24th, where over 500 members of the Japanese-American community and their friends lit candles in memory of those interned for their race during WWII. Throughout the event, organizers called for solidarity with Arab, Muslim, and South Asian Americans and their civil liberties. AMILA members were asked to light one of the ceremonial candles, each representing a different internment camp.
Posted by admin on Feb 23, 02 | 10:19 pm
AMILA condemns the cold-blooded killing of the American journalist Daniel Pearl by Pakistani extremists. Their horrific action demeans not only the sanctity of human life, but the commitment to investigate the truth, to report that truth with honesty, and to risk one's life in the process. This is the anniversary of the last sermon of our Prophet, may peace be on him, who admonished Muslims, "Treat others justly so that no one would be unjust to you. Remember that you will indeed meet your Lord, and that He will indeed reckon your deeds." Our prayers are with Pearl's wife and unborn son, family, and friends during this difficult time.
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