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Madinat al-Muslimeen Islamic Message Board
| Area Muslims trying to dispel myths about their re |
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| ahmer |
| 03/21/02 at 21:25:48 |
| [slm] i am late with postin this coverage of the event held in new jersey recently.. it was an awesome event alhumdolillah.. a more detailed report insha'Allah when i return back by weekend... it was a great thing to happen .. a morale booster for muslims as one family remarked..!!:) later, [wlm] ahmer Area Muslims trying to dispel myths about their religion Sunday, March 17, 2002 By CARYN MEYERS |AND HILARY BURKE Herald News NEWARK — Ahmad Qatanani , 11, has a mission. “I’d like to prove that Islam is a religion of peace, not a religion of terrorism,” the Paterson resident said Saturday. He was one of more than two dozen children who were recognized for their achievements in social, religious and educational realms by the New Jersey chapter of the Islamic Circle of North America, as part of the organization’s first annual “Best of the Year Awards and Scholarships” ceremony. The event at Rutgers University’s Newark campus recognized Islamic knowledge and practice, academic achievements, volunteerism and sports ability, said one of the event’s coordinators. “This will set a standard of achievement for the youth and for the parents,” said Kashif Khawaja . “We want kids to have good role models in this ever-changing society around them.” The top awards recognized 10 students who were models for their generation, Khawaja said. “We would not say, ‘This guy is perfect in prayer, so he gets the award,’ because if he is a good Muslim, he should also volunteer with social organizations to help out the needy,” he said. Exactly 100 students from 41 schools, ranging from second-graders to college students, applied for the competition. The awards ranged from $250 to $750, Khawaja said. Students and elders affiliated with the Islamic Center of Passaic County in Paterson, the Al-Hikmah Islamic school in Prospect Park and the Al-Huda Islamic school in Paterson attended the event. The awards themselves were named after Islamic scholars and renowned scientists from the Islamic era, which coincided with Europe’s Dark Ages, Khawaja said. “A lot of kids do not know much about Islamic scholars,” Khawaja said, adding that many textbooks and library materials attribute scientific discoveries to Europeans, without mentioning previous breakthroughs made by Muslims. “It’s just giving the right credit where it’s due.” While the evening’s main focus was on the students, organizers also commemorated the six-month anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. Tariq Amanullah, the group’s treasurer, died oj Sept. 11th, after arriving to work on the 96th floor of one of the World Trade Center towers. Amanullah’s children were honored with awards made in the name of an early Islamic scholar revered for his patience and courage, Khawaja said. Imam Lateef Al-Amin, president of the Council of Islamic Centers of New York City, and Debra L. Stone, the New Jersey assistant attorney general, also presented keynote addresses during the event. While Qatanani did not win one of evening’s top awards, he did receive a plaque distributed to all of the more than two dozen nominees. Being recognized for his achievements was important, he said. “Right now lots of people are saying false things about my religion,” he said. “So I’d like to prove that they’re wrong.” 1344 Copyright © 2002 North Jersey Media Group Inc. Copyright infringment notice |
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