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2 Thoughts on Finding a Hajj State of Mind
Wrapped in Love A house with solid pillars holds firm, can survive the worst storms, and keeps the people that live inside safe. So too is the beauty of the five pillars of Islam: with the adoption of each pillar, another layer of security wraps around the heart. When the intentions of Hajj are made and Allah allows a believer to place their feet upon the pilgrimage, fulfilling that pillar forever changes the heart of the one who is blessed to go. As the 2019 Hajj season approaches, the words of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ ring loudly and true: “Whoever performs Hajj and does not commit any obscenity or transgression will…
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Just a Day at the Masjid With Obama
This is the story of how Naeem Muhammad, IRUSA Community Outreach Manager, didn’t quite get to emcee for President Obama, but had an amazing day at an historic event in his home city of Baltimore. Story as told to IRUSA writer Lina Hashem. I got the call on Tuesday, early morning. A good friend from Baltimore called me and asked, “Where are you?” My friends know I travel a lot for Native Deen or for relief work. I said, “I’m home, I just got back from Flint, and I’m going to the office.” He said, “They’re looking for you — they want you to emcee the event tomorrow. The White…
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Floods Hurt More Than You Can See in South Carolina
Fareeha Amir is a Video and Motion Graphics Designer at Islamic Relief USA. She reports from neighborhoods flooded in South Carolina, where IRUSA disaster response teams are servicing fellow Americans in need of emergency help. I look out of the window and try to see where the flooding has hurt the most. From up above, you can’t really see much—I’m not sure what I should be looking for. The lakes look filled and fields look wet, but most of the water the news had broadcast is gone. I’m taxing over South Carolina, getting ready to land and cover Islamic Relief USA’s efforts in flood recovery there. On the news I…