Muslim teen honored for saving blind man's life

Salam/Peace:

Osman Hersi dismissed his own fears to save the life of a blind man who had fallen to the tracks at the Sheppard subway station and lay unconscious.

And yesterday the 17-year-old student was honoured by the TTC for his bravery.

Surrounded by family and friends, Hersi told TTC commissioners what happened at 8:25 a.m. on June 8 while on his way to school.

"When he fell in, I thought to myself, `Get this guy out as quick and as safe as possible,'" Hersi said. "I knew the third rail had electricity, so I tried to avoid that. When I jumped in, I lifted up the guy, who was unconscious. I jumped up myself. And a minute or so later, the train came."

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Muslim Motel Owner Helps Katrina Evacuees

Salam/Peace:

Shabaz Khan Sherwani wished he'd known guests who arrived Monday night were from New Orleans. They left his La Quinta Inn that Tuesday morning. Sherwani figures it's because they were out of money. If he'd known, he would have insisted they stay put, money or no money.

So, now he's asking guests to show their driver's licenses when they check into the motel near Norcross.

Shabaz Khan Sherwani, owner of the La Quinta Inn on Peachtree Industrial Boulevard, has opened up the motel — and his heart — to help evacuees from New Orleans and other areas affected.

Sherwani wants to know if anybody's from Louisiana, Alabama or Mississippi. He wants to know because he wants to help, something he's been doing a lot of the past six days.

"You see the pain on their faces," said Sherwani, a Pakastani native who moved to Atlanta 16 years ago."It's a world responsibility to help."

[...]

On Thursday, 17 families from the Crescent City were staying at Sherwani's hotel, located off Peachtree Industrial Boulevard. Another 60 were expected to arrive through the night. The $367 weekly rate has been cut to $200. Rooms with double beds, usually $55, now rent for $45. No money? No problem. Sherwani will find someone — or some way — to pay.

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http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/gwinnett/0905/04badie.html

Muslim leader to honor 9/11 heroes

Salam/Peace:

Indianapolis firefighter and Muslim leader Michael Saahir on Sunday will honor the memory of the policemen and firefighters who died while trying to help people in the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001, by leading an interfaith prayer service and a work project to improve the lives of senior citizens in Indianapolis.

[...]

The participants in the fourth annual "Respond to the Call" event will then paint, clean and do yard work at designated senior citizens' homes in Haughville, a Near-Westside neighborhood. Volunteers will include participants from Nur-Allah, the Christamore House, the Islamic Society of North America and different congregations of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).

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http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050910/LIVING/509100329/1007/LIVING