Positive Muslim News

Imam leads campaign against forced marriages

2012-05-03T05:42:00.000-07:00

A Muslim scholar has launched a groundbreaking campaign against forced marriage in Scotland. Shaykh Amer Jamil says the practice has no place in Islam. During the next few weeks leaflets and sermons are being given in mosques as part of an initiative to educate the community. "In the Muslim community there's a misconception amongst some people that religion allows this, that parents have an Islamic right to choose partner of their children, and that they don't have a choice in this," says the Glasgow-based Imam. [...] "The only thing that can break a cultural norm for Muslims is the religion," he explains. "So when you come down and say in Islam the prophet was against this practice, nobody can argue with you," he says. Read the whole article at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-17908548

Bangladeshi Muslim Rickshaw Driver Builds Hospital

2012-02-20T05:55:00.000-08:00

One rickshaw driver, who saved for 30 years on $6 per day, founded a small hospital in the remote village of Tanhashadia. His efforts have made him a national celebrity and his clinic now treats 300 patients each day.

Watch the video at:
http://www.aljazeera.com/video/asia/2012/02/2012219114012469822.html

Jewish, Muslim volunteers join to help out during Christmas

2011-12-27T10:25:00.001-08:00

Ari Goldberg filled Styrofoam cup after Styrofoam cup with lemonade from a giant jug cooler in soup kitchen at the St. Leo Catholic Church's on Detroit's west side on Christmas morning.

The 13-year-old West Bloomfield resident was one of about two dozen volunteers from the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit who helped prepare and serve a festive holiday meal to less-fortunate people.

It was part of the organization's annual Mitzvah Day program, the largest single day of volunteering by the region's Jewish community, which enables Christians to spend the holiday at home with their loved ones, according to the Federation. This year, for the third time, an estimated 1,000 Jewish volunteers joined forces with their Muslim neighbors

Read the whole article at:

http://www.freep.com/article/20111225/NEWS01/312250002/Jewish-Muslim-volunteers-join-forces-to-help-out-on-Christmas

Windsor Islamic Center to produce solar power

2011-10-10T06:47:00.000-07:00

WINDSOR, Ont. -- A new solar project on the roof the Rose City Islamic Centre has the potential to produce enough electricity to power 250 homes in the surrounding neighbourhood.

Located on Empress Street in partnership with Solgate Solar, the project will result in the installation of solar panels on about 55,000 square feet of the building's roof.

[...]

It's expected that the project will generate 250 kilowatts of power, reduce carbon monoxide emissions by 371,000 kilograms per year, save more than 500,000 acres of forest and displace more than 4,000 barrels of oil.

Read more: http://www.windsorstar.com/technology/Windsor+Islamic+centre+produce+solar+power/
5503673/story.html#ixzz1aO24bQ8b

Ugandan Muslim Religious Organization Launches Safe Motherhood Project

2011-07-29T14:50:00.001-07:00

A sh10.5b programme to sensitise Muslim women on safe motherhood and reduce the school drop-out rate among children has been launched in Kabarole district.

The programme was launched on Monday at Toro Main Mosque in Fort Portal town by the Mufti, Sheikh Shaban Ramathan Mubajje.

The four-year project worth sh10.5b was named "Keeping Mothers and Children Alive, Safe and Learning." It is funded by the Uganda Muslim Supreme Council (UMSC) and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF).

Read the whole article at:
http://allafrica.com/stories/201107281382.html

Islamic Reality TV show in Malaysia seeks best women preachers

2011-06-27T14:54:00.000-07:00

A forthcoming Islamic reality television show in Malaysia aims to find the best women preachers and change conservative mindsets on the role of women in Muslim societies.

The 13-episode prime time program titled "Solehah," an Arabic word meaning "pious female," is a talent contest that will feature charismatic young Muslim women judged by clerics on their religious knowledge as well as their oratory skills and personality.

Although Islam allows both men and women to preach the religion to society, the field remains dominated by males in most Muslim countries, something the show's producers in this mainly Muslim but multi-religious Southeast Asian country hope to change.

"If American Idol can help their contestants develop as singers, our show aims to help Muslim women develop as Islamic preachers," said Zulkarnaen Mokhtar, brand manager at the private television station which produces the show.

Read the whole article at:
http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/06/18/us-malaysia-islam-idUSTRE75H0RP20110618

Muslim 9/11 hate victim tries to save his attacker from execution

2011-06-27T14:52:00.000-07:00

Just 10 days after the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, Rais Bhuiyan was working at a gas station in Dallas when he was shot in the face by a man named Mark Stroman.

Stroman was on a shooting spree, targeting people who appeared to be Muslim or of Middle Eastern descent. Stroman is due to be executed July 20; Bhuiyan, the only survivor of the attacks, is fighting to save his life.

When Stroman entered the gas station, Bhuiyan initially thought it was a routine robbery.

"I opened the cash register, offered him the cash, and requested him not to shoot me," Bhuiyan tells weekends on All Things Considered host Laura Sullivan. "In reply he asked me, 'Where are you from?' And the question seemed strange to ask during a robbery. And I said, 'Excuse me?' And as soon as I spoke, I felt the sensation of a million bees stinging my face, and then heard an explosion."

Bhuiyan required medical attention for years after the attack. The bullet hit him on the right side of the face, leaving severe injuries, particularly to his right eye.

[...]

"According to my faith in Islam, there is no hate, no killing. It doesn't allow anything like that," says Bhuiyan. "Yes, Mark Stroman did a horrible thing, and he brought a lot of pain and disaster, sufferings in my life. But in return I never hated him."

Bhuiyan has created a website called World Without Hate to educate others about hate crimes as a means of preventing them. He's also working with Amnesty International and Stroman's defense attorney, who has filed several appeals on Stroman's death sentence.

Read the whole story at:
http://www.npr.org/2011/06/19/137283467/9-11-hate-crime-victim-seeks-to-save-his-attacker

Positive Muslim News is now on Facebook!

2011-06-27T14:47:00.000-07:00

Well, Positive Muslim News realized that it should be on Facebook, so better late than never. Please check out the page:

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Positive-Muslim-News/232420980115131?sk=wall

Eco-mosque is another powerful symbol of Islamic ingenuity

2011-06-25T08:42:00.000-07:00

News that a small Muslim community in Norderstedt, Germany, has pioneered renewable energy sources by placing a wind turbine within the minaret of their mosque comes as a welcome surprise to most. Yet for some commentators the minaret continues to symbolise the march of an intolerant Islam intent on proselytising liberal Europe, a view made clear in 2009 when a Swiss referendum banned the construction of any new minarets.

To those versed in the proclivities of Islamic art and architecture, however, the mosque and its minaret have always stood as positive examples of syncretism.

Read the whole article at:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/belief/2011/jun/24/eco-mosque-wind-turbine

Muslims donate $26,000 to Greater Chicago Food Depository

2011-05-11T12:31:00.000-07:00

He is not a true follower who eats to his satisfaction and sleeps comfortably at night while his neighbor goes hungry - and he is aware of it."

Hadith of the Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him

Under the visionary leadership of Zakat Chicago, a committee of the Council of Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago, on May 5, the Greater Chicago Food Depository received a check for more than $20,000 to provide supplies for food pantries across Chicagoland. The Northern Illinois Food Bank received another $6,000 for food for the needy in the collar counties.

"Zakat Chicago has been supporting local food pantries for three years, but this year we decided to take this route to ensure that all the money is spent on food and the system is more centralized," said Maqsood Quadri, board member of CIOGC who played an instrumental role in this project. "At a time when hate against Muslims is on the rise across the nation, it is crucial to be proactive in letting our neighbors know that Muslims are helping anyone who needs assistance."

Read the whole article:
http://www.ciogc.org/Go.aspx?link=7655415

Muslim doctors offer free clinic

2011-04-04T09:21:00.000-07:00

Robert Bowling has diabetes, high blood pressure and gout, and has been unable to work since 2002.

At Thanksgiving 2009, when he had to be rushed to the emergency room at Mercy Hospital Anderson, a nurse referred him to a free clinic that had just opened in the adjacent medical office building.

The Muslim Clinic of Ohio, Cincinnati Chapter, now known as the Mercy Care Clinic, was started by a group of local Muslim physicians.

“I think a lot of the American public sees the news and thinks if they see a Muslim that they’re automatically a terrorist,” said Bowling, 53, of Anderson Township.

[...]

The rest are Jewish and mostly Christian, like Jean Houck, 60, of Loveland. Unable to work for the past five years because of deteriorating health, she said the clinic has helped her deal with hypertension, high blood pressure and several stomach and digestive problems.

She is able to get prescription medicine regularly now.

“As far as any doctoring I’ve ever gotten in my life,” she said, “this is the most respect I’ve ever been treated with.”

Read the whole article at:
http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20110404/NEWS01/304040037/1196/NEWS010702/Muslim-doctors-offer-free-clinic-?odyssey=nav|head

Muslim Innkeeper offers to house 400 disaster-zone refugees in Japan

2011-03-19T06:25:00.000-07:00

A Bangladeshi resident of Japan who owns several hotels and restaurants offered Friday to house about 400 people displaced by the massive earthquake and tsunami in the Tohoku region.

Akter Hossain, owner of the Hotel Asian Garden and Hotel Lake Garden in Tochigi Prefecture, contacted the Foreign Ministry on Friday, offering completely free accommodations and food for quake evacuees at his two hotels.

[...]

Hossain, a 25-year resident of Japan, said he had canceled all reservations at the two hotels in Nikko and was on his way to Tochigi Friday night, bringing 200 kg of rice with him. He said he hadn't set any time frame and believes the people will leave "when the crisis has passed."

Read the whole article at:
http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nn20110319b2.html

Muslim Group wins Cornell's Perkins Prize

2011-03-09T17:59:00.000-08:00

The 17th annual James A. Perkins Prize for Interracial Harmony and Understanding was presented March 8 to the Committee for the Advancement of Muslim Culture. Honorable mentions went to Cindy van Es for her Business Opportunities in Leadership and Diversity (BOLD) program, among other efforts, and to Peter Van Do on behalf of the "Exit Saigon, Enter Little Saigon" Smithsonian Traveling Exhibit Program Series.

Sara Rahman '12, president and founder of the Committee for the Advancement of Muslim Culture, who accepted the award on behalf of the committee, noted in her application that the committee recruited a diverse group of 50 Muslims and non-Muslims to promote its mission of advocating for a space on campus "where students can come together to network, socialize and discuss the challenges Muslim Americans face in the post 9/11 world."

Read the whole article at:
http://www.news.cornell.edu/stories/March11/PerkinsPrizeCover.html

Muslim teen inspires bone marrow drive

2011-02-18T07:44:00.000-08:00

When doctors diagnosed Bilal Mallick with leukemia in January, they told his parents a bone marrow transplant often presented the best chance for survival and a cure.

But of 9 million potential donors on the national registry, only 160,000 are South Asian, making the likelihood of finding a match unlikely.

So as Bilal, 15, began his first round of chemotherapy at Advocate Hope Children's Hospital in Oak Lawn last month, his congregation at the Islamic Foundation of Villa Park set out to save his life, spawning a movement in mosques across suburban Chicago and the nation.

On Friday, hundreds of Chicago area Muslims will flock to mosques in Villa Park, Des Plaines and Naperville to participate in weekly congregational prayers. They also will have the opportunity to swab their cheeks and add their names to the roster of bone marrow donors ready to step up if their DNA is a match.

Unable to fight off a sudden infection, Bilal died Sunday before many of the drives could take place. His unexpected death has fueled the urgency of the cause for the Muslim community.

[...]

But a nonsurgical innovation in bone marrow harvesting has made it more acceptable and even encouraged, said Sheikh Abdool Rahman Khan, resident scholar at the Islamic Foundation of Villa Park, where Bilal's family worships.

"Saving one life is like saving humanity. So we see the saving of a life any way we can so long as our life is not endangered," Khan said.

[...]

"He was just darling," said Spanish teacher Emily Bishop, who received one of those texts, adding that he walked into her class every day eating a sandwich. "Whatever he had, he shared. He shared his heart. He shared his sandwich. He shared his smile. That's how he lived his life"

Read the whole article at:
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/religion/ct-met-muslim-bone-marrow-donors-20110217,0,5426899.story

Green Mosque design concept wins award in faith-based architectural competition

2011-01-29T08:56:00.000-08:00

The Green Mosque entry, which incorporates traditional architectural elements in a modern urban context, featuring several sustainable elements was awarded the Best Free-standing Religious Structure in the competition The Building: Problem or Solution by the Chicago-based organization Faith in Place.

Read more about the entry at:
http://buildingcompetition.faithinplace.org/winners2.html

Read more about the competition at:
http://buildingcompetition.faithinplace.org/index.html

Muslims serve Christmas Eve Dinner to 300 in Montreal

2010-12-26T20:52:00.000-08:00

It was in a spirit of giving that members of a South Shore mosque contributed $2,000 to sponsor the Christmas Eve supper at the Old Brewery Mission and spent two hours serving it to more than 300 people.

This is double the minimum $1,000 contribution the mission seeks from those who sponsor a supper.

It was believed to be the first time an Islamic community group has volunteered to sponsor and serve an evening meal at the mission, officials said.

Following afternoon prayers at the mission on Clark St., about 20 members of the Islamic Community Centre of Brossard set the tables and passed plates of chicken, rice and steamed carrots to the first shift of diners.

Read more: http://www.montrealgazette.com/life/Muslims+serve+Christmas+dinner+Brewery+Mission/4026100/story.html#ixzz19HjA75cW

Cornell Muslim student wins prestigious Marshall Scholarship

2010-11-29T16:14:00.000-08:00

College Scholar and government major Ali Hussain '11 has won a 2010 Marshall Scholarship. He is one of 40 Americans chosen for two years of graduate study in England. Hussain will study for an M.Phil. in politics at Oxford University.

"I was extremely surprised and humbled when I got the acceptance from the British Consul General. Being a student of government, studying at Oxford and having access to its primary documents and diverse faculty have always been a dream of mine," said Hussain.

Earlier this year, Hussain received a Harry S. Truman Scholarship in recognition of his academic achievements, leadership and commitment to a career in public service.

"I know for a fact that these fellowships would not be possible without the phenomenal support I have gotten at Cornell," Hussain said. "[Fellowship coordinator] Beth Fiori and [fellowship associate] Cheryl Littell have provided me invaluable support throughout the whole process, and I am very grateful for the faculty I have gotten so close to throughout my time here at Cornell. They have been such an influence on my academic development and provided me the letters of support necessary to get the Marshall."

Read more at:
http://www.news.cornell.edu/stories/Nov10/MarshallScholar.html

Islam's Billy Graham takes on Al-Qaeda

2010-11-26T15:49:00.000-08:00

Marking a shift in strategy, the Yemeni government has launched a coordinated media campaign aimed at countering the message of an increasingly active Al Qaeda offshoot, recruiting one of the Arab world’s most popular televangelists in the process.

Amr Khaled, a charismatic and moderate Egyptian preacher, is known as the Arab world’s Billy Graham. Khaled, together with the Yemeni government and numerous local media outlets, this week launched a full-scale media blitz to protect the country’s large, and often disenfranchised, population of young people from Al Qaeda’s extremist ideology.

“The purpose of this project is to uproot extremism and spread moderation, to show the true face of Islam, and show a bright picture of Yemen to the world," Khaled said at the campaign's opening ceremony here in the southern port city of Aden.

An entourage of icons from the world of Islamic preaching will also embark on an extended media campaign over the next few weeks, delivering a string of speeches propagated through Yemen’s media outlets, forums, websites, mosque pulpits and television channels.

Read the whole article at:
http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/middle-east/101125/yemen-al-qaeda-billy-graham-amr-khaled

Interreligious Dialog Conference wraps up in Iran

2010-11-18T09:49:00.000-08:00

The Centre for Inter-Religious Dialogue of the Islamic Culture and Relations Organisation (Tehran, Iran) and the Pontifical Council for Inter-religious Dialogue held their seventh colloquium in Tehran from 9 to 11 November under the joint presidency of Mohammad Baqer Khorramshad, president of the Islamic Culture and Relations Organisation, and of Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran, president of the Pontifical Council for Inter- religious Dialogue.

[...]

The participants also emphasised the necessity of continuing on the path of a genuine and fruitful dialogue. The next colloquium will take place in Rome in 2012.

Read the whole article at:
http://www.examiner.com/catholic-in-norfolk/conclusion-of-the-7th-meeting-on-inter-religious-dialogue-tehran

Muslim scholar appeals for release of three American students imprisoned in Iran

2010-09-04T05:08:00.001-07:00

The following is a personal appeal by Ambassador Akbar Ahmed to the Supreme Leader of Iran, Grand Ayatollah Ali Hoseyni Khāmene'i, to show Islamic compassion during Ramadan, the month of fasting, and free the three young American hikers who have been held in Iran for over a year. The appeal comes in advance of the Night of Power, which falls in the last days of the month. It is the time when Muslims are called to show special mercy and kindness. Ambassador Ahmed delivered this appeal, the first on behalf of the hikers by an Islamic scholar, to the senior most Iranian diplomat in Washington, D.C. last week.

The following is the text of the letter:

http://newsweek.washingtonpost.com/onfaith/panelists/akbar_ahmed/2010/09/an_appeal_by_an_islamic_scholar_to_grand_ayatollah_khamenei_of_iran.html

Islamic Relief awarded four stars by Charity Navigator for seventh year, described a worthy of public 'trust'

2010-08-01T10:20:00.000-07:00

(Washington, D.C.)—For the seventh consecutive year, non-profit relief and development organization Islamic Relief USA is pleased to announce that it has been awarded "four stars" for its fiscal transparency and organizational efficiency from leading charity evaluator Charity Navigator.

"This is an accomplishment everyone can take pride in," said Abed Ayoub, CEO of Islamic Relief USA. "Our organization is built on the spirit of our volunteers and the conviction of our donors to make a difference. We take this trust very seriously and do what we can to keep overhead costs low in order to maximize our resources for those in need."

According to the Charity Navigator website, its rating system is based on an evaluation of an organization's financial health, efficiency, and capacity in comparison with the performances of similar charities. A four-star rating indicates that a charity's organizational efficiency and organizational capacity "exceeds industry standards and outperforms most charities in its cause."

"Only 2% of the charities we rate have received at least 7 consecutive 4-star evaluations, indicating that Islamic Relief USA consistently executes its mission in a fiscally responsible way, and outperforms most other charities in America," said Charity Navigator President and CEO Ken Berger in a letter. "This ‘exceptional' designation from Charity Navigator differentiates Islamic Relief USA from its peers and demonstrates to the public it is worthy of their trust."

About Islamic Relief USA: Inspired by Islam's values on charitable giving and community development, IR USA is a relief organization dedicated to alleviating poverty through disaster relief and development projects in the U.S. and globally for communities regardless of color, race, religion, or creed. For more information, please visit www.islamicreliefusa.org.

Islamic Relief USA's response efforts to Hurricane Katrina assisted over 60,000 people in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas, and also raised more than $2.2 million dollars for the Haiti earthquake.

Its domestic programs include "Day of Dignity" (www.dayofdignity.com), an annual campaign to provide thousands of homeless and underserved people in cities across America with food, clothing, blankets, medical care, first aid, and other social needs.

Read the press release here:
http://www.religionnews.com/index.php?%2Fpressreleases%2Fislamic_relief_usa_awarded_four_stars_from_charity_navigator_for_7th_consec%2F

Muslim cleaner returns $50,000 found while on duty

2010-07-13T13:50:00.000-07:00

A Pakistani hotel employee has won acclaim after handing in over $50,000 (£33,000) in cash that had been left behind by a guest.

Essa Khan, 51, discovered the money in $100 notes left in the room of a Japanese worker at the Serena Hotel in Gilgit.

Mr Khan, who earns about 21,000 rupees ($235; £153) a month, says he never considered keeping the money.

He has been invited to receive an award from a state governor for his honesty.

"My duty with the hotel and my family upbringing teaches me nothing else," he said.

"Times are hard for everyone, but that doesn't mean we should start stealing and taking things which do not belong to us."

Read the whole article at:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/world/south_asia/10603417.stm

Muslim becomes president of Chicago interfaith body

2010-06-30T06:43:00.000-07:00

June 21 was a proud day for the Illinois Muslim community as they saw Brother Kareem Irfan address the Council of Religious Leaders of Metropolitan Chicago as the first Muslim to be elected President of this interfaith organization. Br. Kareem is a former Chairperson of the CIOGC and has been active in interfaith and advocacy work for several years.

The Council of Religious Leaders strives to create a climate of understanding by sharing the insights of the various religious faiths on issues affecting the common good. It seeks to act with a unified voice on social issues affecting the people of Chicagoland.

The CIOGC was represented at the event by Dr. Zaher Sahloul, Tasneem Osmani, Saleem Sheikh, Maqsood Quadri, Dr. Kaiseruddin and Mohamed Nasir along with Board Members from our member organizations like Mosque Foundation and Islamic Foundation.

“It was truly a historic event to see a Chicago Muslim, our own Br. Kareem Irfan, address as the President of the Council of Religious Leaders of Metropolitan Chicago, to the leaders from 40 different religious organizations in the beautiful backdrop of the Garfield Park Conservatory,” said Tasneem Osmani, Vice Chair of the Council.

“I feel blessed that Allah has granted me the chance to represent the Council of Islamic Organizations and its Muslim constituency on this important inter-faith body,” said Kareem Irfan.

“It was a wonderful gathering with great speeches,” said Dr. Kaiseruddin, former Chairperson of the Council. “It was a huge recognition of Brother Kareem’s efforts and interaction with leaders over several years.”

Learn more about the Council of Religious Leaders at www.crlmc.org

Source: ISNA.net

More info about Kareem Irfan at:
http://www.crlmc.org/kareem_irfan.php

Cornell Muslim student wins $30,000 Harry S. Truman scholarship

2010-04-06T19:38:00.000-07:00

Ali Hussain '11 has been named a Harry S. Truman Scholar, one of 60 college juniors across the country selected as scholars in recognition of academic achievement, leadership and commitment to a career in public service. The award provides $30,000 for graduate study.

[...]

Hussain is a College Scholar and government major who plans a career in international relations with a focus on Pakistan and Afghanistan. He is a
board member of the Islamic Alliance for Justice (IAJ), a campus organization committed to protecting civil liberties and developing interfaith dialogue, empowerment of Muslim women and the mobilization of responses to injustice. IAJ has chapters at several universities and=0Aaffiliations with the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and the People for the American Way Foundation.

http://www.news. cornell.edu/ stories/April10/ TrumanScholar. html

Website for the Islamic Alliance for Justice
http://sao.cornell. edu/SO/org/ 09-10/11

Muslim Students Bring Food, Conversation to Florida Homeless

2010-03-30T17:39:00.001-07:00

A member of Project Downtown talks to a homeless man in Tampa, Florida

In the southern U.S. state of Florida, a group of American Muslim students is running a non-profit organization called Project Downtown. The project's goal is to help the poor, poor people of all backgrounds and cultures. Our correspondent went down to the city of Tampa, Florida to learn more about Project Downtown and the Muslim students who belong to it.

Like just about any major city in the United States, the city of Tampa has its share of homeless people. But it also has people who are reaching out to help Tampa's homeless.

"We are here because, in Islam, we are supposed to feed the hungry," said one of the students. "So that's our purpose here. That's all."

The students belong to Project Downtown, an organization that started about two years ago in Miami and now has branches other U.S. cities. The Tampa members of Project Downtown say what motivated them was seeing people in need.

"Project Downtown was started by a couple of groups and a couple of university students back in Miami, and people have been gathering money after seeing a problem in the community, went out and bought sandwiches," said another student. "They went to the local city hall and started feeding."

The city of Tampa has almost 350,000 people. It is estimated that about 11,000 of these are homeless. That's about three percent of the population. For the students of Project Downtown, the religion of the people they are helping does not matter. What matters is that they are in need. Jill Moreida is a member of Project Downturn.

"We come up to them," said Jill Moreida. "We don't just give them food and walk away. We don't feed them like they're at the zoo. We make friends with them; we talk with them. We interact with them. Week after week after week. And we know stories about their family. We know when they're sick. We get to develop relationships with them."

"Oh, we wait for them! We wait! You see, we waited in the rain," said a homeless man. "We got caught in the rain! We feel beautiful with them coming."

As the relationships develop, Jill says, the homeless gain a new understanding of Islam.

"They say they cannot believe how amazing the Muslims are," said Moreida. "And it's acts like that, that not only are we serving...we do it for the sake of Allah, when we're feeding them. But there's a bigger message being brought, and it's exposing a whole new realm of people to Islam. Teaching them to not be afraid of us, to not have that stereotype that we're going to hurt them or anything."

Project Downtown is one of several outreach efforts sponsored by the Muslim community of Florida. Its funding comes from other Muslim groups in the state, including the Tampa Bay Muslim Alliance. Dr. Hussein Nagamiya, a cardiologist, is head of the alliance.

"Our main idea is to feed the hungry, to clothe the poor, to address their needs, because these are homeless people, and they don't have anywhere to go," said Hussein Nagamiya. "So, we give them conveyances such as bicycles that were given away. We conduct their [medical] tests. Some of them may never have a test in the entire year. We detect diseases for them and send them on to free clinics, etc."

In addition to helping the poor and teaching people about Islam, organizations like Project Downtown and the Tampa Bay Muslim Alliance hope to achieve another goal: Showing their fellow Americans that, in the words of Dr. Nagamiya, the vast majority of American Muslims are good citizens who make positive contributions to the United States.

Article source: http://www1.voanews.com/english/news/usa/Muslim-Students-Bring-Food-Conversation-to-Florida-Homeless-89434512.html