By Juan Alvarado This is an interesting list of surnames commonly seen among people of Hispanic descent and among the people of Spain. Juan Galvan sent me this list (most of), which is attributable to Francisco Rodriguez. I have been personally working on my own list of Spanish names, place names, and words, some of which I have interspersed within this list. Many of the names he listed I had also found, so there are many commonalities within our studies. There is also some divergence. Wherever there are names in disagreement, I have placed the name and/or word I think
Read MoreThe Latino Muslim Voice
What is Millati Islami? Millati Islami is a 12-step self-help program based on the Al-Qur’an and Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). Millati Islami is a fellowship of people joined together on “The Path of Peace.” We look to Allah (God) to guide us on Millati Islami, which means the Path of Peace. Millati Islami is designed to help combat the disease of addictions, such as to drugs/alcohol, violence, anger, or food. These addictions are only a few that have taken a firm place in society and have caused a great increase in the prison population. As recovering addicts, we
Read MoreBy Dawud Burgess Many have written and talked about what it is like to live inside a prison. Nonetheless, a great number of these authors have never lived in one of these institutions, or even seen the inside. While numerous letters have been written about prisons, and many theories abound on what the prison experience is like, very few of us know first hand what it is like to live inside a prison cell. Very few prisoners talk about the things they saw in that place. To understand what it means to be a Muslim while doing time, or what
Read MoreBy Daniel Denton Friday, March 24 2006 Assalamu Aleikum brothers and sisters, Alhamdulillah. Today I had an opportunity to go to one of the correctional facilities here in California, and I witnessed something that I have NEVER witnessed before. And, if I did not believe in Allah’s Greatness, I would have sworn that what I was witnessing was an optical illusion. It was the brothers’ post Eid celebration, and there were about forty brothers in attendance. As I was waiting in the chapel, I noticed African American brothers coming in, and then a few “brown” or Chicano brothers started coming.
Read MoreBy Juan Galvan –Juan: I am from time to time asked about Latino Muslim prisoners. Unfortunately, not much information is available about Latino Muslim prisoners. I have exchanged letters with various Latino Muslim prisoners. I want to share with you letters by a Latino Muslim prisoner from New Mexico. After finding my address in a Muslim magazine, Joe Segura sent me the following letter. September 20, 2002 Peace be upon you,My name is Joe Segura. I am a Mexican-Muslim from New Mexico. I am doing time in prison for things I’ve done wrong in my past. Thanks to Allah. He
Read MoreBy Tariq Nelson http://MuslimMatters.org/2007/05/14 May 14th, 2007 Alhamdulillah, after much planning and preparation, last Saturday we had the Spanish language open house event “Hispanic Muslim Day” at Dar Al Hijrah with our guest speaker Muhammad Isa Garcia from Argentina – who is a graduate of Um Al Qura University in Makkah. Alhamdulillah, the community was behind the event and we had several Hispanic Muslims (as well as Muslims that are not of Hispanic descent) to bring their family members and friends to the masjid to learn about Islam and break the barriers. I feel this event was a very important
Read MoreBy Najwa Awad http://www.readingislam.com/servlet/Satellite?c=Article_C&cid=1180421294682& pagename=Zone-English-Discover_Islam%2FDIELayout The Beauty of Family in Islam In the late morning of May 12, 2007, Muslims and non-Muslims, Hispanics and non-Hispanics gathered at Dar Al Hijrah Islamic Center in northern Virginia for an extraordinary event. It was the first ever Hispanic Muslim Day. People of various ages, ethnicities, and religions gathered for a day of meaningful and insightful dialogue. Although the event was specifically geared toward the Hispanic community, organizers of the event were successful in fostering a friendly environment and welcoming all to participate and contribute to the open discussion. Introduction to Basic Beliefs During
Read MoreBy neQiniso Abdullah “Jesus is God’s only son,”The Christians still insist.But how could such a thing be done;No mates for Him exist! Don’t they know that with this claimThey say that God’s a male,Who needs a son to bear His name,As if His life could fail! Those who choose to speculateAnd assign to God a sex,Reduce Him to man’s carnal stateAnd jeopardize their necks! But any who place on God this lieShould rightly fear His wrath.His lofty throne is far too highAbove man’s sensual path. Now, if a farmer timely sowsA seed in fertile land,Would we consider that which growsTo
Read More“Goodness and evil are not equal. Repel evil with what is better. Then that person with whom there was hatred, may become your intimate friend!”- Qur’an 41:34. “Nay — whoever submits his whole self, to God and is a doer of good — he will get his reward with his Lord; on such shall be no fear nor shall they grieve.” – Qur’an 2:112. The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said, “The believers, in their love, mercy and kindness to one another are like a body: if any part of it is ill, the whole body shares its sleeplessness and fever.” –
Read More1. As-salaamu “˜alaykum (Peace be upon you) – By way of greetings 2. Wa alaykumus salaam (And peace be upon you) – In reply to the greetings 3. Bismillah (In the name of Allah) – Before making a beginning 4. Jazakallah (May Allah reward you) – For expression of thanks 5. Fi Amanullah (May Allah protect you) – By way of saying good-bye 6. Subhaanallah (Glory be to Allah) – For praising something 7. Insha Allah (If Allah wishes) – For expressing a desire to do something 8. Astaghfirullah (I beg Allah for forgiveness) – Repenting for sins before Allah
Read More1. As-salámu aleikum – El saludo universal musulmán que significa “La paz esté contigo.” 2. Wa aleikum as-salám – La respuesta al saludo encima. Significa, “Y la paz esté con usted.” 3. Bismiláh – Significa “En el nombre de Dios.” Se dice antes de hacer cualquier cosa. 4. Yazak Alá – Significa “Que Dios te recompense.” Se dice como expresión de gracias. 5. Fi Amanuláh – Significa “Que Dios te protege.” Se dice como expresión de despedida. 6. Subjánalah – Significa “Gloria a Dios.” Se dice cuando elogiando algo. 7. Incha Alá – Significa “Si Dios quiere u Ojala.” Se
Read MoreBy Zeina Mena How unpredictable is life! I never thought that I would be sitting here writing about a conversion story. Nevertheless, I never knew how much meaning it would pose on my life. I come from a broken family, which is almost normal in America. I was born and raised in New York City, and I am of Dominican descent. I grew up Catholic, went to Catholic school, and went to Catholic Church along with completing all of my rituals except for marriage. I always saw myself as a person that was close to God, especially after my parents’
Read MoreBy Juan Galvan Assalaam alaykum, In Quran 49:13, Allah (SWT) has stated, “O mankind! We created you from a single soul, male and female, and made you into nations and tribes, so that you may come to know one another. Truly, the most honored of you in God’s sight is the greatest of you in piety. God is All-Knowing, All-Aware.” The wisdom found in the Quran never ceases to amaze me. The most honored in the sight of our Creator are those with the greatest piety. Although we all come from a single soul, we are now scattered throughout this
Read MoreBy Syed Abul Ala Maududi Excerpts from his book, “The Fundamentals of Islam.” Nature of journey for Hajj The people of the world are usually aware of two kinds of journey. One journey is that which is made to earn livelihood. The second one is that which is undertaken for pleasure and sight-seeing. In both [of] these journeys, a man is impelled to go abroad by his need and desire. He leaves home for a purpose of his own, he spends money or time for his own requirements, therefore, no question of sacrifice arises in such a journey. But the
Read MoreBy Samantha Sanchez The Masjid as a Center for Community, as a Nucleus of the Muslim Society Beyond establishing prayer, the function of the mosque is to provide for the needs of the community. Islamic cities were built with this purpose in mind, just look throughout North Africa and Europe. The mosque was at the center surrounded by the market and residence areas. Thus making the mosque of central importance in all aspects: socially, academically, politically, militarily, culturally, and so on. The community mosque, despite limited space in some communities, should provide a number of services for the community beyond
Read MoreBy Idriis Garcia http://www.albaseerah.org/forum/showthread.php?p=2377#post2377 March 15th, 2006 Beautiful” I hate it. Two thoughts I kept repeating in my head and upon my tongue. Not about the same thing but in fact different matters which are in contrast themselves. The first was like a dream. Being in Makkah, praying at the Haram, making “˜Umrah, learning firsthand from the big scholars, then Madeenah, praying at the Haram, attending the sittings of more big scholars, and every morning being awoken for fajr by a live adhaan” beautiful. While I was enjoying this bliss, I would occasionally recollect what it was like back in
Read MoreBy Amiira bint Fernando http://www.albaseerah.org/forum/showthread.php?p=2378#post2378 March 15th, 2006 “We’re actually going to Makkah and Madinah?!” I could not bring myself to believe that my zowj and I were going to have the opportunity to make our “˜Umrah, as well, as learn from some of the top “˜Ulamaah. Subhan’Allaah, it was like a dream come true. As I looked out the window of the airplane, I still felt myself in doubt. Why me? I embraced this beautiful and wonderful Deen in March 1999, and still felt that there was so much more I needed to perfect before being worthy of setting
Read MoreBy Juan Galvan – What is LADO?The number of questions I receive about the Latino American Dawah Organization (LADO) always surprises me. I think that our website already provides plenty of information about LADO. You can learn about LADO at www.LatinoDawah.org. Latino Muslims from New York founded LADO in September 1997. They were concerned that few Latinos were coming to Islam, and they wondered what they could do. They also wanted to address common concerns of new Latino Muslims. For example, LADO set out to reassure Latino Muslims about their identity as both Latinos and Muslims. – What does LADO
Read MoreBy Maria Enriqueta Romero Bismellah Soy MexicanaSoy MusulmanaDe ser Malinche* no se nada He reclamado mi herenciaHumanaFemeninaMi dignidadComo mujer y madre Levanto la frenteOrgullosamenteMi velo es mi escudoMi fe, la espadaPara combatirLa opresionMientras vivo for ElNo me falta nada Estas lagrimas no sonDebilidadSolo agradezcoser Esclava de un MaestroQue me ha elevadoPulidoInshallah Perdonado Soy MexicanaSoy MusulmanaAlhamdulilah Soy Esclava de Allah Comment: Malinche, Malinalli, or Doña Marina as she is sometimes, known was a translator for Cortez and some say, facilitated the Conquest of Mexico. For many years, if you were thought to have betrayed your Raza, you were called a Malinche,
Read More“Read in the name of thy Lord and Cherisher Who created man out of a (mere) clot of congealed blood. Read! And they Lord is most Bountiful, He who taught the use of the Pen, Taught man that which he knew not.” – Qur’an 96:1-5. The people of Yemen used to come for Hajj and used not to bring enough provisions with them and used to say that they depend on Allah. On their arrival in Medina they used to beg the people, and so Allah revealed, “And take a provision (with you) for the journey, but the best provision
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