Muslim News Digest, December 31, 2024.
Editor: Zulfiqar Malik, Overland Park, Kansas, USA.
PALESTINE:
One word to describe the year 2024: ‘Genocide.’
- Muslim. https://www.muslim.co/p/one-word-to-describe-the-year-2024
- 2024: A Palestinian year in review: Genocide, resistance and unanswered questions. msn. https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/a-palestinian-year-in-review-genocide-resistance-and-unanswered-questions/ar-AA1wAkOJ
- As we step into 2025, the greatest celebration we hope for is to end Israel’s genocide. Middle East Eye. https://www.middleeasteye.net/opinion/gaza-greatest-celebration-hope-for-end-israel-genocide
- “Christ is still in the ruble”: Bethlehem Rev. Isaac calls on U.S. to stop funding Gaza genocide. Democracy Now, video 11:08. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ShTaFIrly2s&t=25s
- Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid: Former President Jimmy Carter talks about his book. January 2007 C-SPAN. https://www.c-span.org/program/american-history-tv/palestine-peace-not-apartheid/169643
- Jimmy Carter’sdaughter thanks the writer for focusing on her dad’s defense of Palestinian rights. Common Dreams. https://www.commondreams.org/news/jimmy-carter-on-palestine
- What Palestinians in Gaza would do first if a ceasefire is called. Muslim. https://www.muslim.co/p/what-palestinians-in-gaza-would-do
- A historic and successful 17th Annual Palestine Convention. AMP. https://www.ampalestine.org/media/media-room/news/historic-and-successful-17th-annual-palestine-convention-thank-you
- Yale students overwhelmingly passed the divestment referendum. https://yaledailynews.com/blog/2024/12/08/yale-students-overwhelmingly-pass-divestment-referendum/
- Which countries recognise Palestine in 2024. Aljazeera. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/11/29/which-countries-recognise-palestine-in-2024
- Amnesty International concludes Israel is commiting genocide against Palestinians in Gaza. https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2024/12/amnesty-international-concludes-israel-is-committing-genocide-against-palestinians-in-gaza/
- More than 1,000 scientists signed an open letter calling for a Gaza ceasefire. MEMO. https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20241204-more-than-1000-scientists-sign-open-letter-calling-for-gaza-ceasefire/
- Nearly one million Palestinians at risk during winter, UN agency. Middle East Eye. https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/nearly-one-million-risk-during-winter-gaza-unrwa-says
- ‘This is cruelty’: Pope slams Israeli strike killing Gaza children. Daily Sabah. https://www.dailysabah.com/world/europe/this-is-cruelty-pope-slams-israeli-strike-killing-gaza-children
- Buoyed by Asad’s ouster in Syria, Palestinians hope for an end to the Gaza war. Al-Monitor. https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2024/12/buoyed-assads-ouster-syria-palestinians-hope-end-gaza-war
USA NEWS:
- Voices at the polls: The Muslim and Arab American voters of 2024. USC Annenberg Media. https://www.uscannenbergmedia.com/2024/12/30/voices-at-the-polls-the-muslim-and-arab-american-voters-of-2024/
- 6 things you must do for yourself and the ummah in 2025. Sound Vision. https://www.soundvision.com/article/six-things-you-must-do-for-yourself-and-the-ummah-in-2025
- American Muslims: A History Revealed. PBS Videos. https://video.cascadepbs.org/show/american-muslims-a-history-revealed/episodes
- At mosques steps from campus, young Muslims take the lead. RNS. https://religionnews.com/2024/12/03/at-mosques-steps-from-campus-young-muslims-take-the-lead/
- Boston University’s Muslim chaplaincy tripled this fall. https://www.bu.edu/articles/2024/bu-muslim-chaplaincy-tripled-this-fall/
- President Jimmy Carter speaks at Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) Convention in 2014. C-SPAN video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQOVgLASFW4
- America is a potluck, not a battlefield where we defeat our fellow citizens. Eboo Patel, USA Today. https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/voices/2024/12/05/america-pluralism-potluck-obama-democracy-forum/76630787007/
- Imam Sulaiman Salaam, Jr. featured in the Kansas City Star. https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/article297013234.html
- Kalsum A Choudhry, a national award winning book author is featured in Empowered Entrepreneurship magazine. https://empoweredentrepreneurmagazine.com/kalsum-choudhry-the-thoughtful-advocate-to-live-and-experience-joy-hope-again/
- Kansas City’s Syrian community hopes to rebuild their country after the Assad regime. KCUR. https://www.kcur.org/podcast/up-to-date/2024-12-17/kansas-citys-syrian-community-hopes-to-rebuild-their-country-after-the-assad-regime
- The Biden administration releases a strategy for fighting Islamophobia. RNS. https://religionnews.com/2024/12/12/biden-administration-releases-strategy-for-fighting-islamophobia
- Trump taps Lebanon-born Massad Boulos as Arab and Middle East adviser. Aljazeera. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/12/1/trump-taps-lebanon-born-massad-boulos-as-arab-and-middle-east-adviser
- Amir Ali’s civil rights experience will strengthen our judiciary and democracy. Civil Rights. https://civilrights.org/2024/11/20/amir-alis-civil-rights-experience-will-strengthen-our-judiciary-and-democracy/
- The Hill’s Changemakers: Lina Khan, FTC Chair. https://thehill.com/changemakers2024/5034693-the-hills-changemakers-lina-khan-ftc-chair/
- Obama makes a plea for pluralism citing interfaith partnerships, megachurches. RNS. https://religionnews.com/2024/12/06/obama-makes-plea-for-pluralism-citing-interfaith-partnerships-megachurches/
- Islamic Horizons Magazine. January/February 2025 issue. Subscribe https://islamichorizons.net/?
- Halal Consumer Magazine. Subscribe https://ifanca.org/halal-consumer-magazine/
- Amani’s secret blueprint for following your dreams. Muslim Girl. https://muslimgirl.com/amanis-secret-blueprint-for-following-your-dreams/
- The Halal Guys opened their first Iowa location in Coralville. Press-Citizen. https://www.press-citizen.com/story/entertainment/dining/2024/12/18/this-popular-nyc-based-food-chain-is-coming-to-coralville/77035923007/
- First time author aims to bring Muslim representation to the superhero genre with a new book. WDET. https://wdet.org/2024/12/30/first-time-author-aims-to-bring-muslim-representation-to-the-superhero-genre-with-new-book/
- Faith communities must protest Trump’s deportation plans. RNS. https://religionnews.com/2024/12/18/faith-communities-must-protest-trumps-deportation-plans/
- Chisago County Board reverses itself, approves permit for Muslim cemetery. Minnesota Star Tribune. https://www.startribune.com/chisago-county-board-reverses-itself-approves-permit-for-muslim-cemetery/416270104
INTERNATIONAL NEWS:
- Islamic Relief Canada helps unhoused people in St. John’s during the winter warmth campaign. CBC. https://ca.news.yahoo.com/islamic-relief-helps-unhoused-people-192039018.html
- Apostolic Nuncio in South Africa lauds Christian-Muslim interfaith dialogue. RNS. https://www.vaticannews.va/en/africa/news/2024-12/south-africa-christian-muslim-interfaith-dialogue.html
- Somalia, Ethiopia agree to work together to resolve Somaliland port dispute. Reuters. https://www.reuters.com/world/erdogan-meets-somalia-ethiopia-leaders-separately-amid-somaliland-dispute-2024-12-11/
- Syrians celebrate the end of the Assad regime in the shadow of atrocities. Al-Monitor. https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2024/12/dispatch-damascus-syrians-celebrate-end-assad-reign-shadow-atrocities
- Sudan: Nearly 10,000 children vaccinated amid deadly measles outbreak. Doctors Without Borders. https://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/latest/sudan-nearly-10000-children-vaccinated-amid-deadly-measles-outbreak
- The Grand Mosque authority announces free storage for Umrah performers. Arab News. https://www.arabnews.com/node/2584309/saudi-arabia
- Resilience and inspiration: Top Muslim news makers of 2024. About Islam. https://aboutislam.net/muslim-issues/special-coverage-news/resilience-inspiration-top-muslim-newsmakers-of-2024/
- Pakistani doctor honored with ‘Order of Canada’ for contribution to global health. Geo News. https://www.geo.tv/latest/580731-pakistani-doctor-honoured-with-order-of-canada-for-contributions-to-global-health
- The proportion of Muslims in the Canadian population more than doubled. Statistics Canada. https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/11-627-m/11-627-m2024058-eng.htm
- Muslim population expected to rise, will make them the largest religious community in the world by… DNA India. https://www.dnaindia.com/viral/report-muslim-population-expected-to-rise-will-make-them-largest-religious-community-in-the-world-by-3124783
- Somali Canadian children’s author awarded $15,000 from Edmonton Arts Council. Muslim Link. https://muslimlink.ca/news/somali-canadian-children-s-author-awarded-15-000-from-edmonton-arts-council
- Saudi Arabia bets on tech to make deserts bloom. Phys Org. https://phys.org/news/2024-12-saudi-arabia-tech-bloom.html
- Morocco. Spain, Portugal to host the 2030 World Cup, Saudi Arabia to stage the 2034 edition. Reuters. https://www.reuters.com/sports/soccer/morocco-spain-portugal-confirmed-2030-world-cup-hosts-2034-edition-awarded-saudi-2024-12-11/
- Indonesia’s rising dominance in halal textiles. Salaam Gateway. https://salaamgateway.com/story/indonesias-rising-dominance-across-halal-textiles
- Islamic finance: A growing force in the global economy. ARY News https://arynews.tv/islamic-finance-a-growing-force-in-global-economy/
- Notre-Dame: How Europe’s great cathedrals owe much to Muslim craftsmen. Middle East Eye. https://www.middleeasteye.net/opinion/europe-great-cathedrals-owe-much-muslim-craftsmen
- 10 things you don’t know Muslims invented. Hyphen. https://hyphenonline.com/2024/12/31/islamic-muslim-inventions-technology-innovations-astronomy-medicine/
- Exploring the historical Muslim perspective on science and knowledge. Counter Currents. https://countercurrents.org/2024/12/exploring-the-historical-muslim-perspective-on-science-and-knowledge/
INSPIRATION:
Muslim community ‘unite’ to buy items for the foodbank. BBC News. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cp9n88882x5o
How does Allah show his kindness? IslamiCity. https://www.islamicity.org/82844/allah-is-kind
Words heal individuals and potentially the world. Sound Vision. https://www.soundvision.com/article/words-heal-individuals-and-potentially-our-world
A Kurdish educator brings the Quran to life for deaf Muslims. New Arab. https://www.newarab.com/features/kurdish-educator-brings-quran-life-deaf-muslims
Muhammad was the most popular boys’ name in England and Wales in 2023. Reuters. https://www.reuters.com/world/uk/muhammad-was-most-popular-boys-baby-name-britain-2023-2024-12-05/
Ugandan singer Alien Skin announces his conversion to Islam after release from prison. MBU.. https://mbu.ug/2024/11/28/alien-skin-converts-to-islam/
Why do many British people want to convert to Islam? Video 8:14. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7m8eGQejP04
The Most followed TikToker Khaby Lame performs Umrah. Siasat Daily. https://www.siasat.com/most-followed-tiktoker-khaby-lame-performs-umrah-3152301/
Islamic Center of Naperville’s new mosque on 248th Avenue is now complete. Chicago Tribune. https://www.chicagotribune.com/2024/12/20/islamic-center-naperville-mosque-complex-construction/
ISLAMIC CALENDAR:
ISLAMIC DATES: https://fiqhcouncil.org/calendar/
Jan 1. 1st of Rajab
Jan 30. 1st of Shaban
Feb 14. Nisf al-Shaban
Mar 1. 1st of Ramadan
Mar 25. Lailat al-Qadr
Mar 30. 1st of Shawwal (Eid al-Fitr)
Apr 29. 1st of Dhul Qi’dah
May 28. 1st of Dhul Hijjah
Jun 5. Hajj at Makkah
Jun 6. Eid al-Adha
Jun 26. 1st of Muharram 1447
Jul 5. Ashura Muharram
CALENDAR OF EVENTS, NATIONAL:
- Jan 10. Washington, DC. Halal Hilarity. Ticket https://www.unionstagepresents.com/shows/halal-hilarity-international-muslim-comedy-showcase/
- Jan 17-18. ISNA 13th Annual West Coast Education Forum. https://isna.app.neoncrm.com/np/clients/isna/event.jsp?event=99&
- Jan 18. West Coast Matrimonial Event. https://isna.app.neoncrm.com/np/clients/isna/event.jsp?event=104&
- Feb 22. Savior Day 2025. Video Live Stream. Register https://www.saviorsday.net/
- Feb 22. Berkeley, CA. Islamophobia Studies Center Annual Fundraiser. https://www.iphobiacenter.org/product/%202025-annual-fundraiser
- Apr 13-15. Chicago. IFANCA 22nd International Halal Food Conference. https://ifanca.org/announcing-the-ifanca-22nd-international-halal-food-conference/
- Apr 18-20. Chicago. 26th ISNA Education Forum. https://isna.app.neoncrm.com/np/clients/isna/event.jsp?event=99&19-
- May 24-26. Baltimore. 50th Annual ICNA Convention. https://icnaconvention.org
- May 26-Aug 1. Congressional Leadership Development Program. https://cldp.org/
- Aug 29-Sep 1. Chicago. 62nd Annual ISNA Convention. https://isna.net/
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