Muslim News Digest, December 31, 2024.
Editor: Zulfiqar Malik, Overland Park, Kansas, USA.
بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِيْمِ
Ramadan Mubarak !!
RAMADAN:
- First day of Ramadan on Saturday March 1, 2025 and Eid al-Fitr on Sunday March 30, 2025, in North America. Fiqh Council. https://fiqhcouncil.org/ramadan-2025-announcement/ The importance of the holy month of Ramadan. DOGO News. https://www.dogonews.com/2025/2/21/the-importance-of-the-holy-month-of-ramadan
- Ramadan toolkit to support Muslim employees, students, and communities. CAIR. https://www.cair.com/press_releases/community-advisory-cair-releases-2025-ramadan-toolkit-to-support-muslim-employees-students-and-communities
- Fasting for freedom and divine interaction. Islamic Horizons. https://islamichorizons.net/are-you-ready-for-your-ramadan-revelation/
- Their mosque burns down in an LA-area wildfire. They’re still determined to gather for amadan. AP. https://apnews.com/article/islam-mosque-destroyed-california-wildfires-ramadan-bb7608beff1e0fa04ace4a7bbe328231
- Islamic Relief USA hosts a food box assembly for Ramadan in the Washington DC area. NBC Washington. https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/islamic-relief-usa-hosts-food-box-assembly-for-ramadan-in-springfield/3850849/
- 8 fun ways kids can get ready for Ramadan. We, the Masti Kids. Video 7:52. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z9-DYREiarI
- How to practice healthy fasting during Ramadan. Yahoo Lifestyle. https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/practice-healthy-fasting-during-ramadan-142759460.html
- How to make this Ramadan your best yet. IslamiCity. https://www.islamicity.org/104139/how-to-make-this-ramadan-your-best-yet/
- San Diego Unified to offer ‘to-go-meals’ for students during Ramadan. SD News. https://sdnews.com/san-diego-unified-to-offer-to-go-meals-for-students-during-ramadan/
- Muslim-owned date farms in Southern California to support this Ramadan. CAIR-CA. https://ca.cair.com/updates/muslim-owned-date-farms-in-southern-california-to-support-this-ramadan/
- Decades in the making, 60 North Jersey towns now light up for Ramadan. North Jersey.
https://www.northjersey.com/story/news/new-jersey/2025/02/25/nj-town-hall-ramadan-lightings-2025-acceptance-muslims/79102991007/ - Wilco, Texas Commissioner hosts iftar dinner. https://www.wilcotx.gov/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=518
- Ramadan Mubarak from the Faculty of Education. University of Alberta. https://www.ualberta.ca/en/education/about-us/education-news/2025/ramadan-mubarak-from-the-faculty-of-education.html
- The U.N. chief sends Muslims ‘warmest wishes’ at the start of Islamic holy month of Ramadan. AA. https://www.aa.com.tr/en/world/un-chief-sends-muslim-warmest-wishes-on-start-of-islamic-holy-month-of-ramadan/3495448
- London’s West End lit up ahead of Ramadan. BBC News. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ckgz0r8rgd8o
- Bradford, UK; to host Ramadan pavilion and open iftar events. IQNA. https://iqna.ir/en/news/3491788/ramadan-2025-bradford-to-host-ramadan-pavilion-and-open-iftar-events
- Hundreds expected to attend the Grand Iftar at Bristol Cathedral. BBC News. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cy4l3lwql81o
- Saudi Arabia to launch an iftar program to feed over 1 million people. Arab News. https://www.arabnews.pk/node/2590885/saudi-arabia
USA NEWS:
- The U.N. can end the Middle East conflict by welcoming Palestine as a member. Aljazeera. https://www.aljazeera.com/opinions/2025/1/10/the-un-can-end-the-middle-east-conflict-by-welcoming-palestine-as-a-member
- Netflix’s Mo season 2 revolutionized Palestinian representation. We can’t let it end there. msn.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/entertainment/news/netflix-s-mo-season-2-revolutionized-palestinian-representation-we-can-t-let-it-end-here/ar-AA1z3IH1 - Palestinian healthcare workers are teaching us what it means to take a medical oath. ABC Australia. https://www.abc.net.au/religion/palestinian-healthcare-workers-and-the-meaning-of-medical-oath/104900486
- Protester holds Palestinian flag during Super Bowl halftime show. Fox4 News. https://www.fox4news.com/news/super-bowl-halftime-show-protester-palestine
- Arab-American artist rejects prestigious award, protesting ‘censorship’ against pro-Palestinian voices in Germany. MEMO. https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20250206-arab-american-artist-rejects-prestigious-award-protesting-censorship-against-pro-palestinian-voices-in-germany/
- Palestinian student wins prestigious Hungarian award. MEMO. https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20250130-palestinian-student-wins-prestigious-hungarian-award/
- Palestinian ambassador praises Japan’s enduring support and contributions. Arab News. https://www.arabnews.jp/en/japan/article_140405/
USA:
- What America’s Muslims can teach you about resisting political oppression. Corey Saylor, Aljazeera. https://www.aljazeera.com/opinions/2025/2/13/what-americas-muslims-can-teach-you-about-resisting-political-oppression
- CAIR releases a new ‘Know Your Rights’ guide for interactions with ICE agents. https://www.cair.com/press_releases/cair-releases-new-know-your-rights-guide-for-interactions-with-ice-agents/
- Can religion save democracy? Maggie Siddiqi on pluralism, policy, and resistance. RNS. https://religionnews.com/2025/02/01/can-religion-save-democracy-maggie-siddiqi-on-pluralism-policy-and-resistance/
- Perspective: When it comes to nurturing pluralism, the secret is serving others. EbooPatel. Deseret. https://www.deseret.com/2022/12/17/23500013/pluralism-faith-ismaili-muslims-aga-khan-development-network/
- Emory University’s first Muslim chaplain brings focus on humanistic traditions in Islam. https://news.emory.edu/stories/2025/02/er_chaplain_abdugafurov_05-09-2024/story.html
- Teen gets 4 years in prison for Sanford mosque threat and nationwide swatting spree. msn News. https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/other/teen-gets-4-years-in-prison-for-sanford-mosque-threat-and-nationwide-swatting-spree/ar-AA1yQhmU
- Victim in Paterson police excessive force case gets $250,000. North Jersey. https://www.northjersey.com/story/news/paterson-press/2025/02/12/victim-in-paterson-police-excessive-force-case-gets-250k/78467408007/
- ‘Muslim matchmaker’ hosts discuss the challenges of pairing up American Muslims. NPR. https://www.npr.org/2025/02/11/nx-s1-5262907/muslim-matchmaker-hosts-discuss-the-challenges-of-pairing-up-american-muslims
- The streaming shows are changing TV’s Muslim narrative. RNS. https://religionnews.com/2025/02/19/the-streaming-shows-changing-tvs-muslim-narrative
INTERNATIONAL NEWS:
- No children allowed for Hajj 2025: Saudi Arabia announces major changes and new visa policies… Munsif News. https://munsifdaily.com/no-children-allowed-for-hajj-2025/
- Glasgow Central Mosque given Category-A listing. BBC News. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cgkjvj4v1vlo
- Prince Rahim Al-Haussaini is named the new Agha Khan. Town & Country. https://www.npr.org/2025/02/05/g-s1-46531/aga-khan-spiritual-leader-of-ismaili-muslims-and-a-philanthropist-dies-at-88
- What it means to be Muslim, female, poor- Neha Divit’s debut nonfiction gives us a grounding in India’s truth. e-She. https://eshe.in/2025/01/09/neha-dixit-many-lives-of-syeda-x/
- Muslim artisans weave magic in the embroidery hub. Tribune India. https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/ludhiana/muslim-artisans-weave-magic-in-embroidery-hub-2/
- British Pakistani boxer Adam Azim wins the World Super Lightweight Championship. A Sports TV. https://a-sports.tv/pakistani-boxer-adam-azim-wins-world-lightweight-championship/
- Yousofi wins gold in Zagreb to enter Iran’s 130kg race. United World Wrestling. https://uww.org/article/yousofi-wins-gold-zagreb-enter-irans-130kg-race
INSPIRATION:
- African American Muslims and Islam, past, present and future. Muslim Network TV. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L7hlVnO4Efk&list=PLNvUnX-ZxjJE47kDF7UM55r3-iPsmtdov&index=3
- A roadmap for teaching children about patience. Sound Vision. https://www.soundvision.com/article/a-roadmap-for-teaching-children-about-patience
- Can Islam end social injustice? IslamiCity. https://www.islamicity.org/104061/can-islam-end-social-injustice/?referer=ecast
- Are doubt, hope and iman intertwined? Sound Vision. https://www.soundvision.com/article/are-doubt-hope-and-iman-intertwined
- A new discovery sheds light on Malcolm X’s journey to Islam. New Lines Magazine. https://newlinesmag.com/essays/a-new-discovery-sheds-light-on-malcolm-xs-journey-to-islam/
- Mosque being built in Ammon as local Muslims prepare for annual Ramadan fast. East Idaho News. https://www.eastidahonews.com/2025/02/mosque-being-built-in-ammon-as-local-muslims-prepare-for-annual-ramadan-fast/
- Why Islam is the fastest-growing religion in the world? IslamiCity. https://www.islamicity.org/104026/why-islam-is-the-fastest-growing-religion-in-the-world
ISLAMIC CALENDAR:
ISLAMIC DATES: https://fiqhcouncil.org/calendar/
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
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