Articles by SA STAFF

ASK A MUSLIM SCHOLAR DECEMBER 2019

Why should I as a Muslims vote? I have no hesitation in stating that it is a religious duty for Muslims to vote. Here are the reasons: 1) Voting in a democratic system is one of the few ways to affect social changes, and as Muslims it is our civic and religious duty to strive to move the society forward as closely as possible to the ideals of justice, fairness, equity and compassion for all; 2) Muslims are mandated by the Qur’an to work in cooperation with everyone for common causes that are beneficial to all people. Allah says, “And cooperate ye with one another on virtue and God-consciousness.” (Qur’an: 5: 2) Moreover, the Prophet, peace be upon him, said, “If I were called upon to join together (with anyone regardless of race or religion) for the mission of restoring justice for all and standing behind the weak and the oppressed I would hasten to join the same!” In another report, he is reported to have said, “I would prefer the same to owning the whole world as a treasure!” 3) Muslims are mandated to work to remove injustice, discrimination and xenophobia in their societies whether directed against Muslims or…


ASK A MUSLIM SCHOLAR OCTOBER 2019

Are we allowed to eat animals that have been machine-slaughtered? I hear some people insisting that only hand-slaughtered meat is halal. Is this correct? There is no basis in Islam for making a distinction between hand-slaughtered meat and machine slaughtered meat. It is not warranted by the principles of Shari’ah nor by the rules of Fiqh. The only valid question to ask is whether the slaughter fulfills the prescribed standards of slaughter. The rules of the Islamic slaughter are quite precise and straightforward. Let us list them here: Invoking the name of Allah, cutting the throat/arteries with a sharp knife/instrument, thus administering a quick death and sparing the animal unnecessary torture and suffering. In reply to a question about lawful slaughter, the Prophet (peace be upon him) stated: ” As long as one invokes God’s name, and the animal is slaughtered with a sharp instrument letting the blood flow, you may eat it.” (Reported by Bukhari and others). In other words, the instrument used should be sharp enough to cut the arteries letting the blood flow efficiently thus sparing the animal of torture or inflicting unnecessary pain. In another hadith, he states: “Allah enjoins benevolence in all things we do:…


Halkee baad joogtay Oktoobar 15 – Oktoober 21, 1969

Maalintu waa ARBACA Bishu waa Oktoobar 15, 1969 Magaaladu waa LAASCAANOOD Maalintu bishu ay ahayd 15ka Oktoobar 1969, dadweynaha ree Laascaanood waxay la soo tooseen farxad iyo rayn-rayn. Waxay u diyaar garoobeen in ay soo dhoweyaan Madaxweyne Cabdirashiid Cali Sharmaarke (AHN). Maxadweynu wuxu socdaal ku marayey goboloda dalka. Madaxweyne Cabdirashiid waxa madaxweyne loo doortay sannadkii 1967. Wuxuu doorashada ka heley Aadan Cabdile Cisman(AHN) oo muddo todoba sannadood dalka madaxweyne ka ahaa. Cabdirashiid wuxu Raisal Wasaare u mgacaabey Moxamed Xaaji Ibrahim Cigal(AHN). Madaxweyne Cabdirashiid wuxu bishii oktoobar 1969 bilaabay in uu socdaal ku soo maro gobolada dalka. Maalintii bishu ahayd 15ka Okboobar 1969 Madaxweynuhu wuxu ku soo socday Magaalada Laascaanood. Dadweynaha reer Laascaanood waxay maalintaas u diraar groobayeen in ay soo dhoweeyaan Madaxweynaha. Farxad iyo rayn-rayn buu waagu ugu baryey. Waddooyinka magaalada Laascaanood waxa isugu soo baxay yar iyo weyn. Waxa ay ruxayeen calanka buluuga ah ee Soomaaliya. Caroorii waxa la safay wadooyinka hareerahooda. Dadka wejigooda waxa laga garanayey sida ay u rabaan in ay Madaxweynahood soo dhoweeyaan. Dadweynaha reer Laascaanood waxay ku talo galeen in ay baro dheereysiiyaan magaalooyinkii kale ee uu Madaxweynuhu soo maray. Maxaase dhacay!!! Ninkii gabyey wuxu yiri “markaan ku tashado wax taransaba, soowtii Alle meel ma…


No Picture

DISABILITY ADVOCATE SUES MINNEAPOLIS, E-SCOOTER COMPANIES ALLEGING ADA VIOLATIONS

Noah J. McCourt, a disability advocate with Autism and developmental coordination disorder used to enjoy taking strolls around the Twin Cities. No longer. Now he fears for his safety because every day he is dodging scooters travelling at high speeds down the sidewalk. Several times scooters strewn across his path also have caused him to nearly trip. In recent months, dock-less scooters have become more common throughout Minneapolis neighborhoods. They are ubiquitous. This proliferation has occurred in an unregulated and haphazard fashion. For many scooters may be a nuisance. For others they may be a convenience. However, for people with disabilities the presence and use of these scooters deny them access to public walkways and pose a serious risk to their safety. McCourt repeatedly reached out to the City of Minneapolis, particularly Philippe Cunningham who chairs the City’s committee on civil rights and he received no response. In frustration, McCourt filed a lawsuit in United States District Court alleging violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act and the state anti-discrimination laws. The suit challenges the failure of the City of Minneapolis and private scooter companies to maintain accessibility of the city’s public sidewalks, curb ramps and cross walkways for people…


Understanding Breast Cancer

Understanding Breast Cancer Breast cancer is a disease in which cells in the breast grow out of control. Breast cancer can spread outside the breast through blood vessels and lymph vessels. When breast cancer spreads to other parts of the body, it is said to have metastasized. What Causes Breast Cancer? No one knows the exact cause (s ) of breast cancer. What is known is that breast cancer is always caused by damage to a cell’s DNA. Did you know that 1 in 8 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime? What are the Known Risk Factors of Breast Cancer? Women with certain risk factors are more likely than others to develop breast cancer. A risk factor is something that may increase the chance of getting a disease. Some of the risk factors can be avoided while others cannot be avoided. Having a risk factor does not mean that a woman will get breast cancer. Many women who have risk factors never develop breast cancer. Risk Factors You Cannot Change or Avoid: • Getting older. The risk for breast cancer increases with age; most breast cancers are diagnosed after age 50. • Genetic mutations. Inherited changes…


MINNESOTA CARE PRESS RELEASE

DHS to issue refunds to some former MinnesotaCare members Former members should stop automatic payments, update online payment set-up Former MinnesotaCare members should watch their mailboxes in coming weeks for a possible refund from the Minnesota Department of Human Services. DHS will begin sending letters and making calls to those affected this week. DHS discovered that some former MinnesotaCare members continued to automatically pay their premiums online after their cases had been closed and that refunds were not issued. A workaround has been put into place to catch new cases impacted and immediately fix errors. The department will issue $1.8 million in refunds to approximately 24,800 individuals, with the majority of refunds totaling $250 or less. These refunds result from premium payments made by former MinnesotaCare members and never involved state budget dollars. “People who receive insurance through the state expect to trust the system and I know a small unexpected expense can have a big impact on Minnesota families,” said Human Services Commissioner Jodi Harpstead. “As commissioner, I am committed to being transparent and making things right when we fall short of these expectations.” The state is advising those who paid their premiums online to review their online payment…


SOMALI MUSEUM PRESS RELEASE

Somali Museum of Minnesota Receives $50,000 in Minnesota State Arts Board Grant Saint Paul, MN — The Minnesota State Arts Board has awarded a grant, totaling $50,000, to the Somali Museum of Minnesota. At its September meeting, the Arts Board approved 23 Folk and Traditional Arts grants. They are project grants to support the artistic traditions and customs practiced within community and/or cultural groups that help to identify, document, preserve, present, and honor Minnesota’s folk arts and traditions. This is the second of four rounds of grants the board will award this fiscal year. Grants in the Folk and Traditional Arts program total more than $525,000. The Somali Museum of Minnesota will use the funding to build Somali artists’ capacity to teach and advance the art forms of weaving and dance in the Twin Cities, Mankato, Saint Cloud, Rochester, and Willmar. Folk and traditional arts refer to artistic traditions that come from and are rooted in the cultural life of a community. Community members may share a common ethnicity, geographic or regional identity, occupation, language, or tribal affiliation. Folk and traditional arts are learned and passed on through community based systems of training and education where younger generations learn and…


VIOLENCE AND DRUG ABUSE AMONG SOMALI YOUTH SHOCKS THE COMMUNITY

2019 has been a deadly year for Somali American youth in the twin cities. There has been over 25 murders and countless overdose deaths involving Somali adolescents just this year. The Somali community is in shock and very helpless to say the least. Many are asking themselves, “where did we go wrong?”, said Ali Bokhor who has a nephew who recently succumbed to an opioid overdose. Gang wars have erupted among rival groups and it seems like there is gun violence on a daily basis nowadays. Between the violence and the Opiod abuse, the Somali community continues to mourn. Almost every Somali person we spoke to knows a young person who either got killed by a gun or prescription drugs. Mohamed Ali, a local businessman and a longtime resident of Minneapolis said, “This is the direct results of absent fathers, identity crisis, and a careless community who value the wrong things in life”. Ali seemed optimistic that the community is finally discussing the crisis among the youth openly and that itself is a positive step forward. Religious leaders are talking about the problem at mosques, treatment centers are opening for East African clients and the urgency to do something has…


New heights for Somalis in Minnesota

By the start of the new year, 2019, there were a number of new governors taking the reins of power across the United States. Governor of Minnesota, Tim Waltz, was one of those governors who took the oath of office on January 7th 2019. Traditionally, most governors-elect have about 8 to 10 weeks between Election Day and Inauguration Day to get a lot of preparatory work done. Governor Tim Waltz ran on inclusiveness and promised to have a cabinet that reflects the diversity and demographics of Minnesota. The first step to achieving that was the selection of his transitional advisory board of 30 individuals, who were compromised of CEOs, business owners, religious leaders and community members of many different ethnic backgrounds. Two of his transitional advisory board members were Somali Americans, Abdirahman Kahin, and Jaylani Hussein. Abdirahman Kahin is restaurateur and owner of Afro Deli. He is also an activist and philanthropist who is well known among the Somali community of Minnesota. Jaylani Hussein is the Director of Minnesota Chapter of Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-MN). Jaylani Hussein worked as the Community Liaison Officer at Metro State University and as a Planner for the Minnesota Department of Agriculture prior to…


Miyaad u safraysaa waddan kale? Ha ilaawin tallaalada!

Jadeecada, waa cudur si dhakhso ah u faafa, wuxuu dilaa boqolaal carruur ah oo adduunka ku nool maalin kasta. Cudurku wuxuu ku dhacaa dadka ku nool Yurub, Aasiya iyo Afrika. Waxaa jira wax aad sameyn kartid si aad adiga iyo qoyskaaga u ilaalisaan – is tallaala. Haddii aad u safreyso waddan kale, hubi in adiga iyo caruurtaadu aad tallaalada ugu dambeeyay ee jadeecada, qaamo-qashiirka iyo jadeeco jarmal (oo loo yaqaan MMR) qaadateen. Carruurta da’doodu ka yar tahay 6 bilood jir waa inay qaataan tallaalka jadeecada, qaamo-qashiirka iyo jadeeco jarmal (MMR). Waxay noqon kartaa mid sahlan in lagu fikiro in jadeecadu aysan saameyn ku yeelan doonin adiga iyo qoyskaaga, laakiin hal hooyo oo deggan Minnesota ayaa ogaatay khatarta ay leedahay markaad safreyso. Kahor inta aysan safrin, dhakhtarku wuxuu ku taliyay in wiilkeedu qaato tallaalka jadeecada, qaamo-qashiirka iyo jadeeco jarmal (MMR) ka hor sidii caadada ahayd sababtoo ah waxay u safrayeen Kenya si ay u soo booqdaan qoysaskooda. Waxay rabtay in wiilkeeda la siiyo tallaalka, laakiin ugu dambeyntii wuu seexday. Waxay go’aansatay inay sugto ilaa ay soo noqdaan. Waxay u socdeen kaliya inay booqdaan qoys taasoo aan u muuqan inay halis weyn tahay. Maalintii ay ku soo laabteen guriga, wiilkeedu wuxuu bilaabay…