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Measles outbreak returns among Minnesota Somalis

Measles outbreak affects at least 30 in Minnesota, closes Somali religious school   The highly contagious virus has been spreading in child care centers, other gathering places, health officials said. They urged families to seek out vaccines ahead of the new school year.   by Sheila Mulrooney Eldred   A measles outbreak that began in May in Minnesota has spread to 30 people, primarily infecting children in the Somali community. One dugsi, or Islamic religious school, has voluntarily closed in order to curtail the spread, according to the Minnesota Department of Health. About a third of the patients have required hospitalization, a state spokesperson said. All but one were unvaccinated. The outbreak brings the state to measles 36 cases this year. Measles is endemic in many countries, including African countries that Minnesota’s Somali families visit in the summer months. Seven people contracted the respiratory virus from travel, state health officials said. “So when people who didn’t vaccinate and then travel outside of the country where measles is still existing, they contract it and then it spreads here because we have a close-knit community with big families,” said Sheikh Yusuf Abdulle, executive director of Islamic Association of North America. He has requested that…

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Muslim Cemetary breaks ground

Minnesota’s largest Muslim cemetery breaks ground near Farmington after 10-year saga   Organizers faced multiple hurdles, from a reluctant township board to vandalism, in their quest to develop a new cemetery for the region’s Muslims.   by Katelyn Vue   In Arabic, “al maghfirah” means forgiveness. Forgiveness — and hope — were on display Tuesday as two dozen people gathered in a desiccated field south of Farmington to break ground on Al Maghfirah Cemetery after a decade of delays and legal challenges. The 72-acre parcel in Castle Rock township will be the largest Muslim cemetery in Minnesota, once it is developed. “It has been a long and challenging journey. Ten years of a struggle. Litigation. Vandalism. And countless obstacles,” said Mohamad Osman, director of the Muslim cemetery project. “But through our collective resolve, we have finally overcome.” The cemetery will offer nearly 50,000 burial plots and will serve Muslims from the Twin Cities metro area. It is expected to open in May 2025. The cemetery association spent $900,000 on the land. It will cost another $1.5 million for the development stage, according to Osman. The two existing buildings on the land will be converted for funerary purposes, and will include gathering areas…

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Microloans help somali startups

Overcoming barriers to entry: Microgrants help Somali Sambusa maker, other food startups scale up The Market Entry Fund helps entrepreneurs get a leg up in the packaged food industry. This year’s grant recipients included a Taiwanese sausage maker and a cookie maker. by Alfonzo Galvan “Hoyo” is the Somali word for mother. When sisters Mariam, Halima and Asha Mohamed launched Hoyo in 2015, their goal was to employ Somali women making a much-loved Somali snack: the deep-fried, beef-filled pastries known as sambusas. Since that time, Hoyo has grown into a local food success story, serving 200,000 sambusas a year at schools across Minnesota. Hoyo sambusas are also sold in co-ops and supermarkets. The business is one of 12 local food producers that recently received microgrants from The Market Entry Fund (TMEF), a St. Paul nonprofit that works with food and beverage producers from underrepresented communities. TMEF’s Micro-Grants Program provides $5,000 to $20,000 grants to food startups. The goal is to help small businesses overcome barriers in the packaged food industry. This year’s recipients included a range of food producers, including Taiwanese sausage maker Linko Food and Junita’s Jar, which sells cookies at Target. “The only reason that we are still here and survived is really the support…

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Muslim spiritual care offers comfort

  Muslim spiritual care offers comfort — and improves patient outcomes — at HCMC The providers, who serve Hennepin Healthcare’s growing Muslim patient population, help ease anxiety and reduce the stigma around mental health and other medical issues. By: Hibah Ansari   In her 15 years as a psychiatric nurse practitioner at Hennepin County Medical Center, Hawa Ali has often provided Qurans for her Muslim patients. She said having the holy text brings patients relief while they suffer through the worst of their mental health crises. For the last three years, patients had an additional resource: three Muslim spiritual care providers hired by Hennepin Healthcare. The care providers not only ease patients’ minds, but they have also helped reduce readmission rates for Muslim patients — by more than two-thirds in the hospital’s inpatient psychiatry department. “There’s mistrust of Western treatment, but I see people when they have a spiritual care member approach them, they can face their challenges and regulate their behaviors,” Hawa said. “Seeing someone you can relate to spiritually, that makes a difference.” In 2021, Hennepin Healthcare partnered with Open Path Resources, a nonprofit based in the Cedar-Riverside neighborhood, to integrate spiritual care as part of the medical…

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Ask a Scholar July 24

ASK A SCHOLAR JULY 2024   What conditions must be met to exit the state of Ihram on the 10th of Dhu AL Hijjah? 2. Can you shower with scented soap or shampoo and use body lotion and deodorant before entering the state of Ihram? 3.Can you wash your Ihram with scented detergent before wearing it? 4. I read that you should perform Dhuhr and Asr combined and shortened on the day of Arafat. Our Guide told us we must pray Dhuhr and Asr at their respective times (not shortened) unless these prayers are performed in the Mosque. Please clarify.   Here are my responses to the issues you have raised in their respective order: What conditions must be met to exit the state of Ihram on the 10th of Dhu AL Hijjah? Answer To free oneself from Ihram on the 10th day of Dhul Hijja, one should perform any two of the three rituals: pelting the stone pillar, sacrifice, shaving or clipping the hair, and Tawaf al-Ifada. If you do the pelting and sacrifice or shaving or clipping the hair, you can change into regular clothes. Once you have done so, most of the prohibitions of Ihram are lifted,…

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Immigration Story July 2024

Biden order streamlining path to citizenship for spouses could affect 40,000 Minnesotans The order allows undocumented spouses and children to stay in the U.S. while pursuing a green card, removing a major source of stress for many mixed-status families. by Hibah Ansari   Immigration advocates say a plan announced by the Biden administration this week could streamline the path to citizenship for thousands of undocumented spouses of U.S. citizens in Minnesota. The plan allows undocumented immigrants the ability to “parole in place,” if they have lived in the U.S. for 10 or more years and are legally married to a U.S. citizen, meaning they can pursue legal status without leaving the country. When Stephanie Kilpatrick Salazar, a leader for Latino advocacy organization Unidos, first read about the plan she was so shocked she thought it was spam. Kilpatrick Salazar’s husband from Mexico is currently trying to pursue status through marriage since she is a citizen. Their four children, ages 17, 13, 12, and 2, are also U.S. citizens. “If everything goes as planned,” Kilpatrick Salazar said, “this could streamline that process for us and allow my husband to stay without having to go back to Mexico for his exit interview. It’ll be way…

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Nolosha Story July 2024

Minnesota AG, feds probing Nolosha-Lakeville development marketed to Somali families Both the Minnesota Attorney General’s Office and federal authorities confirmed they are investigating the project, which is planned on land tied up in the Feeding Our Future case.   by Joey Peters   A planned Lakeville housing development aimed at Somali families is under investigation by both state and federal agencies, officials confirmed this week. In a legal motion filed Thursday, the Minnesota Attorney General’s Office says Nolosha Development has twice refused to provide investigatory documents — including a list of its customers, their contracts, refund requests, and the company’s marketing materials. The motion alleges that not only is Nolosha collecting money from prospective buyers without a real estate license, but that the owners are spending money lavishly on salaries and other perks. Also Thursday, a U.S. Attorney’s Office spokeswoman confirmed that Nolosha is under federal investigation related to its attempt to sell lots on a property that is tied up in the federal Feeding Our Future food aid fraud. Nolosha CEO Abdiwali Abdullahi dismissed the Attorney General’s motion and investigation in a statement Thursday, stating that it was “without merit and is based upon misinformation being spread by a disgruntled…

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ZOLASINA SPONSORED CONTENT

In 2022, the debut of Zolasina in Minneapolis ushered in a new era of fashion, spearheaded by Naima Bashir—a dynamic professional and A devoted mom. “I am acutely aware of the lack of well-made, high-quality, chic yet modest clothing that seamlessly transitions between professional and leisure settings, and this is why I took matters into my own hands and conceived Zolasina,” Naima passionately declares. “This brand is about ensuring women, like myself are not forgotten, and we are part of the diverse tapestry of women seeking versatile and stylish options that are also modest.” Zolasina’s collections, crafted with sustainable fabrics, is a response to the unmet needs of women often overlooked and undervalued in the fashion narrative. Each piece is a fusion of exceptional materials, skilled craftsmanship, and an easygoing and timeless style, embodying a commitment to quality and inclusivity. The brand stands as a symbol of empowerment, proudly embracing the strength and unique stories of women whose representation has been lacking in mainstream fashion. To explore and acquire these distinctive Zolasina collections, visit www.zolasina.com. For a personalized shopping experience, appointments can be scheduled by calling 612-424-0395. Step into Zolasina, where the fusion of modesty and modernity tells a story…

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St Paul Teen Story

St. Paul teen Abshir Ali reviewed police chief candidates, weighed in on $7M budget. How the city nurtures public service in youth St. Paul’s Youth On Boards initiative allows young people between the ages of 16 and 21 to serve as decision-makers on city committees and boards. Abshir Ali reviews public improvement projects and an approximately $7 million budget as part of a committee for the city of St. Paul. He sits through long meetings about improving the city’s parks and sidewalks, often waiting months to see projects come to fruition. But the 17-year-old high school senior loves it. It’s how Abshir, who is Somali, got his start in public service—at 14 years old. “It was kind of daunting,” Abshir said of his unusually early start in local government. “These people have, like, 20 years of experience, and then there’s a 9th grader having the same level of authority in the room.” Abshir joined St. Paul’s 18-member Capital Improvements Budget Committee through the city’s Youth On Boards initiative, which allows young people between the ages of 16 and 21 to serve as decision-makers on committees and boards. But serving on a committee is just one of the many ways Abshir,…

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Ask a Scholar January 24

Ask a scholar January 2024 Assalamu 3alaykom, I am in need of a fatwa regarding abortion. My husband and I have incompatible blood types and When I got pregnant with my first child I developed a condition that would put a future pregnancy at risk of fetal anomalies if it the fetus blood type is incompatible with mine. These Fetal anomalies prevent the child from having a normal life. There is no cure for the disease, only medical intervention to try to reduce the impact on the fetus as much as possible. Outcome is only known at birth. Is it permissible to abort a fetus before 120 days if it’s blood type is incompatible with mine? I am struggling to decide as I really want to have another child. Thank you in advance. I am sorry to hear about your predicament. I also pray to Allah to inspire you to face your test with patience and to guide you to make a decision that pleases Him. Abortion is considered Haram (and forbidden) after the ensoulment (breathing of soul into the fetus), which takes place when the pregnancy reaches 120 days. Once it has reached this stage, abortion is akin to…