MCC Academy Seeks Nominations for

Annual Golden Crescent Alumni Award

“Allah loves, when one of you is doing something, that he [or she] does it in the most excellent manner.” — Prophet Muhammad (SAW) cited in Al-QaradawiMCC Academy is proud of the success of our alumni. To celebrate the wonderful achievements of our graduates, each year MCC Academy awards two alumni with the Golden Crescent Award at our Annual Dinner, which will be held this year on Saturday, March 12, 2016, at the White Eagle Banquet Hall in Niles, IL. To be selected for consideration, alumni should have gone on to provide extraordinary service to the community and/or achieve outstanding personal success in their education and professional pursuits. MCC Academy is soliciting nominations for this year’s 2016 Golden Crescent Awards. Please nominate yourself or any MCC Academy alumni by emailing a brief summary of the individual’s background and why you feel he/she qualifies for this award. You may email this summary to info@mccacademy.org.

Jill Alali

Send address corrections to:Muslim Community Center4380 North Elston AvenueChicago, IL. 60641Phone: (773) 725-9047Fax: (773) 725-1616

Membership Questions:tahirsyedali@yahoo.com

Muslim Community Center4380 North Elston AvenueChicago, IL. 60641

www.mccchicago.org

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The MessageThe MessageA Publication of The Muslim Community Center, Chicago, IL

Ayah of the Month“(Recall the time) when your Lord declared, ‘If you express gratitude, I shall certainly give you more, and if you are ungrateful, then My punishment is severe.” Surah Al-Ibrahim [14:07]

Hadith of the MonthAbu Hurairah (R) reported: The Prophet (S) said, “When Allah loves a slave, calls out Jibril and says: ‘I love so-and-so; so love him’. Then Jibril loves him. After that he (Jibril) announces to the inhabitants of heavens that Allah loves so-and-so; so love him; and the inhabitants of the heavens (the angels) also love him and then make people on earth love him.”` (Bukhari and Muslim)

President’s MessageDear Brothers and Sisters,

Assalam-o-Alaikum

I hope and pray that you and your families are in good health and Eiman and Allah (SWT) is pleased with you. I have completed my two year term of responsibilities you all bestowed upon me in December of 2013. Now that Allah (SWT) and you have put this responsibility of serving the community for another two years on me, I will try my best to strive for success Inshaallah. As I have previously, I ask you for your support again. For my 2nd term, I have been meeting and conversing with different people again to better plan various activities for the community. Inshaallah from time to time, our Meet and Greet sessions will continue throughout the year.

MCC had its annual general body meeting at MCC Community Hall on Sunday, January 24. We again did not have quorum on Sunday the 17th and therefore the meeting was postponed to 24th. Last year, we experimented to provide a delicious dinner at the General Body Meeting hoping we may achieve the quorum the first time. Since our strategy did not work last year, we did not experiment with the dinner this year. But we had delicious samosas, patties and sweets. There were many suggestions and questions regarding the President’s report and Treasurer’s report. President’s report included a summary of the activities over the course of 2015 by various committees, councils, schools and departments. Since in a follow up meeting, a quorum is not required, the meeting was held at MCC at 2:30 PM on Sunday, January 24th. Members approved last year’s meeting minutes, President’s 2015 report, and Treasurer’s report.

Let me repeat my January month’s message here and reach out to all the Board of Directors, committee members, school parents and MCC members to work together united, and resolve all or any matters, in a consultative manner, for the benefit of the community. I have been and will be reaching out to you individually and collectively to establish our agenda for the next two years. If you would like to reach out to me and want to volunteer for a specific cause, please email me your interests in confidence at Msnasir53@gmail.com. The month of February in MCC is always the

Vol. 47a • No. 2 Rabi-us-Sani - Jamadi-ul-Awwal, 1437 • February 2016

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Neighbors Express Support of

Our CommunityMCC Academy was incredibly pleased to greet our friends and neighbors from Congregation Solel who recently stopped by the school in a show of support for our school and masjid community. Members of Congregation Solel, led by Morton Grove neighbor Mrs. Laura Frisch, brought us many beautiful cards crafted by children from their congregation. The notes were filled with heart-warming messages of support and love for our community. These lovely notes are hung at the entrance of the Morton Grove

Cards showing support from the neighborhood.

To place your ad(s) call773-725-9047

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MCC Publications CommitteeChairpersonAsea QidwaiCo-ChairZeeshan Abbasi

The Message is a monthly publication of the Muslim Community Center that provides a forum for members to engage with the administration, organization, and activities of MCC/MEC and with each other. Submit your questions and comments to: MCCpublication@gmail.com. The opinions expressed in The Message do not necessarily represent those of MCC. The editors reserve the right to edit all material.

Layout EditorNajah BhattyEditorial AdvisorJaved Bhatty

?Young Muslims (YM)

Activities at MECYoung Muslim (YM) is a youth organization focused primarily on developing confident, practicing Muslims and community leaders by providing an Islamic environment of brotherhood and halal fun. The weekly NeighborNets serve as an outlet for high school and college aged students to meet and make friends. In addition to the weekly NeighborNets which include sports, an Islamic discussion, and dinner, YM regularly organizes all-night qym programs, seminars, and other activities. The Niles chapter of YM meets every Saturday from 6:00 PM to 11:00 PMm at MEC. All brothers ages 13-25 are welcome to join. Contact Saadath Afzal: saadath@ymsite.com

Retiring Board members(L -- R) Dr Mohammad Gafoor, Dr Ejaz Rahim and Br Habib Abbasi.

Matrimonials•A 31-year-old brother (Pakistani Punjabi Origin), who is currently doing Masters in Business Administration, is looking for a companion. He works as an accountant in a financial institution. For more information please email us at womenscommitteemcc@gmail.com. Ask for Reference code number # 140.•A 32-year-old brother (Pakistani Punjabi Origin), who is currently pursuing his Doctorate and is also a Hafiz-e-Quran, is looking for a companion. For more information please email us at womenscommitteemcc@gmail.com. Ask for Reference code number # 141.•A 25-year-old sister (Pakistani Origin), who is currently a medical student, is looking for a practicing Muslim. For more information please email us at womenscommitteemcc@gmail.com. Ask for Reference code number # 226.•A 29-year-old sister (Pakistani Origin), who has a Bachelors Degree in Economics, is looking for a well educated, family oriented, and religious companion. She works as a Budget Analyst with State of Texas. For more information please email us at womenscommitteemcc@gmail.com. Ask for Reference code number # 227.

month of change. According to MCC Bylaws, all committee chairs who complete their 3-year term are to be changed and new chairs appointed. Therefore, I am requesting members to step up and take responsibilities in various committees, either as a Chair or as a member of the committee. It is a difficult but very rewarding task in front of Allah (SWT). If you have any new ideas that you feel compelled by, and can share with us, a new committee can be formed to work on that idea that can benefit the MCC community. Along with our MCC traditions, I try to embrace new ideas with changing times. With that in mind, I am encouraging the youth to be ready and request them join the committees and show the difference.

In our coming board meeting, we will welcome new board members, elect three Directors at Large, appoint officers of MCC to help the President (Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Assistant Treasurer and Assistant Secretary as needed) and will assign members to different standing committees. Please remember that MCC Board meetings are normally held on 2nd Sunday of the month at 2:30 PM. There is a time for public comments when any members of MCC can come and share their ideas, suggestions or issues. Board meetings are held alternately at MCC and MEC facilities.

It is time to renew your membership. You can pay your annual membership at any school, or in the MCC/MEC Office or directly at MCC’s Treasurer Office. Don’t forget to attend a very important MCC event on Islamophobia on February 6th. Details are in this newsletter. I would like to thank you for your generous donations of time and money throughout the whole year. These centers are yours and need your financial and service help throughout the year.

•Please note an addition in President’s report that was distributed and approved in Annual general Body Meeting on Sunday, January 24th at MCC. “On page 7 of the President’s report, under MEC Sunday school, after Vice Principal, Sumiya Ali, add Kulsum Sadiq as Vice Principal also.” This was unintentional omission.

•Also, in new MCC handbook, on page 8 in organizational structure, add Interfaith and outreach committee also under Department of Community services.

Mohammad Sarwar Nasir, President 847-927-0919, Msnasir53@gmail.com

MCC General Body Meeting 2016

Annual general body meeting was held at MCC on Sunday, January 17th, 2016. Due to bitter cold weather and low turn out that day, the meeting was postponed until next Sunday, January 24th, 2:30pm. The meeting started by recitation of Qur’an by MCC Imam Nazim Mangera with some explanations.

MCC Secretary Br Masood Bijapuri began with last year’s meeting minutes that were approved unanimously. The President’s and Treasurer’s Reports were presented and many suggestions, comments and questions were entertained.

The President’s Report contained summarized activities of various committees, councils, schools and departments in the year 2015. Both reports were approved unanimously. Members were pleased to pick up, first of the kind, MCC Handbook. If you didn’t get it at the meeting, you can call the MCC office and it can be picked up or mailed to you.

Staff Reporter

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(Continued from Neighbors Express Support for Our Community)

Masjid App: Free Iqamah Times App

To quickly find out Iqamah times at MCC and MEC, please download the free Masjidi (My masjid) app on your smartphone. Masjidi lists MCC Masjid’s timings on your mobile device, giving you access to the latest Salah and Iqamah times. Install app. Add Muslim Community Center and MEC as your Masjids. InShaAllah, our Imam, (Mufti) Nazim, will be updating the timings for both Masjids. Below is the app:

Board to Elect Three Directors-at-Large

MCC’s Board is expected to elect three additional Board members to serve as Directors-at-Large at its upcoming February 14th, 2016 meeting, inshaAllah. These positions are for a 1-year term and are to be filled by candidates with sound Islamic beliefs and practices, and either belong to an under-represented segment of our community or possess special expertise currently needed by the Board. If you wish to nominate someone for the position, please contact one of the Board members well before the February 14th meeting.

2106 Meet & Greet Session A Success

This year’s “Meet & Greet Strategic Session” was held at MEC on Sunday, January 31st, 2016 after Maghrib. It was a meeting where everyone was given an opportunity for ideas and suggestions. Some of the ideas given were: 1) Create an open resource center where members can gather and interact, 2) Attract youth to the center, 3) Seek professional counselors to discuss community needs, 4) Hold interfaith programs for increased neighbor involvement, and 5) Rejuvenate the Senior Committee.

Staff Reporter

campus so please stop by and read them upon your next visit! AlhumdilAllah, for the blessing of friendship. We are so thankful to our dear friends from Congregation Solel!

Jill Alali

(Mufti) Nazim Mangera with Young Muslims (YM) youth at MEC MCC General Body Meeting

MCC Imam Nazim Mangera will answer your questions in this section every month.

The Pursuit of Perfection: A Mandate from Allah

Allah mentions, “Indeed, Allah orders (everyone) to be fair and to pursue Ihsan.” [Quran: 16-90]

The Messenger of Allah (SAW) said, “Certainly, Allah has ordered for Ihsan in all things.” [Muslim: 1955]. What does the Arabic word Ihsan mean? The English language is not vast enough to comprehensively define Ihsan in a word or a phrase. Ihsan is the laborious journey towards excellence. Ihsan is the pursuit of perfection. The annals of Islamic history are replete with stories rich with Ihsan. The numerous accolades of Muslims of the past in the Islamic sciences, architecture, literature, geography, art, medicine, and many other sciences were achieved because Muslims had excelled in their determined pursuit of perfection which is a direct command of Allah and Prophet Muhammed (SAW).

Whatever we do in life, either it deals with our religion or our ephemeral life; we should strive to do it 100%. Whichever person will implement Ihsan in their life, they will excel and surpass others. Islam does not want us to be lazy or to do something unprofessionally. Ihsan with Allah is that we have the awareness of Allah at all times that Allah knows what we are doing. Ihsan with our spouse is that we try to rid ourselves of all those qualities which annoys our spouse and we try to bring a smile on our spouse’s face. Ihsan is the realization that even though the pursuit of perfection is necessary, but no one is perfect. If an unmarried person were to travel the world in search of a perfect spouse, then the person will never get married. Ihsan with our children is that we make sure that they are completing their homework after they return from school and that they are not spending too much time on their gadgets. Ihsan with our children is that we have a target of our children being university graduates. Ihsan with our children is that we give up some of our pleasures today, so that they can have a better tomorrow. Ihsan with our children is that we provide them an Islamic environment at home and bring them regularly to the Masjid.

Those who will have the noble quality of Ihsan in their life will be successful in this world as well as in the hereafter.

Ask The Imam