Medieval Islamic mosaics indicate advanced math, by John Noble Wilford
“In the beauty and geometric complexity of tile mosaics on walls of medieval Islamic buildings, scientists have recognized patterns suggesting that the designers had made a conceptual breakthrough in mathematics beginning as early as the 13th century. A new study shows that the Islamic pattern-making process. . . appears to have involved an advanced math of quasi crystals, which was not understood by modern scientists until three decades ago.” For the full story go to: https://news.com.com/Medieval+Islamic+mosaics+indicate+advanced+math/2100-1008_3-6162503.html. Read More
The Mosque as an American Institution
ING’s president, Maha Elgenaidi was featured in the latest issue of Aziza, a contemporary Muslim women’s magazine that often focuses on the achievements of Muslim American women. https://www.azizahmagazine.com/. The article begins with simple advice from Maha about the role and potential of women: “‘Everyone has a calling,’ she explains, ‘and it’s important for women to manifest their faith in the way that God intended for them.'” The article continues describing the need which led to the founding of ING and the focus of ING today. It concludes with the premise that all women should get involved and make a difference: “From Maha’s standpoint, there is tremendous opportunity for Muslim American women to work and be active in their communities. They simply have to identify the need and their potential contributions. ‘For some it’s to work in Islamic schools or within the mosque community, and for others it is to do outreach work, civil rights or politics. But it can also be to stay home and raise great kids.'” The point is for Muslim American women to be actively engaged with a sense of purpose of benefiting their community in whatever area they choose to work in. Read More
Interfaith Dialogue Among Laity
Behind Burqa, Student Gets An Education In Bigotry
March 12, 2007, by Tracy Gordon Fox, Courant Staff Writer
COLCHESTER — Caitlin Dean was raised not to discriminate against others because of their race or religion. But as a white suburban teen of Italian and Irish descent, she often wondered what it would be like to be the target of such abuse. She found out “behind the burqa.” The 15-year-old freshman volunteered with a few other students to wear traditional Muslim clothing to school for an entire day in February after a Middle Eastern Studies teacher at Bacon Academy announced that she was looking for students to promote her class by wearing the garb. Caitlin covered her slender frame and short brown hair with a periwinkle burqa, which concealed her face. Read More
New Speakers Bureau in Columbus, Ohio
ING Initiates Speakers Bureau, Conducts Teacher Training in Ohio, 3/24-3/25/07 ING initiated a new speaker bureau in Columbus this weekend for the Al-Noor Islamic Cultural Center with an all day Speakers Training program on Saturday in Columbus, followed by an advanced speakers training for the Tours and Talks Education Outreach Program at the Islamic Center of Greater Cincinnati on Sunday. The 9-5 sessions, which were attended by 60 the first day and 30 the second covered topics related to becoming an effective speaker in public institutions. The intensive workshops addressed the following presentations which ING speakers are often requested to give: “Teaching About Religion in Public Schools,” “Roots of Islam in America,” “Islamic Contributions to Civilization and Culture,” “Healthcare for the Muslim Patient,” “Orientation on Islam and Interacting Effectively with Muslim Students” for teachers, “Working with the Arab and American Muslim Communities” for police, and “Arab and Muslim Americans in the Workplace” for managers. Read More
Happy Holidays from ING
(San Jose, 4/3/07) Happy Holidays to all our friends and colleagues! The first week of April this year brings together a remarkable convergence of holidays, including Palm Sunday, Good Friday, and Easter for both Eastern and Western Christians and Passover (Pesach) for Jews. The month continues with Nirvana Day for Buddhists and Vaisakhi Day (solar New Year) for Hindus and Sikhs. Read More
An Interfaith Response to a Controversial Speaker
(San Jose, 4/19/07) In the News: THE MUSLIM AMERICANS: A PBS documentary that is part of AMERICA AT A CROSSROADS series premiering April 18, 2007 explores the diversity of Muslims in America today, focusing on communities’ experience after 9/11, and contrasting life for Muslims here in the United States with Muslims in Britain and Europe. The film — produced in conjunction with THE NEWSHOUR WITH JIM LEHRER, looks at the ongoing conversation American Muslims are having about life in the United States, including assimilation, discrimination, Muslim youth, religion and politics. For more information visit: https://www.pbs.org/weta/crossroads/about/show_muslim_americans.html Read More
Happy Earth Day!
(4/25/07, San Jose) In the News:
Happy Earth Day! Earth Day this year took on a special significance in light of increased awareness and focus on the predicted impact of Global Warming, which has now been scientifically established with near complete unanimity. ING is committed to doing its part in combating Global Warming and preserving the environment by institutionally doing the following: Read More
Could Genocide Happen Here? & FBI Meeting
ING Participates in Holocaust Remembrance Ceremony, “Could Genocide Happen Here?” 4/24/07 ING was one of the many sponsors of the County of Santa Clara Holocaust Remembrance Ceremony, “Could Genocide Happen Here?” on Tuesday, April 24th at the board chambers of the County Government Center in San Jose. While the event featured some of the traditional elements of a holocaust remembrance, it went beyond that to educate towards preventing the recurrence of genocide, and asked the critical question, can it happen again? Read More
Religion in the Workplace
ING and JCRC Celebrate Mimouna, a Traditional Moroccan Jewish-Muslim Event, 5/5/07 The ING-JCRC coalition commemorated a traditional celebration that was observed by Jews and Muslims in Morocco at an East Bay home on Sunday, May 6th. The celebration, called Mimouna takes place at the end of Passover, celebrating friendly relations between Jews and Muslims. Muslims would bring flowers, ears of grain, greens, honey, milk, bread, and fresh butter to their Jewish friends. Those Muslims with whom Jews had deposited foods for the duration of the Passover week would bring them back then, and Jews would invite Muslims to partake of the Mimouna delicacies. The celebration is a demonstration of the centuries of friendship and co-existence between Jews and Muslims, and was observed by the ING-JCRC coalition as a reaffirmation of that long tradition and history. Members of the coalition shared ethnic dishes, fruits, and drinks and socialized as they listened to Middle Eastern music that intertwined music from both Arab and Jewish traditions. Read More
Muslim Americans: Mostly Middle Class and Mainstream
New Pew Poll Released, May 22, 2007: “Muslim Americans: Mostly Middle Class and Mainstream”See: https://pewresearch.org/pubs/483/muslim-americans”The first-ever, nationwide, random sample survey of Muslim Americans finds them to be largely assimilated, happy with their lives, and moderate with respect to many of the issues that have divided Muslims and Westerners around the world.” Read More
