Islam for Children at Creative Education and Publishing

The increase of Muslim citizens within the United States has prompted a surge in the creation of Muslim based businesses and islamic resources for English speaking Muslims. There are now dozens of Islamic shops and websites where American Muslims can find quality local goods and resources that are aligned with the standards of Islam and easily accessible without having to experience the added expense of having items shipped from overseas.

This is a welcome enterprise, especially in the form of Islamic Children's books and Arabic Language studies for children and the next generation of little Muslims growing up in the U.S.

One such enterprise has been led by Alameddine Kaddoura of Creative Education and Publishing. Creative Education and Publishing (CEP) is an Islamic children's books publishing company that has been based in Falls Church, Virginia since its beginnig over two years ago. CEP publishes children's books and a wide array of learning/teaching materials about Islam from Islamic board games to posters of the Arabic Alphabet.

His main mission at CEP is that children have fun as they learn.

When asked what had inspired Mr. Kaddoura to start such a business his reply was, "I browsed many publications in the Muslim Bookshops and I thought I can bring something new for our kids in the U.S. as most of the material is coming from overseas."

Mr. Kaddoura is trying to fill a gap. Although there are many Islamic children's books and several dozen Islamic publishers that exist because most of them are based in other countries they are not easily accessible for many parents and teachers. As a result of his efforts, Mr. Kaddoura has seen firsthand how the books and resources that he provides are welcomed by students, parents and teachers and he is always amazed by the positive feedback.

Mr. Kaddoura sees Creative Education and Publishing as pioneering in providing stories, posters and games that reflect the local circumstances of Muslims in the U.S. and in the West. Some examples are reflected in the story books that CEP publishes. One story published is about kindness to neighbors and the name of the neighbor is Charlie; he is not named Hassan or Tareq which are names normally associated with other Muslims. Another story addresses diversity and describes how a girl from Yemen copes as a Muslim with other students in the public school system.

For more information and to review some of the products available at CEP click here.

Global Pink Hijab Day October 27th

Global pink hijab day is scheduled for October 27, 2010 in honor of breast cancer awareness month. Muslims all over the world are invited to participate by wearing pink hijab scarves and pink ribbons on the 27th and by donating to cancer foundations throughout the month. Global pink hijab day was designed to encourage Muslim women and men to participate in breast cancer awareness activities and as a way of encouraging others to inquire about the hijab; the headscarf that many Muslim women wear as an outward demonstration of their faith.

National Breast Cancer Awareness Month was founded in 1985 by AstraZeneca, a pharmaceutical and Biologics Company that manufactures breast cancer drugs, and is celebrating 25 years of promoting awareness, education and empowerment of women and families this year. The National Breast Cancer Awareness Month organization partners with AstraZeneca and several other corporate and government sponsors and has been at the forefront of promoting awareness of breast cancer issues. NBCAM is a year round resource for breast cancer patients, survivors, supporters, caregivers and the general public.

Locally, The Pink Ribbons Project is a Houston area organization that uses the arts to improve the quality of life for those touched by breast cancer. A calendar of their events for this month can be found here.

For information about or to participate in Global Pink Hijab Day 2010 click here.

Some Houston area restaurants are offering pink discounts and deals in honor of breast cancer awareness month. Some participating restaurants are Crave Cupcakes, Baker Street Pub and Grill, Flemings Steakhouse and Sullivan's Steakhouse.

Ramadan Mubarek!

Muslims around the world have developed numerous traditions for celebrating the month of Ramadan, but the constant truth that transcends each tradition and all cultures is the practice of abstaining from food and drink daily from sunrise to sunset for the entire month.

The Holy Qur'an reads in Surah 2:185:

Ramadan is the month in which was sent down the Qur'an as a guide to mankind also clear signs for guidance and for judgement between right and wrong. So everyone who is present at his home during that month should spend it in fasting but if anyone is ill or on a journey the prescribed period shold be made up by days later.

Fasting during the month of Ramdan is one of the Five Pillars of Belief in Islam. The Five Pillars are: 1. Iman or Faith in the form of the Shahada or declaration that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is His Messenger, 2. Salaat and establishing the five obligatory daily prayers, 3. Zakat which means giving in charity, 4. Sawm which means fasting for the month of Ramadan and 5. Hajj which is the obligatory pilgrimage required by all Muslims before the end of their life.

Although fasting is required by all Muslims, male and female, as a means of obeying the commands of Allah the Almighty, it is also as a way to glorify Allah and to show our gratitude for His having sent the Holy Qur'an to mankind. It is believed that the Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, would receite the Qur'an every Ramadan and that it was during the month of Ramadan when the first revelations began.

Read more here on my examiner.com page!