BEING HUMAN | AN ALIEN APPROACH

A Ramadan session that is Outta this World... Yet Down to Earth!

(An intensive reflection on the Legacy of W.D. Mohammed.)

F E A T U R I N G:

DIALOGUE | FILM | RECITATION | TOURS | TAI CHI

S P E C I A L G U E S T SPEAKERS:

Salwa Abd-Allah | MA
Wali Ali | MI
Aminah Muhammad | TX
Nimat Shaheed | CA
Zarinah Shakir | DC
Tahirah Abdullah | Grenada
Lesa Mahamed, O.D. | MA
Latifa Ali| MA

BIOS

Wali Ali, Imam, Musician and Businessman

He has been performing professionally since he was 11 years-old. By age 17 he was with Motown. By age 19 he entered into the Nation of Islam. In 1975, after the passing of Elijah Muhammed he followed the leadership of Imam W.D. Mohammed. And was later commissioned to perform the Images' song, that became a defacto but powerful African American Islamic national anthem. Having been one of the original Funk Brothers from Motown, Wali Ali has had decades of Platinum grade musical experiences that have taken him around globe. He was the lead guitarist for the Temptations, Eddie Kendricks, Rick James and Patrice Rushen. He was a member of the Motown group Undisputed Truth as they toured around the US opening up for the Jacksons. He also had the unique distinction of working with iconic legends like Aretha Franklin, Gladys Knight and Marvin Gaye, even writing a song for Gladys. He now travels the country performing his own original hits with the Biggest Little Band in Show Business. Wali is not just a World Class Musician, but he is also a global thinking businessman, humanitarian and Imam.

He puts the same level or Moor of mastery into Islamic studies as he does for music and has traveled with Imam Mohammed around the world as a sponge-like student. He attended all of the Ramadan Sessions held over the years by Imam Mohammed and is now going to share much of that knowledge June 24th-25th during Ramadan Session 2016 Boston. His talk is regarding the four birds, mentioned in the Quran as an answer to the Resurrection of Humanity. The four birds are: Education, Culture, Business and Government. The talking series kicks off with Jumah and is sprinkled through out the day to keep the theme of: Being Human, An Alien Approach, grounded and relevant to all the complimentary dialogues held by the star-studded alignment of speakers. Wali's bringing us from Motown to Mo-hammed Town. From Beantown to Being Sound.

His talk: the Four Birds: Education, Culture, Business and Government.

Salwa Abd-Allah, Islamic Scholar, Think Tank Founder and Author

Salwa Abd-Allah is a Muslim convert of nearly 50 years. She’s made Hajj and works with a local non-profit tax-exempt think tank on applied Quran in today’s world. She has been the principal of Boston’s first full time Islamic school, the Sister Clara Muhammad School. It was also accredited by the Dept. of Education for the Commonwealth of MA. At that time it went from K through 10th grade. She worked with the Sister Clara Muhammad School system, and was a founding member of CISNA (Council of Islamic Schools of North America).

As a Social Change Agent Salwa was Adjunct Faculty at both New Hampshire College in Manchester, NH (now merged into Southern New Hampshire University: SNHU) and at Springfield College’s Boston Campus. She has earned both a BS in Human Services and an MS in Community Economic Development—specializing in Islamic Economics. Salwa strives to live the truth of Al-Quran and share “that wealth” whenever given the opportunity.

She’s a widow and the mother of three adult sons. She has many grandchildren.

Her talk: Learning Allah.

Aminah Saudah Abdullah Muhammad, Arabic Reciter and Islamic Scholar

Aminah Saudah Abdullah Muhammad

Aminah Saudah Abdullah Muhammad was born in New York raised in Boston. Attended Masjid Al Quran when Imam Shakir Mahmoud was the Imam.

Aminah graduated from the Boston City Hospital School of Nursing as a License Practical Nurse in 1980 A mother of eleven children,nine sons and two daughter all home birth

Aminah studied Quranic Arabic right here in Boston and continued her education in Islamic Learning Institute with Imam Qasim Ahmed Aminah has traveled to Morocco Dubai ST. CROIX Indonesia and met a top Quranic female reciter Alfisha Arashad that encouraged a Quranic recitation tape used for many different occasion . Aminah has made Ummra twice and looking forward to Hajj.

The famous Christian Evangelist and preacher Dr. Billy Graham has this to say about Islam and polygamy:
“Christianity cannot compromise on the question of polygamy. If present day Christianity cannot do so, it is to its own detriment. Islam has permitted polygamy as a solution to social ills and has allowed a certain degree of latitude to human nature but only within the strictly defined framework of the law.
Christian countries make a great show of monogamy, but actually they practice polygamy. No one is unaware of the part mistresses play in Western society. In this respect Islam is a fundamentally honest religion, and permits a Muslim to marry a second wife if he must, but strictly forbids all clandestine amatory associations in order to safeguard the moral probity of the community.” (Quoted in Women In Islam by Dr. Sherif Abdel Azeem)

Her talk: Polygamy. "Whose Night is it?" She will also be reciting from Surah Al-Baqrah in the Quran.

Nimat Shaheed, Radio Producer and Host; Author

Nimat Shaheed, born in Madisonville, Texas; Raised in Oakland, California where she gave her Shahadah under the leadership of Imam Muhammad Abdullah ( Master Fard Muhammad), at the then Mosque #77 {Masjidul Waritheen}.

She has worked as an instructor at the Clara Mohammed School in Oakland where she taught several grade levels, Islamic Studies and Science. Her background also includes a scholarship studying Arabic Grammar with the islamic Society of North America (ISNA) and directing one of their Muslim youth summer camps.

She continues to work in education for both the public and private sectors, serving as Principal for both elementary and high school, an after school Director for Interfaith Institute math and science program, a Professional Expert servicing teen mothers, and a Team Lead working with incarcerated female youth. She has worked for the Oakland Unified School District as an Outreach Consultant with specialization in Attitude, Achievement and Attendance for 7 years and is currently working as a Restorative Justice Practitioner.

Her work in the Muslim Community over the years include:

Arabic/Islamic Studies Instructor
Instructor of the Shahadatain Institute
Week end Islamic Studies Director/Instructor
Prison Dawah
Public Relation, and Organizational Communication
Organizing Interfaith Events
Fundraising
Political Activities

She has spoken publicly for many years in the Muslims communities and the broader society which included the honor of speaking in Chicago at a “First Sunday”.

Her travel has taken her to several continents and countries, as well as neighboring Islands. And in 2008, Allah blessed her to “go through Hajj”.

She is a recent author of two books (Spectrums, The Color of my Voice {poetry} and He is The Creator {Attributes of Allah} and currently working on a group project with Muslim women across the United States. She also serves as a radio host for six years on AM360,The Pearls of Women, Quranic Mondays.

Her talk: the Attributes of Allah.

Zarinah Shakir, TV Producer and Host

Zarinah Shakir born in Trenton, New Jersey is the Producer/Host of the award winning Perspectives of Interfaith, a television program taped and aired at the Arlington Independent Media studios in Arlington, VA over ten years. It now airs at DCTV, Washington, DC and other markets. She is the former Producer/Host for six years of Islamic Perspectives, a television program which was the longest running program about Islam and Muslims in the Washington, DC metro area for over fifteen years. She contributed six years on the Local Station Board (LSB) and two years as the Chair of WPFW (89.3FM) in Washington, DC, a sister station of the Pacifica National Network. Also, she was a national, elected board member for three years. As the radio producer/host of “The Struggle Continues,” on WPFW (89.3FM) a one-hour radio program (Pacifica Network) started by the late Brother Hodari Abdul-Ali, she focused on a myriad of topics relevant to diverse communities. Ms. Shakir is invited to participate at numerous events: community, religious, high schools, colleges and universities as a panelist, and a motivational and inspirational speaker.

Her talks: Maid Servants of Allah and Building Abrahamic Partnerships

She will also be showing a two part film: African American Pioneer Muslimah's in Washington, DC.

Tahirah Abdullah, Hakimah

Born in Washington, D.C. May 30, 1950, Tahirah made her declaration of faith in 1972 at the Community mosque (The Islam Party of North America) where she served the Jammat as woman’s coordinator for 10 years. She always had an interest in holistic medicine and even then she was using ancient medicine practices from books like The Perfume garden, Persian Fairytales and Arabian Nights.

In 1980 she started a business selling attars (oils) her interest started there when she wanted to understand the benefits of the essence of flowers (aromatherapy). That was the beginning of her journey to the true medicine. She met Hakim Chishti (http://www.unani.com/about hakim chishti.htm ) through an editor of a New York publishing company. She wanted to know more about the scents and he recommended that she speak with him. She didn’t know he was as Muslim at the time. He was living in New Mexico. They spoke for some time that first call and both discovered they were Muslims. That is when she found out that aromatherapy (medicine for the Soul) was a part of Islamic medicine.

After studing Tibb (Unani) with him for some years he appointed her Hakima in 1986. She continued my studies in all modalities of natural healing. In 1992 she met Kokayi Patterson an acupuncturist who ttrained her in far-east medicine which she discovered was a branch of Islamic medicine including acupuncture, acupressure, Gua Sha (scraping). She worked with him at the African holistic health association in Washington DC (WHEN) counseling in nutritional therapy and drug abuse/alcoholic abuse therapy.

Her mission is educating and reviving the Sunnah in practical application.

Her talk: Prophetic Medicine, The Cure to Every Disease.

Dr. Lesa Dennis-Mahamed, Opometrist, A Member of Vision Source

Founder of Gallery EyeCare LLC and I CARE

Inducted into the Sports Hall of Fame, Dr. Mahamed not only distinguishes herself from others by her 6'3 frame but also by her majestic stature of service to the community. She is known for her kind demeanor that makes clients flock to her office and makes each visit seem like going to the spa. She has been working as an Optomitrist for more than 20 years after having played professional basketball overseas prior to the creation WNBA, she was known for her slam dunk and no non-sense attitude. She has been featured in Jet Magazine and Sports Illustrated for fighting for more inclusive standards for muslim women and girls that want to play tough and wear Hijab. Her number was retired by Emmanual College, Boston, MA and her 1000 point scoring record was only recently broken since the 80's at the college and only after it turned college turn co-ed.

She attended New England College of Optometry. She is the recent founder of Gallery Eye Care LLC, Roxbury's only independant Eyecare Center and Art Galley; and I CARE, a nonprofit arm located in the newly renovated Senator Bruce Bolling Building. Roxbury has been bankrupt of a an independent Eyecare Center for over 30 years, so Dr. Mahamed is still a community baller, a captain making her mark, all the while breaking-in new standards of excellence.

She is the eldest of seven children of the late Community Activist and Artist Jacqueline Muhammad, Roxbury, MA. She herself is a mother of five.

About Gallery EyeCare, LLC

The leading provider of quality vision care products and personalized optometric services in Roxbury.

Since 2014, Gallery EyeCare LLC has been the leader and preferred provider of quality vision care products and personalized optometric services to our patients in Roxbury and the surrounding areas. Our experienced doctors and staff offer comprehensive vision examinations and specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of a wide array of eye diseases, conditions, and problems.

In our mission to provide the best eye care services possible, our doctors use only the most advanced, state-of-the-art diagnostic technology and eye care products available. We are committed to educating our patients and providing personalized eye care services to the people of Roxbury. At Gallery EyeCare LLC, you will find eye care professionals who genuinely care about your health and are dedicated to providing exceptional personal service to everyone who walks through our door.

Her talk: I Care, Eye Can-dy and Iridology

Latifa Ali, Nurruddeen Reiki Master, Film Maker and Social Engineer

Latifa Ziyad founded Nurruddeen Development, a social entrepreneurial venture firm that focuses on developing the whole mind, body and soul of the individual and community. She has practiced bodywork for several years, branding her own called: Nurruddeen. She is a filmmaker and radio talk show host who is often asked to facilitate group dialogue and public events. She is a veteran communicator having done more than 15 years of talk radio and has had programming on WRBB Boston 104.9 FM, Family Tree; Touch 106. 1 FM, Extended Family Tree and; American Muslim 360, BLOGTALK Radio Music and Moor Show. She has further been the face of the T.V. show At the Crossing, RCC and an intern for Access Framingham TV (AFTV) producing weekly content for television. She has worked with local government for more than a decade, winning national acclaim and federal grants. As a life long learner, she has attended a variety of academic institutions including: earning a bachelors degree in Marine and Environmental Science from Hampton University, VA and a Masters in Community Economic Development from Southern New Hampshire University, NH. She has also studied Management from Harvard University Extension School, MA; Critical Thinking from University of Massachusetts Boston, MA and Quantum Mechanics at Columbia University, NY. She was recently a CIRCLE Fellow, a shared Interfaith program of Andover Newton Theological School and Hebrew College. She served as past President of the Board of Cooperative Metropolitan Ministries, New England’s oldest and largest social justice interfaith organization. She is recently graduate of Roxbury Community College in Broadcast Media Technology and plans to pursuit more academics in film. Latifa has three bio-logical daughters, Sade, Imani and Sajdah, yet claims many others. She is married to Wali Ali, Imam.

Her talk: Coming into Being.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

Ramadan Session 2016 Boston, MA

Day I Friday June 24th

Jumah 1-2 PM, Theme: Being Human, An Alien Approach, (IV Parts) Four Birds Part I: Education; Imam Wali Ali, RCC Spiritual Life Room, Building 3 First, Floor

Islamic Historical SIGHT Seeing' Freedom BUS TOUR BOSTON 2:30-5:30 PM

(Bus departs from RCC Parking Lot and returns back to RCC parking lot)

Robert Austin Transportation

Break 5:30-6 PM

African American Pioneer Muslimahs in Washington DC. (Film) Part 1 Zarinah Shakir, Location Masjid Al-Quran 6-8 PM

Iftar Masjid Al-Quran, RCC-MSA and SCMS Reunion and Potluck 8-10 PM

Presentation Tahirah Abdullah, Hakimah, Topic: Hijmah

Isha 10 PM

Tahweeh Prayer 10:30-11:45 PM

Day II Saturday, June 25th

Suhur Meal 2:30 AM ISBCC Cafe, catered by Healthy Healing Kitchens, House of Nahdra

Fajr at ISBCC 3:24 AM

Ramadan Prayer Line ISBCC Cafe 4:55 AM (605) 562-3140 Pin# 300639# or 588878 or online at: TOUCHFM.org; Replay at: www.Ramadanprayerline.com

Post Fajr discussion and Tai Chi with Leo Dai at 5:30-6:30 AM Fort Hill Park, Roxbury

Activity: 8 Brocade and 5 Animals

Opening and Welcome, Latifa Ali and Jusu Coker, Muslim Student Association, MSA-RCC Presidents Roxbury Community College, 1234 Columbus Ave. Roxbury, MA, Media Arts Center Building 1, 3rd floor Great Rm

All programing for the day will be in the Great Rm from 7:00 AM-10:00 PM besides Prayers that will be in the Spiritual Life Rm, Building 3, First Fl

Session I Begins 7:30-9:30 AM; Aminah Muhammad; "Who's Night is it?" and Tahirah Abdullah; Prophetic Medicine, The Cure to Every Disease.

Session II Begins 9:45-10:45 AM; Wali Ali, Imam, Topic: the Four Birds, Part II Culture

Fasting 5 K Iftar, VOLUNTEER Bag Assembly, Islamic Circle of New North America, Relief USA, ICNA, Relief Massachusetts Field Office, ISBCC, 100 Malcolm X Blvd. 11:00 AM-12:00 PM

Business Card Exchange and Community Announcements, RCC, Great Rm 12:00-12:30 PM

Pre-Eid Bazaar Hallway, RCC, Building 1, 3rd floor, Hallway 12-9 PM

12:30-1:00 PM Break 12:47 Dhuhr Prayer

Session III 1:15-3:15 PM; Salwa Abd-Allah Topic: Learning Allah and Nimat Shaheed; Topic: Attributes of Allah

Break 3:15-3:45 PM

Session IV 3:45-4:45 PM; Imam Wali, Imam, Topic: Four Birds, Part III Business

Prayer 4:51 RCC Spiritual Life Room

Break 5-6:30 PM

Session V. 6:30-8:00 PM Imam Wali Ali, Topic: Four Birds, Part IV Government

Breakfast Magrib 8:26 Iftar caterer by Asura Restaurant

Iftar and African American Pioneer Muslimahs in Washington DC. (Film) Part II Zarinah Shakir w Post Discussion, Great Rm RCC 9:00-10:00 PM

Isha 10 PM-12 AM ISBCC Tahweeh Prayer ISBCC

Day III Sunday, June 26

Suhr on your own

Program Break

Session VI. Alternative Medicine Clinical Presentations: **Tahirah Abdullah, Hakimah Hijamah; Dr. Lesa Mahamed O.D. I Care, Eye Can-dy and Iridology 5:00-6:00 PM, Northeastern University, Dodge Hall, Rm 450**

Session VII. Zarinah Shakir, Building Abrahamic Partnerships and Maid Servants of Allah; Latifa Ali, Certified Reiki Master/Nurruddeen Practitioner, Coming into Being 6:30-7:30 PM, Northeastern University, Dodge Hall, Rm 450

Alternative Medicine Clinic 5:00-7:30 PM Northeastern University, Dodge Hall, Rm 450

Pre-Eid Bazaar: 5:00-8:00 PM Dodge Hall Rm 450

(Scheduled individualized 15 Minute sessions additional cost)

Close-Out of Ramadan Session

Travel Logistics

If looking for a close hotel to the event(s) check-out:

The Copley area hotels including: Mid-Town Motel and the Boston Marriot Hotel, as well as the Western Inn and the Hampton Inn Mass. Ave. (Boston's Only African American owned hotel).

All of these hotels are accessible by train and/or bus, and Hub bike. Boston is a walkable city.

Vending Opportunities

If interested in vending email: learnwlatifa@gmail.com. Spaces are limited.

Being Human | An Alien Approach

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