Survivors look at the pictures of the Godhra riots victims at a photo-exhibition held to commemorate its 10th anniversary in the western Indian city of Ahmedabad February 27, 2012. The riots were some of the country’s worst religious riots since independence, killing some 2,500 people, mainly Muslims.
REUTERS/Amit Dave
FARMINGTON, MICHIGAN—The American Muslims of Indian Origin (AFMI) commemorates the tenth anniversary of the 2002 Gujarat genocide by praying for the victims and their families. The barbaric acts perpetrated by criminals in active collusion with the state and political machinery resulted in numerous deaths, rapes, injuries, and the continued displacement of thousands of people.
Despite the passage of ten years since the events occurred justice continues to evade the victims. AFMI demands the Indian governmental authorities to swiftly prosecute the perpetrators of these heinous acts and bring them to justice. It also demands that the victims be rehabilitated and adequately compensated.
AFMI salutes the courage and conviction of all human rights organizations, activists, lawyers, and other individuals who continue to fight for justice against all odds.
AFMI urges the people of India, and Gujarat, in particular, to introspect behind the causes of the horrific 2002 massacres and resolve that they should never again allowed to be repeated.
The American Federation of Muslims of Indian Origin, is a North American based grassroots organization, dedicated to socio-economic and educational development of Muslims and other underprivileged masses in India.
The American Federation of Muslims of Indian Origin; 29008 W.8 Mile Road, Farmington Hills, MI 48336; Tel: 248-442-2364; afmi11@aol.com.
Aisha Al Beloushi, the UAE weightlifter who made history by becoming the first woman from the Arabian Gulf to win a medal in a weightlifting competition, has been stripped of her medal because of substance abuse. The UAE National Olympic Committee (NOC) has decided to suspend Aisha from all local and international competitions and to strip the silver medal she won in the 58kg-category.
She had taken a medicine that contained prohibited drugs without consulting the doctors accompanying the UAE delegation in the 12th Arab Games, or her coach or team manager. Aisha was admitted to Hamad Hospital on the night she won the medal for neck and back pains after a freak accident during the competitions.
“This is sad news and proves once again the ignorance of our athletes about what medicines they should take or not to take and the necessity of consulting the doctors about all medicines, however simple they are,†Abdul Mohsin Al Dossary, the head of the UAE delegation, told Gulf News.
“The UAE NOC had conducted dope tests on all the athletes who were taking part in the Games and all were cleared, except Aisha, who had taken some medicine on the banned list in the past few days [before the competition] without consulting the doctor of the team. She will be suspended by the organizers anyway, but the UAE NOC has suspended her and asked her to return the medal she won. These incidents harm the reputation of our sport and our athletes,†he said.
Pakistan went down in defeat by five runs in the rubber match of their Twenty20 series in Abu Dhabi this week to take the series 2-1.
Roshaan, the five year old son of Pakistan cricketer Mohammad Hafeez waits with the Pakistan team for the presentations after Pakistan won the third cricket test match against England at Dubai International cricket stadium in DubaiFebruary 6, 2012.
REUTERS/Philip Brown
Needing 130 runs to win, Pakistan were going along nicely at 107-4 with 23 needed off the last three overs and 17 off the remaining two but Stuart Broad and Jade Dernbach did not lose courage and pulled off the win in the final over. Broad dismissed a well set Umar Akmal (22) off the third ball of the penultimate over and gave away just four runs, leaving Jade Dernbach to defend 13 in the last, which he successfully did, removing Misbah-ul Haq (28) off the final delivery. Dernbach finished with 2-24 and most importantly gave World Twenty20 champions an unexpected win.
Pakistan won the first match by eight runs while England won the second by 38 runs — both played in Dubai. Pakistan had lost opener Mohammad Hafeez for a second nought of the series but Awais Zia (23) and Shafiq added 40 for the second wickets before Zia was trapped leg-before by Graeme Swann and Shafiq was run out.
Captain Misbah and Umar Akmal added 37 for the fourth wickets and when it looked as if that would help Pakistan cross the line England pulled back with remarkable resilience. With 13 needed off the final over Shahid Afridi took a couple before he was run out while taking a second off the next. The next three balls produced singles and a wide and with six needed off the final ball, Misbah was bowled.
Earlier off-spinner Saeed Ajmal finished with 4-23 — his third four wicket haul in the shortest form of the game — to restrict England to a modest 129-6 after they won the toss and batted. Ajmal, who destroyed England in the preceding three-Test series with 24 wickets to help Pakistan to a 3-0 rout, put the brakes on his rival’s progress.
Opener Kevin Pietersen top scored with 62 not out, keeping one end intact during his 52-ball knock for his seventh T20 fifty. He hit six boundaries and a six off the last ball of the innings. Ajmal provided Pakistan with the breakthrough after England raced to 29 by the fifth over, dismissing Craig Kieswetter (17) off a lofted shot at long-on where Shoaib Malik took the catch. Kieswetter had hit a four and six off paceman Umar Gul in the third over.
Pakistan had Ravi Bopara caught behind off paceman Aizaz Cheema for one and Eoin Morgan run out for nine before Ajmal accounted for Jonny Bairstow (three), Jos Butler (seven) and Samit Patel (16). The match ended England’s long tour of the United Arab Emirates where they lost the Tests but won the one-day series 4-0.
Muslim professional basketball star Rasheed Wallace had seemingly played his last National Basketball Association (NBA) game in Game 7 of the 2010 NBA Finals with the Boston Celtics, as he retired right after that series. But now comes word that Wallace plans to un-retire, as Comcast Sports Net New England (CSNNE.com) reported that he will be signing with the Los Angeles Lakers.
Although he had two years remaining on his contract, Wallace and the Celtics came to terms on a buy-out of the remaining years believed to be worth about $1 million. His return to action has been rumored for weeks, fueled by a decent showing at Pro-Am tournament in North Carolina this summer. It only became heightened by, according to league sources, a renewed conditioning regimen that apparently has him looking better than he has “in years.â€
With a roster of 14 players, the Lakers can add Wallace and not have to worry about waiving a player to make room. His addition will likely fuel rumors that the Lakers will become even more aggressive in their attempts to trade away Pau Gasol. However, a front office executive whose team has had both internal and external discussions about Gasol, said the addition of Wallace will only be to strengthen their bench.
“His days as a starter in this league are gone,†said the source. “I think he knows that, and so do the Lakers. But think about it. Of the big men that are available, is there one that’s really better? And if he’s gotten himself in shape, adding him becomes a huge get for them.†As for the Celtics, Boston had no interest in reuniting with Wallace when word spread that he was planning to make a comeback. And that lack of disinterest, CSNNE.com has learned, was mutual.
Interfaith Unity Day Brought Faith of Religions & Commonality to Serve Society
The Muslim Council of USA, under the leadership of Syed Shahid Ali Sunni, organized the most memorable inaugural Interfaith Unity Day at the prestigious Verizon Wireless Theater in downtown Houston this past Sunday. Appreciable number of people attended the event.
All the speakers spoke on the main theme of the event, and that was “Interfaith Unity for Humanity and Better Societyâ€. At every moment, Americans are striving to make our Union better and better. People of faith and religion are in large numbers in USA and have to do their very important role in this crucial endeavor to better our communities; by coming together to understand each others’ faith, and respect the differences; bring forth the common values of serving the humanity; and as such utilizing this diversity to strengthen the American society: Prosperity of All.
Reverend Diane McGehee said that her faith teaches to stand against oppression, and love the enemy by praying for them and pardoning.
Sarah Irene Joseph AL Rashid, who converted to Islam at the age of 16 in 1988 after being brought up as a Catholic, talked about Muslims being followers of Mercy Unto the Worlds Muhammad Peace Be Upon him. She said mutual understanding among people of faith is very important, as enemies of peace in this world, want to divide people of faith on the basis of unfounded fear. “We will strive to make it an annual event. Hopefully next time, more people will attend, and we will bring forth even more enhanced program & vision,†said Syed Shahid Ali Sunni of the Muslim Council of USA. For more information, people can call him at 1-281-250-7101.
Major Progress Switching to Electronic Records
Enrollment process for Texas hospitals, health care providers mirrors nation
The number of hospitals using health information technology has doubled in the last two years, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Recently released data indicates that nearly 2,000 hospitals and more than 41,000 doctors nationwide have received $3.1 billion in incentive payments to help them institute the use of health IT.
Texas is putting up good numbers of its own, according to Stephanie Goodman, spokesperson for the Texas Health and Human Services Commission. Goodman reports that as of Feb. 18, more than $208.9 million in incentive funds have gone to 211 Texas hospitals and more than $56.5 million has been paid to 2,704 health care providers.
“The enrollment process has gone really well in Texas,†said Goodman.
The goal of the incentive program is to move hospitals and health care providers to the use of electronic health records (EHRs).
The American Hospital Association conducted a survey in 2011 that revealed that 35 percent of hospitals in the United States were using EHRs. That figure is up significantly over the 16 percent reported in 2009. Additionally, 85 percent of hospitals indicate they are likely to apply for incentive payments by 2015 to install the technology. The funding, from the Medicare and Medicaid EHR Incentive Program, will provide medical records that can follow patients wherever they receive health care. Its goal is to improve the quality of health care, make it more efficient and reduce medical errors.
In January, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) paid out incentive funds totaling $519 million to providers. The incentive payments can total as much as $44,000 under the Medicare EHR Incentive Program and $63,750 under the Medicaid program.
Goodman said that in Texas, HHSC is ready to start the audit process. “That’s going to tell us a lot more about how well our doctors and hospitals are doing in implementing and using electronic health records. We don’t just want to have new technology in place. We want to use it to improve patient care.â€
SALT LAKE CITY, UT–An action which is worth emulating everywhere Salt Lake City Jews and Muslims came together over food at Interfaith Roundtable at Congregation Kol Ami earlier this month.
The feast was part of a month-long event put on by the Salt Lake Interfaith Roundtable to promote “love, harmony and understanding among all faith traditions.†More than 20 events will be held at places of worship throughout the valley to encourage increased religious understanding among the state’s many faiths.
The Jewish Congregation Kol Ami and the Islamic Society of Greater Salt Lake were the honored guests at the last event. The food, which was prepared in line with both Kosher and Halal dietary laws, was meant to symbolize the similarities between the two cultures and faiths.
U Rochester libraries facilitate Muslim prayers
ROCHESTER, NY–Even as controversies rage across the West over the proper place of religion in the public space the University of Rochester is facilitating prayers for its Muslim students by literally laying out the carpets. Libraries at the university now have rugs allowing Muslim students to pray. They were donated by the Muslim Students’ Association (MSA) and individual students.
“The goal of the libraries is to support students in their academic work,†Associate Dean of River Campus Libraries Katie Clark said. “That means not only providing books but also providing a space that is conducive to working. By making the rugs available and convenient, we hope we’ve created library space that is conducive to studying.â€
Syeed-Miller becomes first Muslim speaker at La Sierra University
RIVERSIDE,CA– Najeeba Syeed-Miller became the first Muslim to deliver the Paul J. Landa Memorial Lecture at the Adventist affiliated L Sierra University.
The lecture was entitled “The Promise and Challenge of Muslim-Christian Relations in the United States.â€
Najeeba Syeed-Miller is a prolific practitioner and effective educator in the area of conflict resolution. Her involvements range widely, including conducting gang interventions, implementing diversity training in universities and public agencies, conflict resolution in public schools, interreligious dialogue among the Abrahamic traditions, and environmental conflict resolution.
Her conflict resolution experience has made her a sought after trainer for those who work on conflicts in India, Latin America, Guam, Afghanistan, Israel and Palestine.
New Mosque comes up in Roswell
ROSWELL,GA– The Roswell Community Masjis inaugurated its new prayer facilities recently. Representatives from a host of businessess, community, faith, and political organizations attended the event showing widespread support to the Muslim community.
The mosque has larger prayer areas, a multi-purpose room for community events, library, media center and classrooms were all included in the remodel. Eventually, RCM would like to also install a full outdoor basketball court and children’s play area.
The masjid is home to local Muslim Boys and Girl Scouts troops and is well respected by neighboring non-Muslim institutions, due to its collaboration in social services and interfaith activities, according to the Roswell Patch.
pop-Eye wins top Health Development award
SAN FRANCISCO,CA– At the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) conference last week, the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) and Health 2.0 announced the top winner of the popHealth Tool Development Challenge: Team popEYE.
popEYE — the popHealth app to Engage Your patiEnts (popEYE) — submitted by Chintan Patel, Sharib Khan and Aamir Hussain — decreases the burden by which providers engage their patients. The application allows providers to create patient-engagement reminders for the popHealth measures — it automatically calls the patient cohort using the cloud-based phone service Twilio and delivers the reminder message set by the provider, effectively discontinuing the need for manual calls and letters and subsequently delivering call outcomes and patient responses to the providers.
Team popEYE was awarded with $75,000.
Ayesha Khan comes third in Broward County Spelling Bee
MIAMI,FL–Ayesha Khan, a fifth grader, obtained third position in the elementary section of Miami Herald Broward County Spelling Bee. She is a student Salah Tawfik Elementary and Middle School.
As most of you are aware, our mother has been battling liver cirrhosis for almost 10 years now. Recently her health has taken a big decline and continues to deteriorate day by day. In the past 6 months, she has been admitted to the hospital 6+ times with complications related to her liver failure. What makes matters worse is that she has many other complications at the same time (including Hernia, Diabetes, Neuropathy, Asthma to name a few) which only further destabilize her health.
With Cirrhosis & Liver failure, water tends to build up in your stomach as your liver is not functioning in a regular capacity. When the water builds up in your stomach, the doctors have to extract the water, but in our mothers case, they are unable to remove the water due to the hernia sitting right above her belly, which is so tender that they can’t risk accidentally touching the Hernia and having it rupture. For that reason, they are not able to get into the pockets of fluid to extract the water from her belly.
With that being said, the water simply builds up in her stomach and pushes into her lungs through her diaphragm. When the water pushes into her lungs, it exacerbates her asthma which then leads to more pain & suffering and ultimately more hospitalization.
We have gotten our mom put on the liver transplant list, but as you all know that is simply a waiting game. Doctors have suggested we solicit our friends and family for a living donor. Fortunately the liver can regrow to its original size, so doctors would be able to take a small piece of a donors liver and put that into our moms liver cavity. Once transplanted, over time the donated liver will go back to its original size, as will the liver of the actual donor. So both patient and donor can live a healthy and comfortable life. However its not as simple as that, for any living donor, there are certain criteria that must be met in order to donate to a patient. Those include:
1 – The donor should not have any liver issues themselves (liver failure, cirrhosis, hepatitis, drug or alcohol abuse issues to name a few). 2 – The donor should be a specific height and weight range (in moms case, her donor should be no more then 120-130 lbs as she currently weights approximately 100 lbs) and the height should not be more then 5’3’ or 5’4. 3 – The donor should have a specific blood type that is compatible with moms. (Her blood type is A, so we need A+, A- or O) 4 – The donor needs to be at-least 18 years of age, but no more then 75-80. 5 – The donor would have to go through a thorough examination to ensure they are healthy (physically & emotionally) and able to sustain such an operation.
If you know our family, all of us siblings are way above the height and weight requirement and have been told we would not be candidates for the procedure. For that reason, we are turning to our friends and family to spread the word in the time of our need. We know this is asking a lot but if you know our mom, you know what an extremely loving and caring person she is. She has always been there for everyone and was always the sunshine in our house, and its very sad and frustrating to see her now & to be at a point where we can only stand by on the sideline and see her deteriorate.
We as a family, request anyone in the community that gets this message, even if you do not wish to be considered as a living donor, please forward this message on and please keep our mom in your prayers.
This is the most challenging thing Allah has sent our way, but we are sure with the support of our great friends and family we can at least spread the word and see if anyone can help us. This is a great deed and we will be eternally greatful for any support that we can get. As we mentioned, if you are not wanting to be considered as a donor, or do not meet the requirements, please take several minutes out of your schedule and forward this email to your friends, family & co-workers and please keep our mom in your prayers.
You can call us with any questions or if you have any suggestions. Our contact information is as -Robeena Mohammed (Ruby) – 630-624-1027; Imran Khan – 734-624-5645; Naumaan Khan (Nomi) – 734-752-9486; Usman Khan – 734-642-8134
If you would like to be considered as a donor, all testing would occur in the Metro Detroit area through the Henry Ford system, as our mom is on the transplant list through Henry Ford Main Campus in Downtown Detroit! The recovery time is about 4 weeks for the donor and all surgery related expenses are covered by the recipients insurance. From what we have been told, the donor should be back to normal within 4-5 weeks and be able to resume their normal life style without any issues. I am attaching a link as well as several attachments that detail the living liver donation process. Please review this carefully and if you have any questions or concerns, feel free to call any of us to discuss the case in more detail.
Farmington–February 25–The Tawheed Center, already known for their aggressive teaching of Qur`an, is the premiere venue for learning Qur`an in Southeast Michigan, having graduated about 20 young huffaz in the past two years.
This weekend they put icing on that cake by holding a Qur`an competition. 46 children in three age groups (5-7, 8-11, 12-15), including 18 girls and 28 boys participated in a Qur`an competition at the Tawheed Center Saturday February 25th.
The children were measured on their flow of recitation, knowledge of tajweed rules, and the length of the surahs they recited.
Judges were Sheik Shaadi from Franklin, Imam Sohel from Tawheed, and Sister Adawia Al Ghalia al Haib, a hifz teacher from the Tawheed Center Tanzil Hifz Program. Prizes were awarded for the first three places in each category.
Trophies, medals, and (large) candy bars were given. Over 350 people attended the program, which ended with a recitation of nasheed by Sheik Shaadi.
Bangladeshi Americans for Social Empowerment will host a free health seminar on diabetes and diet for minority women, at the Hamtramck Public Library on March 11.
This women-only seminar hopes to overcome cultural and religious barriers which may prevent women from getting the answers for everyday to specific women’s health questions from an Oakland University’s William Beaumont School of Medicine’s female doctor or specialist.
Bangla translation is available for Bangladeshi women, which Event Coordinator Subha Hanif said is a target audience for this informational gathering. Hanif, biology major and junior at Oakland University, said minority women may face obstacles when accessing healthcare such as limited or no insurance, seeing irregular physicians, or not asking the right questions.
Hanif said when a woman knows how to take care of herself, the whole family is more likely to follow her path.
Hanif said women should bring their family, friends and neighbors to the seminar.
BASE, a non-profit organization, has hosted two seminars last year, and plans to host others this year.
One Hamtramck, LLC, “An independent progressive organization dedicated to bringing the community together in the diverse city of Hamtramck,†according to the website www.onehamtramck.org, is an organizing partner for the diabetes and diet seminar. Hanif said they helped get the venue, and are a resource for Hamtramck.
People often think it’s silly to worry about protecting yourself from other people’s bad thoughts. Personally, I never would have believed it myself about the Evil Eye, or that other people’s thoughts could potentially harm me, except that I watched my newborn baby die in my arms while I nursed him, for no scientific reason – no cause of death was ever determined by autopsy – but something spiritually intense was definitely going on in the room. My cat’s hair was standing on end, her eyes had turned red, and she was hissing and glaring intensely at the child that I had just brought home from the Birth Center. I had never seen my cat this way, she looked like a demon. I was terrified. This was not the cat I knew. Unfortunately my husband had left me alone in this whirlwind of negative energy. Then my baby just stopped breathing and suddenly died.
Later on I learned that there is an ancient belief, shared by many Muslims, that the djinn can enter a cat and suck the life out of a baby. For this reason many people try to keep cats away from newborn babies. They hang Ayat al Kursi over a baby’s bed or recite it to keep away the Evil Eye. At the time I had no idea this level of vigilance was required to protect my child’s life! I was totally prepared in all other ways for the basic needs of a newborn. If I look back now, I realize that more than one person held my baby during his short life of 19 hours, who are causing deliberate pain in my life to this day. There were other people who never wanted my marriage to happen. I have no idea how many people prayed against me or wished harm to fall upon me and my firstborn son. The lesson I have learned is to be more aggressive about protecting myself against harm.
Yet during times of stress our defenses can become compromised, even when we know what to do. This week after completely floored by some totally undeserved accusations and hateful words, I was like a train derailed. I got so sick that I was sweating and shivering, while the person who had originally upset me continued to behave in a ruthlessly unkind manner, almost seeming to delight in causing me distress. When people get you down, they actually manipulate you into hurting yourself sometimes. Not eating, not sleeping, becoming enraged in reaction to their lack of respect. So now I’m back to square one in terms of building up the fortress which is my personal space.
Perhaps the most important thing, after praying for healing for ourselves and our loved ones, is to spiritually protect our homes. The djinn congregate in dirty places, the Prophet (pbuh) told us, so vacuuming up those cobwebs on the ceiling and taking care of things long left undone can help dispel the repressed, negative energy that is symbolized by our procrastination.
It is important to keep track of what comes into your house and what goes out of your house. If you feel a negative association with a gift given to you by someone who seems like they might not wish you well, get rid of it. Burn it, throw it down the toilet or into a river, or at least wash it, with a prayer. And take a bath. I’ve been told, if someone who you suspect dislikes you gives you food, especially sweets, don’t eat it. If a gift disturbs you emotionally because every time you look at it you have to relive some old memory, at least put it away so you don’t have to look at it anymore. If you must send your children to visit people who do not wish you well, make sure you pray over them before they leave and also purify your doorstep in some way so that all who enter into your dwelling will shed whatever bad thoughts might be with them.
How do you purify a doorway? A home? I am sure lots of people would tell me it’s wrong, but this is what I have learned from experience can help get rid of children’s nightmares and other negativity. Some people recite prayers over water and sprinkle the water in every corner and doorway of the home. Some people recite prayers and wave smoke at every corner and doorway of the home. I personally find that the beauty of fresh flowers in a vase helps counteract the ugliness of Satan. The basic idea is to ask God to keep evil out of your home and to keep you and your family safe. Even when you are not at home, you can visualize some kind of force field of light surrounding your home. If you don’t have energy for all of that (like me right now, because I’m sick), just say a prayer and ask God to protect you “from the evil of the envier when he envies.†The hadith recommend reciting Ayat al-Kursi and the four Qul’s. Reading the Psalms of David works for a lot of people. Most importantly, do something. Intention is everything. You don’t have to be an enlightened or perfect being to pray for protection. It does not require religious observance or sinlessness. But it could lead to that.
Every physician, at some point, has come across the wording “Estate Planning.†Whether it was during their residency or a seminar attended with colleagues, estate planning is one of those concepts that floats in the back of a physician’s mind, without giving it much thought, or the importance it deserves.
For many physicians, constructing a sound estate plan is usually third or fourth on the priority list of their financial obligations – right behind financial planning, financial planning and financial planning. However, what is commonly misconceived is that estate and financial planning actually go hand-in-hand. In actuality, when a physician creates and establishes a retirement plan, life insurance plan, or simply meddles through their personal finances, they are indeed taking subtle steps towards starting their estate plan.
The purpose of any estate plan is to ensure a person’s personal, financial and tax goals are protected and distributed according to their wishes. By failing to implement such a plan, the onus comes onto the Probate court to determine and decide how your wealth would be distributed, and to whom.
Now, being physicians, the general consensus for failing to create an estate plan is due to lack of time. The increased demands and pressure on the profession has left many physicians with practically no time to think for themselves or their family. However, once the importance of an estate plan is realized, physicians tend to make time for it.
The following is a perfect illustration of what is typically seen from physicians with no plan:
Attorney: “Do you have any estate plan in place?â€
Physician: “No.â€
Attorney: “Do you have any kids, or kids that are minor?â€
Physician: “Yes, three kids, and all three are under the age of eight.â€
Attorney: “Have you ever considered what is to happen to your kids in the event both you and husband/wife pass away? Who is to take care of them?â€
Physician: “No, that is something we’ve been meaning to get around to.â€
Find Your Purpose, and Take Action Towards It!
Although the common purpose of an estate plan is to distribute your wealth how you see fit, for many, the purpose is two-fold. Using the illustration above, it is equally important, if not more, to have a sound plan in place for any and all unexpected events and to be prepared if those events were to transpire.
Second, if the primary objective is to ensure that your wealth avoids probate, so to avoid paying thousands of dollars in probate fees, then taking action is necessary, as there are certain structures that can be implemented to help achieve that result. However, no matter the purpose, whether it be to protect the kids, protect your wealth, or avoid having the probate court as your primary beneficiary, establishing an estate plan should become one of the top priorities.
Understand the Bigger Picture
Another common misconception is that drafting an estate plan is too tedious. Keep in mind, the process of your plan does not end at the time it is signed. It is an on-going process that deserves attention throughout the remainder of your life. Therefore, depending on the law firm you choose, it is always important to understand the fee structure associated with your plan. More often than not, firms will charge a large fee for the set-up of the estate plan, and then additional fees for the upkeep and maintenance of it, i.e. yearly reviews. At JKY, our fee is only for the initial set-up of the plan (for Revocable Living Trusts), including any funding (transferring the assets into the Trust), further changes, updates, reviews, meetings, phone-calls, are free.
Nevertheless, the realization that an estate plan is an on-going process should help reduce the level of unease a physician may have when contemplating the complexity and work needed to begin. The actual creation of the plan is simple, which is what should be the focal point. Either at the beginning, or some point not too later in the process, the following are the documents typically required:
• Life Insurance Policies • Bank accounts, investments, stocks, mutual funds • 401K or IRAs statements • Property Deeds • Business interests (Operating Agreements and/or Bylaws) • Medical Practice Documents • Prior Will/Trusts
The Bottom Line
The process of estate planning is not always simple; however, it is crucial for every physician. Taking the time to establish one will bring them ease in knowing their wealth is protected, and more importantly, their children are taken care of by individuals they trust, and selected, and not who the courts feel is best suited.
Furthermore, estate planning is setting the foundation for your wealth, and laying out the instructions on how they are to be distributed. Once the realization of its importance is understood, it is imperative to move forward and ensure a sound estate plan is in place. Remember, without a plan, the government is given authority to dictate how your assets are to be distributed. Not only will your assets be in their control, but the distributions will not be made pursuant to your wishes.
Adil Daudi is an Attorney at Joseph, Kroll & Yagalla, P.C., focusing primarily on Asset Protection for Physicians, Physician Contracts, Estate Planning, Health Care Law, Business Litigation, and Corporate Formations. He can be contacted for any questions related to this article or other areas of law at adil@josephlaw.net or (517) 381-2663.
The municipality of Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates, has a reputation for larger than life projects that always succeed despite obstacles and delays. The sheer ingenuity of the Dubai government, and willingness to lay it all down on the line, is what makes the tiny Gulf emirate great. Honestly, who would have thought such a miniscule locale would produce the largest building in the world? It’s this “can win†mentality that has made Dubai one of the darlings of the Guinness Book of World Records. You think things are bigger in Texas? Let’s take a closer look at Dubai.
Dubai holds several world records in addition to the record for the tallest building in the world, the Burg Al Khalifa. Some of the other notable records include the “largest acrylic panel†in the world, which is actually the viewing panel of the Dubai Aquarium and Discovery Center. Weighing in at an estimated 245,614 kgs, the panel gives visitors an obstructed view of over 33,000 aquatic animals and plant life. Dubai also set a new Guinness Record for the number of aluminum cans crushed by a “monster†truck in less than three minutes. In 2010, the Coca-Cola Company assembled approximately 61,606 cans of its popular energy drink BURN in the center of a sports arena. The monster truck was driven over the cans and crushed every last one.
The most recent world record to be set by Dubai is for the world’s largest book. The title of the book is, “This is Muhammad†and the pages within are a biography of Islam’s Holy Prophet. The book is exactly 5 meters tall and 8 meters in length. It weighs a whopping 1,500 kgs. The 420 pages that compose the book are made from recycled paper. The entire book is beautifully bound in the finest leather. An official from Guinness World Records was on hand this past week at a special ceremony to take measurements of the larger than life publication and present a certificate of world record status to the company behind the grandiose endeavor, the Mshahed International Group.
The head of the Mshahed International Group, Dr Mohammed Saeed Al Awlaki, shed light on the mission of the project during the ceremony. He said, “The aim of the project is to raise awareness about Islam and confront the distortion attempts facing the personality of the Prophet Mohammed by some of those who don’t know the full facts about Islam’s message.†The creation of the book took three years, over 100 workers and required immense research by some of the greatest scholars of Islam known today.
In addition to the record-breaking book, 500,000 human-sized copies have been printed are available in a wide array of languages including English, Arabic and Russian. The enormous book will be shared across the region, once it goes on tour, as it will be on display in several Middle Eastern and European countries. Speaking on behalf of the Mshahed International Group at the awards ceremony Awlaki said, “This book is for everyone – not just Muslims but everyone, be they Christian, Jewish or Hindu.â€
Asghar Farhadi, director of Iranian film “A Separation†receives Academy Award.
The 84th Academy Awards ,Sunday night provided a great deal of encouragement to International Film Makers. â€The Artist†a French Film won the award for “Best Pictureâ€. An Iranian film by the name of “A Separationâ€was nominated in two categories Best Foreign Language Film and for Best Original Screenplay.†A Separation†won in the foreign film category winning the first Academy Award for Iran. Iran was also nominated for an Academy Award in 1998 for it’s film “Children of Heaven.â€
Pakistan’s Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy won an Academy Award along with Daniel Jung for their short subject documentary “Saving Faceâ€. This was Pakistan’s First Academy Award. It was a great night for both Asghar Farhadi and Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy.
“A Separation†talks about the social and religious problems faced by a Iranian middle class family. It also won a Golden Globe Award for Best Foreign Language Film,last month. Asghar Farhidi was born in Isfahan, Iran–he studied at Tehran University; he has been associated with the Iranian Young Cinema Society and has directed a few TV series.
His work has also been acknowledged at the Berlin Film Festival and Tribeca Film Festival. He accepted the Academy Award with great humiliation and a wish that the glorious culture of his beautiful country will one day be appreciated. The diplomatic relations between Iran and the Western World have been badly damaged in the past few years. This achievement by an Iranian film director in a field which is often dominated by people who belong to Western Countries will certainly help encourage young film directors to work on newer subjects. Mr. Farhadi dedicated his award to his countrymen he quoted “the people of my country who respect all cultures and civilizations and despise hostility and resentment.â€
Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy was born in Karachi,she attended Karachi Grammar School, Pakistan and Smith College, USA.
Her documentary Pakistan: Children of the Taliban won an Emmy Award in 2010.
She is also the only non-American to win a Livingston Award. Her short documentary “Saving Face†is about a British-Pakistani plastic surgeon Dr Mohammed Jawad, who helped female victims of acid burns in the cities of Lahore, Islamabad, Gujranwala and Karachi. Ms Chinoy dedicated her Academy Award to “the women of Pakistan who are working for change†she added “dont give up on your dreams……this is for youâ€. Pakistan is a very poor country where there are very few filmography schools, rise of a film maker on international stage is a great achievement.
The achievements of Sharmeen Chinoy and Asghar Farhadi at the 84th Annual Academy Awards was a testament that anyone and everyone can produce good informative films for the global audience.
France and Germany are following the US and Britain in withdrawing civilian staff from Afghan government institutions in the wake of the killing of two senior US Nato officers.
Afghan authorities are hunting a 25-year-old Afghan policeman believed to have shot the officers dead at the interior ministry in Kabul on Saturday.
France and Germany said they were acting on security concerns.
Afghans saw new violence on Sunday at protests over a Koran-burning incident.
Several American troops were injured in a grenade attack in Afghanistan, hours after President Karzai went on national television to appeal for calm amid anger at the burning of copies of the Koran at a US military base.
Meanwhile, the US ambassador to Afghanistan Ryan Crocker said tensions were “running very highâ€, adding that he thought “we need to let things calm down, return to a more normal atmosphere, and then get on with businessâ€.
“This is not the time to decide that we’re done here. We have got to redouble our efforts. We’ve got to create a situation in which al-Qaeda is not coming back,†he told CNN.
Main suspect hunted
Hamid Karzai Mr Karzai called for the US soldiers responsible for burning the Koran to be brought to justice
France’s foreign ministry said in a statement on Sunday that its embassy in Kabul was temporarily withdrawing all French civilian mentors and advisors from Afghan government institutions.
The move, thought to affect several dozen staff, could be rescinded once “conditions permittedâ€, the statement added.
Germany ordered its “German and international experts in agencies and ministries to be withdrawnâ€.
Afghan officials earlier named police intelligence officer Abdul Saboor from Parwan province as the main suspect behind Saturday’s attack.
The identities of the dead Nato officers have not been confirmed, but they are believed to have been an American colonel and major.
Reports said the gunman opened fire in a secure room in the ministry – one of the highest security buildings in the capital – at close range.
Mr Saboor had served in several Afghan ministries and had worked at the interior ministry for some time, with responsibilities for security arrangements and access to top level intelligence briefings and secure radio communication channels.
His family home in the Salang valley area of Parwan province, north-east Afghanistan, was raided overnight and his relatives in Kabul detained, said officials.
Nato withdrew all its personnel from Afghan ministries after the shooting. Britain and the US withdrew civilian advisors from the ministries on Saturday.
‘Enemies of peace’
The crisis comes amid deadly protests in the country over the burnings of copies of the Koran by US soldiers.
More than 30 people have been killed in the past five days, and further violence broke out on Sunday.
A grenade was thrown into a Nato base in northern Kunduz province during a protest on Sunday, but Nato said none of its people had been killed. However several Nato personnel were injured and reports quoting Afghan officials put the casualties at a total of seven.
At least one demonstrator was killed and others wounded in the Iman Sahib district of Kunduz, as protesters tried to enter the main city, reports quoting Afghan officials said.
Some 4,000 people took to the streets in Aybal, northern Samangan province, attacking a police station and a US base.
Provincial governor Khairullah Anooash told the BBC several protesters had been hurt, one critically. Other officials said one person had died.
President Hamid Karzai appealed for calm in a speech on Sunday.
The protests had proved that Afghans were prepared to die for their religion, the president said, adding that they could not allow “enemies of peace†to misuse the strong sentiment.
The BBC’s Orla Guerin, in Kabul, says many feel Mr Karzai should have called for calm days ago.
The critical damage done by Saturday’s killings remain – the Nato military advisers – and now international civilian staff – are out of all the government ministries where they had been trying to assist and train Afghan officials and it is not clear how long that will continue, our correspondent adds.
The withdrawals of the military advisors will paralyse important areas, such as technical support, intelligence sharing and many ongoing security operations, says the BBC’s Bilal Sarwary, in Kabul.
It disconnects the co-ordination of the Afghan government with Isaf, says our correspondent, and could not have come at a worse time, with attacks taking place on police and army positions across several provinces.
Secret £14million Bible in which ‘Jesus predicts coming of Prophet Muhammad’ (s) unearthed in Turkey
• Vatican ‘wants to see’ 1,500-year-old ancient script • Has been hidden by Turkish state for 12 years • Handwritten in gold-lettered Aramaic
A secret Bible in which Jesus is believed to predict the coming of the Prophet Muhammad to Earth has sparked serious interest from the Vatican.
Pope Benedict XVI is claimed to want to see the 1,500-year-old book, which many say is the Gospel of Barnabas, that has been hidden by the Turkish state for the last 12 years.
The £14million handwritten gold lettered tome, penned in Jesus’ native Aramaic language, is said to contain his early teachings and a prediction of the Prophet’s (s) coming.
The leather-bound text, written on animal hide, was discovered by Turkish police during an anti-smuggling operation in 2000.
It was closely guarded until 2010, when it was finally handed over to the Ankara Ethnography Museum, and will soon be put back on public display following a minor restoration.
A photocopy of a single page from the handwritten ancient manuscript is thought to be worth £1.5million.
Turkish culture and tourism minister Ertugrul Gunay said the book could be an authentic version of the Gospel, which was suppressed by the Christian Church for its strong parallels with the Islamic view of Jesus.
He also said the Vatican had made an official request to see the scripture – a controversial text which Muslims claim is an addition to the original gospels of Mark, Matthew, Luke and John.
In line with Islamic belief, the Gospel treats Jesus as a human being and not a God.
Serious interest: The Vatican, under Pope Benedict XVI, is said to want to see the recently re-discovered Bible
Historic: The £14million handwritten gold lettered tome is penned in Jesus’ native Aramaic language
It rejects the ideas of the Holy Trinity and the Crucifixion and reveals that Jesus predicted the coming of the Prophet Muhammad (s).
In one version of the gospel, he is said to have told a priest: ‘How shall the Messiah be called? Muhammad (s)is his blessed name’.
WHO WAS ST BARNABAS?
Born in Cyprus as Joseph, Barnabas was an Early Christian later named an apostle.
His story appears in the Acts of the Apostles, and Paul mentions him in some of his epistles.
Christian tradition states that he was martyred at Salamis, Cyprus.
He is traditionally identified as the founder of the Cypriot Church, with his feast day on June 11.
And in another Jesus denied being the Messiah, claiming that he or she would be Ishmaelite, the term used for an Arab.
The U.S. teams for the London Olympics are taking shape. And if one young contender has her way, her sport may get a new look.
In a sport dominated by white athletes, 26-year-old fencer Ibtihaj Muhammad stands out.
“I know that I am different,†she said. “But once my mask goes on, and the official or referee tells us to fence, then it’s game time. My purpose when I compete is to win.â€
If Muhammad qualifies for the U.S. Olympic team, she will make history, not because of her race or her religion, but what she chooses to wear.
Muhammad fences in her hijab, the traditional Muslim head covering. While Muslim athletes from other countries have competed wearing one, Muhammad would be the first American to do so. “What does that mean to you?†Miller asked Muhammad.
“It’s hard to believe that it’s 2012, and we haven’t had a covering of some woman represent the United States. But if I am blessed and fortunate enough to qualify, I would feel honored to be in that position.â€
Getting that position will be tough. Muhammad’s specialty is the saber, and the Olympic fencing team only has two spots in that category. She spends more than 30 hours a week sharpening her skills and works as a coach six days a week to help pay her way.
Her parents see her as a new American role model.
“For the Muslim youth to have someone to look up to, and positivity. That is not something they see in our media. They see negative images. So it’s a wonderful thing,†said mother Inayah Muhammad. “ I hope my story reaches not only Muslim youth,†said Ibtihaj, “and not only minorities, but women to believe that with all the hard work and all the training, that anything is possible.†Currently ranked third in the nation, Muhammad has three more tournaments left to qualify for the Summer Games. She finds out if she makes the roster in March.
A research project sponsored by the TMO Foundation and generously supported by the financial backing of SM Ali Qureshi of New Mexico. This study will be supplemented with details about the methodology.
By Kecia Escoe
Michigan has been known to hold the largest Muslim population in the United States. KE Human Resources LLC was commissioned by TMOF to conduct a demographic study of Muslims in Michigan in 2011. The Muslim population is vast and multi-dimensional in Michigan truly showing the diversity and commonality of the believers in faith of all cultural backgrounds. Muslims were surveyed in numerous communities: Kalamazoo, Grand Rapids, Holland, Ypsilanti, Ann Arbor, Detroit, Mt. Pleasant, Browns Town, Flint, Pontiac, Lansing, Saginaw, Jackson, Dearborn, Dearborn Heights, Hamtramck, Oak Park, Southfield Canton, Auburn Hills and West Bloomfield.
Of the 115,000 Muslims surveyed, 50.2% are female and 49.8 % are male. 73.2% are married, 15% never married, 8.7% divorced, 2.9% widowed and .2% are separated.
24.7% are Asian, 31.4%- African-American, 16%- Arab, 10.4% -African, 10.1 %- European, 1.2 %- Hispanic, 2.5%- Iranian 1.5 %- Native American, 3.3 %- Bosnian, 1.9%- Turkish. 52.8% reside in SE Michigan, 22.5% in NE Michigan, 10.4 % in SW Michigan, 4.6% Central Michigan and 9.2% NW Michigan and .4% in the U.P. 88% of those surveyed are US citizens, 85% are registered voters.
Those surveyed, 7.6% have obtained a MD, PhD or JD, 15.4% earned a Masters’ degree, 42% earned Bachelors’ degree, 11.3% Associates or Trade School certified, 7.8% are currently attending or have taken some college courses. 12.5% have obtained a high school diploma or GED while 3.5% have not received a high school diploma.
The average ages surveyed were 30-39 at 25.1%. 21.3% were age 40-49, 14.7% were over 60, 17.2% 21-29 of age, 15% 50-59 years of age the remaining 5.2% were age 18-20. Registered voters consist of 84.4% of those surveyed 16.2% were not registered to vote. 92.9% are US citizens 7.1% are not.
The general population decline in Michigan from 2005-2009 was 121,000 (estimated population Michigan.gov) at -3% growth rate. The Muslim population continues to grow, on average Muslim families consist of 4 persons to a household of which 23% are under the age of 18.
Data is based on a sample and are subject to sample variability is repeated thorough the use of a margin of error. The value is the 90% margin of error. The margin of error can be interpreted roughly as providing 90% probability that the interval defined by the estimate minus the margin of error and the estimate plus the margin of error.
This study gives a sample of the population of Muslims in Michigan it is estimated the numbers far exceeds the numbers given due to many communities of Asian, African-American, Albanian, Arab and Bosnian decent declined to participate in the survey. Along with limited contact with Muslims over the age of 65.
In conclusion, the majority of the Michigan Muslim population surveyed are African-American, female, between the ages of 30-39 U.S. citizens, registered voters at 84.4% with Bachelors’ degrees residing in SE Michigan.
