SIGNS OF THE TIME

IT IS WITH GREAT SORROW THAT I ANNOUNCE THE PASSING YESTERDAY (DECEMBER 18,  (2014)  OF MY WIFE OF    12  YEARS, SANAA   ABDUL-HALIM. SHE BATTLED CANCER FOR MORE  THAN TWO YEARS.   MAY ALLAH FORGIVE HER EVERY SIN AND   HAVE MERCY ON HER,  AMEEN.  SHE WAS A   WONDERFUL HUMAN BEING WHO ENHANCED THE LIFE OF ALL   WHO MET  HER, AND SHE   CONTRIBUTED GREATLY TO THE BEAUTY OF OUR JAMAAT  (CONGREGATION) AT THE MOSQUE   OF  ISLAMIC  BROTHERHOOD.    HER PASSING IS  HUMANITY'S LOSS.  MAY ALLAH FORGIVE HER SINS AND SHORTCOMINGS, MAGNIFY ALL OF  HER GOOD DEEDS,  HAVE INFINITE MERCY ON HER, FILL HER GRAVE WITH LIGHT AND  REWARD HER   WITH PARADISE,  AMEEN WE WERE MARRIED FOR 12 YEARS THIS IS AT AN 'EID CELEBRATION AT HOME, SMILING BEAUTIFULLY AS SHE ALWAYS DID HER SMILE EVEN LIT UP THE OUTDOORS IN THE DAYTIME SUNLIGHT HERE WE ARE WITH (NOW) PUBLIC ADVOCATE 'TISH JAMES, AT A HEALTH WALK IN HARLEM BEFORE SANAA BECAME

As- Salaamu 'Alaikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuhu (peace be unto you and the Mercy of Allah and His blessings) Since the attack upon protestors in Ferguson, Missouri, the "hands up - don't shoot" gesture has become a symbol of national protest and defiance, especially amongst young people. This has generated different opinions in communities of Americans of African descent. The reason for this is not that there isn't wide-spread righteous indignation at the ongoing injustice of police brutality and use of excessive force resulting in the deaths of innocent, unarmed people, because there is that prevailing spirit in communities, nation-wide. What has generated the difference of opinion is the "hands-up" gesture itself. On the Friday following the events at Ferguson, after Friday worship service at the Mosque of Islamic Brotherhood (Harlem, New York), where I am the Imam, a number of worshippers joined me in an a