UPDATED: Arson

UPDATED: Arson at future Islamic Center site 'takes it to a whole new level'

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UPDATE: 1 P.M.

One piece of construction equipment at the future site of the Islamic Center of Murfreesboro was set afire in the overnight hours while others had gasoline poured on them, according to a spokesperson for the ICM.

Carmie Ayash, spokeswoman for the ICM, told The DNJ Islamic Center officials were contacted by the sheriff’s department around 1:30 a.m. Saturday in reference to the damaged equipment. It appeared gasoline had been poured on several pieces of equipment at the site and one was lit afire. Ayash said it appeared the responsible arsonist was spooked during the act and fled the scene before other equipment could be set on fire.

“We were contacted by police department around 1:30 a.m,” Ayash said Saturday afternoon. “They said someone had caught fire to some of the equipment. I think they lifted the hood and poured gas into the hood and set it on fire. 

“The other equipment had gasoline poured on it but was not set on fire. It seems like it was intentional. Probably, whoever did it got caught in the middle of the act, got scared and left.” 

Authorities working the scene did not specify whether gasoline or some other accelerant was used to start the fire. 

Islamic Center officials have contacted the FBI and Department of Homeland Security, according to Ayash, and sheriff’s department investigators “told us they will be investigating this as a hate crime.” Ayash later said sheriff’s officials “asked her to correct her statement,” adding they plan to explore several different motives while investigating the arson. 

Ayash said the most recent vandalism to the site “takes it to a whole new level.” The site has already been the target of two other vandalisms, both aimed at a sign marking the future site.

“Everyone in our community no longer feels safe,” she said. “To set a fire that could have blown up equipment and, God forbid, spread and caused damage to the neighbors there ... we really feel like this is something that we and the neighbors don’t deserve. When they (ICM officials) called me this morning I started crying.

Ayash said it appears the intention of the arsonist was to scare members of the Islamic community and she added the arsonist has succeeded.” 

The spokeswoman told The DNJ that Islamic Center officials have tried, unsuccessfully, to contact construction company, Ole South Properties, Inc., about the arson to its equipment.

“They did hurt the construction company,” Ayash said. “It’s not hurting us. It did put us in a fearful state, so they did accomplish that. I don’t understand where this is coming from.”

Check back at dnj.com throughout the day for more on this developing story.

— Mark Bell, 615-278-5153

REPORTED EARLIER:

An apparent case of arson to construction equipment at the site of the future Islamic Center of Murfreesboro is under investigation at this hour by fire investigators from the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office and employees of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

Sheriff’s department Lt. Randy Groce, who was at the site on Veals Road at Bradyville Pike Saturday morning, told The Daily News Journal that it was unclear “exactly what we’ve got here,” and declined further comment until more facts can be gathered. It is unclear whether the RCSO or ATF will lead the investigation at this point, he added.

Crime scene tape surrounded several pieces of construction equipment at the site around 10:30 a.m. Investigators, including arson investigator Groce, remained at the scene. 

The current site of the Islamic Center of Murfreesboro, located near the intersection of South Church Street and Middle Tennessee Boulevard, was closed when a Daily News Journal reporter went there to seek comment on the matter. No one from the center could be immediately reached via telephone this morning.

Check back at DNJ.com throughout the day for more on this developing story.

— Mark Bell, 615-278-5153

REPLIES TO COMMENTS FOR POSTING DATED 22nd AUGUST

azahar said...

Deepest Condolence to your friend from my family and I for the passing away of her loved one. I too have ailing father and mother. Both are bed-ridden now. It is always a pity to see them both unable to walk. To Allah I pray that they will not suffer too much and they will endure the great tests calmly and with full of patience.

August 23, 2010 12:09 PM

 

Assalamualikum Datuk Dr.Azahar,

Thanks for the earlier comment on the Halal issue... I wrote a long reply but similar fate was met.

Anyway, she is my mom's cousin and so was he.  She is my pic,confidante and the best of everything... a friend, a sister... you name it that's what we are.

Insyaallah, I shall convey your condolences to her when I see her tomorrow.  Today, she is not at work, resting and reconciling with the sudden loss.

I am so sympathetic towards the conditions of both your ailing parents.  But to some consolation, this is the time (perhaps) Allah takes away their sins, time of repentance, time to see which of their children come forward willingly to visit, feed them, clean them and most of all... YOU are still lucky to have them around.  You are still able to seek forgiveness from them, to seek rewards from Allah for taking care of them and to pray hard for them so that they may leave in "husnulkhatimah". Amin.

Sometimes, we do not realize the way Allah Bless us.  He has his ways, mysterious to us, but that is the best for us.  We go through pains, sufferings, hurts, frustrations and all, the next we should find eternal peace, more patient,  sins forgiven, feelings enlightened, Blessing In Disguise, new life awaiting, new opportunities popping up, we learn to endure them and in the end we know WHY! It is not an easy task to enter Jannah.  We have to go through His Tests and Tribulations on this earth, while we are still breathing.  Why all these test??? They are to make us getting closer to Him, practicing His Commands: Obey Him by doing what He like and Obeying Him into leaving all that He dislike.  BERBUAT EHSAN to all human kinds and His subjects is the ultimatum.  Wallahu'alam.

I pray that Allah shall lighten the burden of both your parents and all of your siblings in handling them... Amin.

Wassalam.

 

Al-Manar said...

Allah yarham 'ayah cik Lah'was someone I knew well, a very fine gentleman. He was younger than me in school, making me 'abang' to him. I usually addressed him as a simple 'Wan'. I regret, being in Trengganu I have not seen him for many years. An sms I received early yesterday morning of his demise shocked me. How I wish I had taken the trouble to contact him earlier. Such is life. There is always something we regret when it is all too late. Alfathihah to Arwah from Pakcik Hassan and family.

August 23, 2010 6:13 PM  

 

Assalamualaikum Pakcik Hassan...and family,

On behalf of the deceased family I thank you for the message and I shall convey to them soonest possible.  I see from what you wrote that you two were buddies. I should understand how you must have felt the moment you read the sms.

 

Indeed I am sharing how you feel with regret over "not doing what should have been done"... I have encountered a few occasions myself when things were "too late".  I had  procrastinated over phone calls which were supposed to be made to this dear friend of mine... one of which was to the late Allahyarhamah Zawiyah Mazlan from Kemaman whom we called Kak Zawi (binti Omar)... three weeks down the lane, her husband called and informed me of her passing.  Ever since, my children are always reminding me ... "notto delay, nor do you hesitate when you want to call a person,  pick it up and dial".  By the way, I used to see your "name" from "AG's blog" but then I just wonder who you were.  You must be a teacher, are you?

Wassalam. rtl.

 

GrandmaK said...

My sincerest sympathy for your loss! Praying god will send you consolation and peace! Cathy

August 23, 2010 7:23 PM

Cathy, yes.  Thanks to Allah, He is sending some consolation and peace to me and the bereaved family... and thanks to you too for this sincere message.  I shall pass on to my relatives.  Am sure they would feel happy to receive.

 Indeed I feel extremely funny to reply these comment in a post.  But this was an idea from a friend whom I spoke to late this evening.  It became extremely intolerable to find replies went missing right in front of you as you click "publish comments"...  And that is not all Cathy, I find difficulties too in 'sign in"... 

Anyway, wish you and your family well.  Thanks for dropping by.  Cheers.

WHO TO BE CROSSed WITH???

https://www.blogger.com/comment.do

I have published numerous comments " replying" to all my friends comments since early August but they all went "stray".  How disgusting!  Indeed I was furious for not knowing the cause, for getting the above "link" and a pretty brilliant white blank page to look at.  Anyone with any explanations to this mysterious "missing" of  reply comments, please help to clear my doubt  ... I have wasted so much ideas writing them...

AND to my friends who have written beautiful comments please bear with me... I have not gone bonkus but dumb-founded, yes!!!

I might just follow Karim's suggestion... reply  as POST.  This sounds logical ...

SADLY MISSED AT 1:00 A.M.... my last prayer!

 Innalillahi wainna ilaihi rojiuun And ALFATIHAH

As the phone conversation went on, I listened intently and understood what had transpired between my cousin and her sil.  I did not interrupt.  But understood that she had to go alone and probably had to sleep there, in the Pantai Medical Center which is not far from my house.  Before she left, we had a mug of hot coffee each.  We have not seen each other since Aishah, her youngest daughter came home for a short holiday from Nottingham last August.

Today, all my children with the exception of Hafiz, went to break their fast elsewhere and obviously I had to do it alone.  Surprisingly  at around 6:40ish p.m the bell from gate rapidly sending signals.  Was I expecting any visitors?  Nope, no one had called, thought I.  But then through the vertical blinds I managed to see the vary familiar figure.  Standing there, trying to phone (again??).  Suddenly I remembered where I had placed my own.  Surely I would see many missed calls from her.  I signaled  through the window, that the gate was not lock.  She had successfully unlatched it and maneuvered her black Perdana... down the slope she drove and parked just the exact place she always used to.

First the normal "introduction" of not seeing each other for some time.  Then relating to me all her recent  TV appearances which I have missed.... they were about the upcoming "Women's Day Celebration" which would probably be taking place in University Kebangsaan Malaysia in Bangi.  The 25th... is the day!  But I would be baby sitting Harith, my little pic.  So, I probably just be sitting in  front of the TV watching the whole occasion.  It should be grand, I hope!

After breaking of fast... (she was a real God sent, otherwise, I would be breaking it all alone)... we went up to my bedroom to have our Maghrib and Isya' prayers.  We had planned to go to the Medical Center after that.  But there was some urgent note from her sil, telling of the "not so good condition" of Our Ayah Cik Lah. I    eavesdropped and overheard her saying, she should be leaving after a cup of coffee.  So, I rushed downstairs to get it prepared.

After a couple of "teh-tarik cooling-style"... (pouring the coffee from one mug to another to make it cooler and drinkable while spilling some for the ants to taste later), she told me of the condition of her brother.  That was supposed to be the second chemo treatment which he was quite reluctant to receive.  Apparently he was in the MC since last Wednesday.  I gave two Yaasin booklets for her to bring over there and told her not to stop reading like how we had done a few years back in UH for her late mom.

I remained calm and gave her a sad good bye as she left... I felt chocked as I said to her my last few words... "Please convey my salam (regards) to Ayah Cik Lah"... and away she drove in the darkness of the night.  

I took the Yaasin green booklet myself and began  reading slowly, patiently, calmly and as though he was in front of me.  The sudden tinge of sadness crept inside me together with this strange feeling... THAT he was listening, accepting, acknowledging my last prayer for him... I was in tears without knowing its vary reason.  But I felt as though I was appreciated... strange.  I was in my house and he was a few kilometers away... YET, this is how I had felt.... a very beautiful and mysterious work of Allah.  He sent messages to us both.  Alhamdulillah syukur... and my Salam to him was also delivered on time when she arrived at the Medical Center.

This is indeed a history repeating itself.  A few years ago, I was by the bedside of his late mother, doing the same... from 10:00 p.m till I fell asleep just a few minutes before her demise at 4:00 a.m.  So I did not get to witness her passing.  When I opened my eyes, her breathing has already stopped, her chest appeared calm and motionless.

This time, I stayed up just to pass my time, waiting for her phone call and went through my FB reading messages.  At one point, my heart ticked and I thought , should I call her?  But wait.  She is probably reading Yaasin for him.  I was sure she would call me if there was anything to inform.  I was right!!!   Just as I was writing some comments, at 1:23 a.m came a call, a sad voice ... telling me... of his demised at 1:00 a.m... just 23 minutes ago.  I was chocked and in tears.  Allah loves him more.  AND apparently He had answered my sincere prayers too... TO GIVE HIM AN EASY WAY OUT.... in  whatever form and whichever way that was best for him.  Amen, Amen, Amen.

Only Allah  knows what's best for His subjects. 

This is not the first time this year I encountered passing of dear persons around me... In the middle of 1994, our dear late Dr.Rofithah Hashim succumbed to her cancer.  There was a week in July, when I lost two cancer sufferers within a few days of each other.   When would our turn be??? No one knows.  It's only Allah The Almighty knows and He keeps this to Himself.  

Our duties are "Be prepared" to go back to Him with sufficient knowledge, sufficient n quality amal to guard ourselves when we enter ""alam barzakh" and to face "the Day of Resurrection."  May all be made easier for us all. Amen.

May we be reminded by all these before we LEAVE. 

The internet is "not feeling" well....

I have tried responding to my comment columns but those lengthy writes simply disappeared into the thin blogging air space....
and they are not retractable..  the internet is so slow... snail pace and I am frustrated with it.

Meanwhile, my own cable had gone hundreds of miles away... a stow away... into my son's set of computers, wires and all!  It would be something like another two weeks till the cable comes home to me... meanwhile, anyone leaving their note books behind... I just grab and use it.  Normally I share with little Harith who adores listening to Maher Zain's Islamic songs, a contrasting Lightning Mc Queen's carrr... on You Tube, Quran reading, Stevie Wonder's I Just Call To Say I Love You!  to mention just a few...

Halal

http://halalmedia.my

 

Halal should be promoted as an all encompassing way of life that is being underlined by some wonderful Islamic values, said Shahed Amanullah, founder of US-based altmuslim.com and zabihah.com websites.

To win over non-Muslim consumers, Halal should not only be used to refer to a given product but as a link that can bring together Muslims and non-Muslims by showcasing Islam for its beauty.

“I think that Halal will mean whatever we make it to mean. And the way I envision Halal is that it is a vehicle for a wide variety of Islamic values; not just the way you slaughter meat,” he said.

“It’s a great vehicle to introduce some wonderful things about our religion that have universal appeal. If we can introduce those into Halal, and a non-Muslim consumer can look at it and say, ‘wow, I didn’t know that Muslims cared about that, I didn’t know they cared about the treatment of animals, I didn’t know they cared about environmental concerns’.

“It will really play with their perceptions of Islam and Muslims,” he added.
Muslims living in predominantly non-Muslim countries especially in the West, were hyper-sensitive to the availability of Halal food since it was not as readily accessible to them.
However, with the prevalent sentiment surrounding Muslims and Islam around the world, the term Halal is now being associated with two other words that have negative connoctations to them – Jihad and Shariah.

“These words have been taken from very noble meanings to almost becoming dirty words, evoking hate, violence and hostility, and I don’t want to see that happen to Halal,” said Shahed.

He said the only way to prevent this was by aggressively going out there and creating the brand identity around Halal, especially since it is still a neutral term at the moment.
Food also breaks down cultural barriers very easily and quickly, said Shahed, and even at a time when America is at war with two Muslim countries and public opinion of Muslims is very low, Americans still go out and eat Muslim halal food.

“If you’re in New York and you tell any New Yorker, ‘I’m going to eat halal food’, they all know what you are talking about,” he said.

Once people are hooked on Halal food, they can then be informed of the humane preparations required by Islam such as giving the animals a drink of water and comforting them before slaughtering the animals as well as not killing them in the presence of other animals.

Shahed was a speaker at the International Halal Market Conference (IHMC) in Brunei. His presented a paper on “The Halal Tipping Point and Beyond – Examining Emerging Market and Social Opportunities”.
Read The New York Times’ article entitled Decline of the Dog on the rise of Halal meals on the streets of New York.

Pic: Mohammed Rahman, owner of Kwik Meal and maker of a widely touted lamb-and-rice platter, operates his Halal push cart at the corner of 45th Street and Avenue of the Americas in New York. Pic by Hiroko Masuike for The New York Times.

ALWAYS MORE TO LEARN !!!

  just for a quick sharing... in case you have not heard it.  and this is from my email...

 

****************************************** The liquid inside young coconuts can be used as a substitute for Blood plasma. ********************************* ****************************************** No piece of paper can be folded in half more than seven (7) times. Oh go ahead...I'll wait... **************************************************************************** Donkeys kill more people annually than plane crashes or shark attacks. (So, watch your Ass ) ************************************************************************ You burn more calories sleeping than you do watching television. ************************************************************************** Oak trees do not produce acorns until they are fifty (50) years of age or older. **************************************************************************** The first product to have a bar code was Wrigley's gum. ************************************************************************* The King of Hearts is the only king WITHOUT A MOUSTACHE *************************************************************************** American Airlines saved $40,000 in 1987 by eliminating one (1) olive from each salad served in first-class. ************************************************************************** Venus is the only planet that rotates clockwise. (Since Venus is normally associated with women, what does this tell you ?) (That women are going the 'right' direction...?) ********************************************************************* Apples, not caffeine, are more efficient at waking you up in the morning . ************************************ *********************************** Most dust particles in your house are made from DEAD SKIN ! ************************************************************************ **** The first owner of the Marlboro Company died of lung cancer. So did the first 'Marlboro Man'. *************************************************************************** Walt Disney was afraid      OF MICE! ************************************************************************** PEARLS DISSOLVE IN VINEGAR ! ********************************************************************* The three most valuable brand names on earth: Marlboro, Coca Cola, and Budweiser, in that order. ********************************************************************** It is possible to lead a cow upstairs... but, not downstairs. ************************************************************************ A duck's quack doesn't echo, and no one knows why. ************************************************************************ Dentists have recommended that a toothbrush be kept at least six (6) feet away from a toilet to avoid airborne particles resulting from the flush. (I keep my toothbrush in the living room now !) *************************************************** And the best for last.... Turtles can breathe through their butts. (I know some people like that, don't YOU ?) So...................... Remember, knowledge is everything, so pass it on...and go move your toothbrush !!!

BUSY WEEK

Today, and the rest of the week is going to be as busy as the bees.

SO no beadings, no breakfast on campus for me and Harith, no this and no that!

My youngest daughter is going back to the campus for her first year in Med and there are lots to be done together with her.  Hoping for someone else to do but .... hopelessness greeted US!

Sometimes life is a real test of our patience.  This test and tribulations have matured our minds, body and soul!  High tolerant, patience, acceptance and the act of submission would only be rewarded to the chosen few whom Allah have loved and cared for.