Kahlid Bin Sunni
The ICNM asks Allah swt to bless and reward this excellent young Brother. Kahlid continues to be a devoted contributor to our community's success. Allah akbar!

Personal bio: Kahlid is a fifth grader at High Horizons. He consistently earns As and Bs in school. He excels in math, writing and social studies. Yet he particulary likes drawing, and has a hobby of being an artist.

Kahlid was born in San Jose, California. His dad is a master automobile mechanic, and works at MC Transmissions. Kahlid doesn't know a lot of people his age here yet. We encourage all our members to meet this fine young man. He always greets his Brothers with a big smile, and is helpful around the masjid. We thank him for his hard work.

Kahlid also likes to play his PlayStation II. He enjoys games such as Dragon Ball and Buddakia. He can pass most the levels. Kahlid says he is fond of coming to the masjid, as he enjoys prayer services with his Brothers. Kahlid wants to thank Allah swt often for the many blessings he receives. Kahlid is a wise young man!

Yehya Coggin
Yehya embraced Islam in 2002. He is a positive and contributing force in our community. We recommend his work, "Conflict in Focus: A Historical Overview of the Arab-Israeli Conflict and Partial Answer to the Questions of 'Why 9.11?'" Allah akbar!

Originally from Lynn, Massachusetts, the sixth of eight children in a family one would classify as poor, my parents were too busy making ends meet to carefully see to the religious upbringing of their children, yet they instilled in me a sense of right and wrong. In 1948, after being a problem student in high school, I joined the Marine Corps where I was trained as an aerial photographer.

Over the past twenty years I've become increasingly aware of a void in my life, an emptiness only God or the awareness of God can fulfill. I have always respected spiritual people who practiced the values and tenants of the religion they profess to believe in. I was drawn to the values and practices of my Muslim friends, but was hesitant to take the final step. This I did in 2002. In the presence of Musa Qassam and Nasser Assad, in a private room at Cafe Istanbul, I professed shahadah.

The most formulative period of my life were the years I worked in Turkey. From 1951-53, as a young US Marine, I was assigned to the American Embassy as a security guard. This became my introduction to Islam. Not only did I visit many places in Turkey, I went south into Iraq, Syria, Jordan and Lebanon. By the time I left, I was fluent in Arabic, could recite the Fatihah in Arabic and had a burning desire to further my education. I attribute this to my close association with a Turkish family in Ankara.

After returning to the US in 1953, I entered Boston University. I earned my bachelor's degree in Political Science in 1958, and embarked on a high school teaching career until 1987. I taught many different history and social science courses in three high schools. In 1968 I earned my master's degree. I continued my education with evening and summer courses, as well as foreign travel to Europe and Central America. I was a student at the University of Montpellier in southern France one summer where I met many North Africans and Middle Easterners. One of my friends, Saidi Al-Hasan of Tanzania, came to visit me the following year. As a gift he gave me a small Qur'an he had purchased in Mecca when he performed Hajj. I believe he gave me this because he knew I was considering becoming a Muslim.

In 1994 I incurred a life threating illness due to hazardous exposure while performing security work.  It's called Ideopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis. After permanently losing about 50 percent of my lung capacity and function, I am limited to work that does not require physical exertion, hence my current job is a school bus driver.

I moved west to New Mexico in 1999, because my youngest son was living and working in Santa Fe. After I bought a home in Albuquerque in 2001, he was unfortunately transferred back east.

I visited one of the Palestinian refugee camps south of Beirut in November 1952, and made a point to find out what happened there -- and what is still happening. I have increasingly witnessed the unbreakable connection between justice and peace, and the need to implement this in all the world's problem areas.

My world vision is one of inclusion rather than exclusion. I believe we must begin thinking in terms of the good of all humanity, rather than in terms of national dominance; and, in terms of approaching the solutions of our problems through multilateral means of non-violence, rather than the unilateral use of force.

Haamed Mensoor
The ICNM asks Allah swt to bless and reward this intelligent and friendly young Brother. We commend his fine work in school this past semester and wish him a rewarding break. Allah akbar!

Personal bio: Haamed is twelve years of age, and currently attends the Salam Academy. He was born in Al Jubail, Saudi Arabia, which in near Medina. He has one sister, and his parents own a jewelry shop on Central Ave. across from the Lobo Theater.

Haamed enjoys many different activites, but loves to play sports. He is good at both soccer and basketball, and participates on the team at the Salam Academy. He is most interested in math and science, and wants to become a medical doctor, as well as earn his Ph.D. His favorite food is pizza.

As for other hobbies, Haamed likes to work on electronics. We've asked him to put together a good computer system for the ICNM. Insha'Allah the Brothers will help him obtain the parts and software.

In addition, he really likes the ICNM Judo program. He says Brother Abdul Rauf is an excellent instructor, and very quick and strong. He hopes to improve his techniques. Be sure to visit Haamed's family business located at 3012 Central Ave. SE.

Raneem Oueis
The ICNM asks Allah swt to bless and reward this smart and adorable young Sister. We commend her excellent work in school and wish her a wonderful New Year. Allah akbar!

Personal bio: Raneem is ten years of age, and a fifth grader at Matheson Park Elementary School. Although Raneem was born in Sidon, Lebanon, she has spent most of her life in the United States. She is on her school's honor roll, and a straight A student -- one of only two at Matheson Park. Her favorite subjects are math and science. This past semester she earned second place in the school's Spelling B.

Raneem participates in many activites, including soccer, kickball and reading. She most recently finished a favorite book, "I'm Trapped in My Principal's Body." Raneem plans to begin gymnastics this summer. She likes school a lot, and remembers fondly her third grade teacher. She was one of Raneem's favorite teachers.

She had a great New Year's celebration, as she slept over with her cousins. They stayed up all night, and screamed "Happy New Year" at midnight -- people in the neighborhood said they could hear here for miles! She recommends community members set resolutions, and encourages us to pray five times a day to earn rewards from Allah swt.

Raneem comes from an excellent family. Her father, Rachid, is currently studying for U.S. medical exams. Her mother, Sajida, is an excellent cook, who routinely spoils community members with her delicious cusine. She has two sisters, Sally and Haneen, and one brother, Hussein. Yet she is very close to her good friend, Mackey. He is the family's two-year-old Shepard/Healer mix dog. He loves to run and play with Raneem and her friends. Insha'Allah they all will have a wonderful 2004!

Reema Zeineldin
The ICNM asks Allah swt to bless and reward this wonderful and hard working Sister. We thank her for all her efforts and suggest you visit her website listed below. Allah akbar!

Personal bio: I am Palestinian, born in Kuwait and lived there till 1992 when I moved to USA. After coming to the USA I realized how Islam became infiltrated by culture, which is very obvious in each Muslim community I have been associated with in the USA.

This is really sad, because a lot of Muslims permit or prohibit activities based on culture rather than Islam. I am sure this is a temporary situation for American Muslims. However, for Muslims living in Islamic countries, it will take a lot of time and effort to educate Muslims more about Islam.

I received the greatest blessing from Allah in 1993 when I got married to my husband Ahmed Lobad. We have three wonderful kids, Dana, Noor and Salam. I am currently working at UNM as a postdoctoral fellow in the Chemical and Nuclear Engineering Department.

I would like to invite you to look at my website about Women in Islam: www.unm.edu/~reemaz.

Khabbab Saleem
The ICNM asks Allah swt to bless and reward this young brother. Khabbab's family came to Albuquerque about a year ago. He has one brother and one sister. Allah akbar!

Personal bio: Khabbab is an 8th grader at Salam Academy. His family manages a gas station, Phillip's 66, near Carlisle and 47th. They are originally from Karachi, Pakistan. Although he is new to America, he has adjusted quickly. Khabbab speaks excellent English. Fortunately, he had worked hard in language classes while in Pakistan.

He likes playing basketball, and plays with the team at school. He's an excellent student, who likes science classes the most. He's fond of McDonalds and Papa Johns, which he says makes "really good" pizza. And, he likes cars, expecially '72 Mustangs (I've promised Khabbab he can drive mine one day).

Ramadan Mubarak, our young brother! May Allah swt guide your growth and bless you and your family.

Mujib Sardar
Mujib was recently elected to serve as UNM Muslim Students Association president. He is an active contributor to both this Ummah and the community at large. We commend him for his work with Habitat for Humanities, as Muslim brothers and sisters are working to provide shelter to needed families. Allah akbar!

Personal bio: I was born in Afghanistan during the Russian invasion. My family had to flee as refugees, and ended up in Germany. We lived there for 13 years, moving to the U.S. in 1999. I graduated from Cibola High School, and started college at UNM last year. And, God willing inshallah, I will earn my undergraduate degree in Computer Science.