News
TAX-EXEMPT STATUS Update
Global Deaf Muslim mailed to Internal Revenue Service the Form 1023, the application for the recognition of tax-exempt status yesterday on December 3rd, 2009. According to Internal Revenue Code, the donors can give donations to us and claim tax deduction on the day after the application is mailed if the organization elects to ask IRS for affirmation of tax-exempt status. GDM determines that they are qualified for tax-exempt. It will be months-long procedure of working with IRS to secure an affirmation. Donations to us after December 4th, 2009 are tax deduction and we will give a letter of acknowledgment to each donor. Donation to us is also a zakat. If IRS decides we are not tax-exempt, we will return the donation upon request and tax deduction of the donation will be void. GDM will communicates to donors of progress.
Updates about the conference
Global Deaf Muslim want to inform the Ummah that Conference in Dubai is being re-examined under light of uncertainty in funding and commitment from sponsors. The Board has decided the deadline for final confirmation from people in United Arab Emirates. If no confirmation is given, we will announce via email and this website that conference will not happen. GDM will refund the registration but GDM bear no responsibility for air fare and hotel. GDM does not want to host a conference that will fail due to insufficient commitments.
Deaf Awareness in the Ummah
We at GDM in collaboration with Deaf Muslim Student Association at Gallaudet University is hosting Deaf Awareness in the Muslim Community at Georgetown University in Washington DC in February 21, 2009. Please make an effort to participate and give your support. This would be a one day event. There would be a series of activities and presentations by Deaf Muslim Student Association. Any support is welcome. Photos »
Hundreds pay tribute to Varner at memorial service
When they entered the Field House February 16 for Benjamin Varner’s memorial service, few people knew personally the 19-year-old freshman from San Antonio, Texas. But after almost two hours of tributes and insights about Varner that were given by his family, friends, teachers, religious leaders, and others, everyone knew him when they left. More »
Deaf Celebrate Eid in Birminghan, UK
On Saturday 7th February 2009 at Regent Park Banqueting Hall in Small Heath, members of Birmingham’s Asian deaf community came together for an an evening of almost silent celebration. The organisers Ayisha Sajid, Menazah Sadiq and Hasina Khanum took a short break away from the party to tell me about their identity as Deaf Muslim females in Britain.
All three were born hard of hearing and they say certain experiences in their lives inspired them to organize this event for the deaf community. Ayisha explains that the Eid party is an opportunity for a unique gathering, “People similar to us who feel disadvantaged, can have fun and meet others with a similar disability. That way they do not feel they are the odd ones out.” More »
The World of Deaf Muslims: Shedding Light on our Deaf Siblings
Just the second of many more events and projects to come, the World of Deaf Conference presented by Global Deaf Muslim, Deaf Muslim Student Association of Gallaudet University, and Georgetown University Muslim Ministry was well attended and a resounding success.
The all day affair that was held on Saturday, February 21 at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. was the result of months of planning by Sisters Taqwa T. Mahdi and Sarah Kalim-ullah and a host of volunteers, deaf and hearing. They were dedicated to making the voices of our deaf siblings heard by our hearing brothers and sisters. “Everyone has the right to know the truth about Allah and Islam, and we as a community have to continue to increase our awareness and make this knowledge accessible to everyone. I pray that we will continue to gain more support for our deaf brothers and sisters from the Muslim community. This conference is another stepping stone toward more great things to come inshaAllah,” said Sister Taqwa. More »
Eid Mubarak! – DeafDC Blog
Last Thursday night I had the honor of attending an Eid al-Fitr celebration hosted by Global Deaf Muslim and the Deaf Muslim Student Association (DMSA) at Gallaudet University. Just in case you are not familiar with the Eid al-Fitr holiday, this is the three day celebration that occurs at the end of Ramadan, a month of fasting during daylight hours. More »
CAIR provides support to GDM
Global Deaf Muslims is grateful for the wonderful opportunity for Charles to meet Dr. Ibrahim Hooper of Council on American-Islamic Relations at Friday February 22nd to discuss a mutual cooperation. Charles and Dr. Hooper discussed how CAIR can provide a support to GDM to develop GDM’s reputation and credibility in order to attract more attention from the Ummah. GDM is very happy that Dr. Hooper is able to refer resources and persons to help GDM to prosper.
Friday Khutbah Now Accessible to Deaf at Dar Al-Hijrah
In what may be a first in the greater Washington DC area, Northern Virginia’s Dar Al-Hijrah Islamic Center hired an American Sign Language (ASL) interpreter to interpret the Friday Khutbah for deaf Muslims. More »
GDM is in Top 10: A nascent movement for deaf Muslims
Deaf Muslims, like deaf people everywhere, face many barriers to education and participation. As awareness spreads about those challenges, a growing number of initiatives are beginning to address the needs of the hearing-challenged within the Muslim world. Groups like the US-based Global Deaf Muslims are working to establish universal hand signs for Islamic words and concepts. In Holland, a Dutch organization that assists deaf children developed 163 Islam-related signs so parents could communicate with their children. The Canadian Association of Muslims with Disabilities (CAMD) wants to improve access for people with disabilities to texts, classes, and services. And such movements aren’t limited to Western countries. In Egypt, a new NGO called Sarkha (Cry), provides interpreters for mosque services for Cairo’s deaf community. In Lebanon, the Al-Hadi Institute for the Deaf and Blind has provided opportunities for young deaf Muslims to express themselves artistically. Al-Hadi has staged art exhibitions for works by its students. More »
Sign Language in Cairo Mosque
Deaf faithful Muslims in Egypt are now able to better understand their faith thanks to a project to translate prayers and sermons. More »
Middle East Online
Signs of the times for Egypt’s deaf in search of Islam : “Non-governmental organisation helps deaf faithful in Egypt understand God through sign language.” More »