If you live in the Kansas area, please help any way you can. If you don’t, pray hard that she is found safe and share this information.

Like the ‘Help Find Aisha Khan‘ Facebook page and follow @findAisha on twitter, for updates, to post messages of support and find pictures and fliers to distribute.

The latest flier (click for full size):

How can we support Muslim Friendly Apps?

• Visit the site. Read the reviews and Rate, Comment & Share.
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• If you are a Muslim Mama who uses Android devices with your kids, we’d love to have you review some of your favorite apps for us!

Ameera R of Habeebee Homeschooling.

Mabrook Ameera! InshaAllah we will be emailing you soon with your $100 Minted Credit.

Huge thank you to everyone who entered and to Minted for making this possible.

I’d heard of Minted before but admittedly don’t use much in the way of paper goods (of course, as long as we aren’t counting the reams of coloring pages my children devour) so I’d never had a need to pay much attention to this sort of company beyond enjoying the designs on their website. However, Minted has recently developed a line of Eid cards and offered us this review opportunity which we are REALLY excited to bring you.

(Skip to the Giveaway)

I received my 5 samples (in a very timely manner) shipped in a very sturdy cardboard envelope so as to prevent bending. The cards themselves came in a thin plastic envelope also which I thought was a nice touch and offered extra protection for their joruney to me.

Minted offers 100% Recycled, Pearlescent (Shimmery) and Signature paper, I had expected to get a variety and was especially looking forward to reviewing the recycled paper option but unfortunately my samples all came on signature paper. That said, I have no complaints about the signature paper, it’s thick, textured, and the colors print bright and rich. I was unsure about what to expect with photo’s on this sort of paper but they came out gorgeous. Another thing I was expecting was traditional folded cards but these are actually flat, postcard type cards, which I prefer. I don’t see any folded style cards int he Eid section (although there are a few in other sections), which is something you might want to be aware of if you’re looking for a more traditional folded Eid card.

There is an optional design for the back of the cards at an additional charge, this is a great option (the designs are lovely and match the front in color and style) if you want to send out photo’s to family and friends with a nice greeting, but if you want to write on the cards you’ll want to skip that option. Each design comes with multiple color choices so you can find the best match for your photo before you order, they even have the option of custom colors, you’ll have to call them for that though.

Overall, I am highly impressed, I like to find faults with the things I review so my readers get an accurate picture, but the designers have done an amazing job, and Minted’s printing methods are stunning.  Another thing, Minted is not a Muslim company, which is even more reason to support them in their recognition of Eid by giving them your business. Besides, I don’t think you could find better Eid Cards, especially with this variety of choice.

Unfortunately my camera doesn’t do the cards justice, but you get an idea of the quality I hope. I will try to get a better picture up tonight inshaAllah (God Willing). The gorgeous people on the cards are not my family, these are just the sample photos, when you order yours, you’ll have your own family photos on your cards.

Giveaway

Winner has been announced. Thanks for entering.

I own several Shukr tunic tops and would recommend them to anyone! I have had to change an order and enquire about an item before as well and their customer service was wonderful.

We decided it would be easier for our readers if the apps we reviewed were organized, searchable and gathered all in one place, so we are launching a new project: Muslimas Oasis App Reviews – App Reviews from a Muslim Family Perspective at muslimasoasis.com/apps.

We will review at 1 iPad/iPhone/iPod app a week (on Fridays). This weeks review, our first review on the new site, is the Lettermen series by Roger Knights (chosen by 6y/o Madam).

Let us know what you think!

Also a note to Android fans, we’re putting the word out for a Muslim Woman whose family uses Android apps with their children (for educational and entertainment purposes) and wants to review Android apps on the new site. We’re also open to other guest reviewers and reviews for other platforms. Send us an email!

To developers, if you want us to review your apps, please send us an email! We have a big collection but yours may not be on our list.

Kuala Lumpur, 6 April 2011 – The 6th World Halal Forum (WHF) provided the platform for fundamental change within the global Halal industry yet again, with several important announcements and launches held over the two days, from 4th to 5th April. Based on feedback from over 600 delegates who came from over 40 countries, this year’s WHF hit the right note by converging Islamic Finance and the Halal Industry, into one integrated Halal Economy. This positive response is a promising step forward for both industries to work closer together to elevate the Halal economy, with Islamic Finance as the key driver in this new world economy that seeks to serve 1.8 billion Muslims worldwide.

Abdalhamid Evans, Director of World Halal Forum, commented:

“This year’s World Halal Forum was a new milestone for the global Halal industry. We have been able to move past the discussions about standards development and slaughter methods, and address many of the wider strategic growth issues in the Halal marketplace. The initial steps towards the convergence of the Halal and Islamic Finance industries opens up the market from both sides, and this is going to be much bigger than most people realise. This is what thought leadership is all about; and this is why the WHF is the most important Halal sector forum in the world.”

The convergence of these two Shariah-based industries forms a strong economic platform that is built on a set of shared values – values that will play an increasingly strategic role in shaping global markets in the coming decade, hence the theme for WHF 2011: “Towards a Halal Economy: The Power of Values in Global Markets”.

This year’s World Halal Forum featured cutting edge speakers in both Islamic Finance and the Halal sectors giving birth to a whole new direction in the progress of the Islamic economic sector. The line-up of speakers feature industry thought-leaders such as Rushdi Siddiqui (Global Head, Islamic Finance & OIC Countries, Thomson Reuters), Rafe Haneef (Executive Director &
CEO, HSBC Amanah Malaysia Berhad), David Smith (Chief Executive, Global Futures & Foresight), Fazal Bahardeen (Founder & CEO, Crescentrating Pte Ltd), Jalel Aossey (Director, Midamar Corporation), Rafi-uddin Shikoh (CEO, DinarStandard), Navid Akhtar (Managing Director, Gazelle Media), Joohi Tahir (VP Marketing & Sales, Crescent Foods Inc.), and Zahed Amanullah (Director, American Halal Corporation).
Rafe Haneef, CEO of HSBC Amanah Malaysia Berhad commented, “If we are going to move towards a Halal economy, we have to take a holistic approach; the whole cycle, the whole chain has to be Halal from the production to the financing.”

David Smith, Chief Executive of Global Futures & Foresight, UK, said: “The convergence of Halal food industry and Islamic Finance is actually a bigger issue. It’s about people running their lives, living their lives according to their value sets. For the Muslim population, according to Halal, Shariah-compliance, Tayyib…tied to the Qur’an. The important thing here is it isn’t one or two industries converging, it’s 10 and 20 industries converging; “

The world’s first ‘SAMI Halal Food Index’ (SAMI stands for Socially Acceptable Market Investing) is a physical manifestation of this concept of converging the two massive Shariah-compliant industries and was launched at the opening of the 6th World Halal Forum. The index which comprises over 200 companies listed in Muslim-majority countries with a total market capitalisation of over USD100 billion, positions Halal as an Asset Class within the investment community. The ‘SAMI Halal Food Index’ is powered by IdealRatings with the backing of Thomson Reuters and supported by World Halal Forum.

According to Rushdi Siddiqui, “If you look at the Asset Management industry, an index is a DNA for the Asset Management industry. So, this Halal Index is going to be the DNA for the Halal industry.”

Some of the immediate initiatives that are now underway include:

• Developing a new member-based structure for the WHF
• Implementing IHI Alliance’s solutions for the Halal industry’s generic problems
• Increasing stakeholder involvement in programme and decision-making
• Developing a new online interface for the Halal industry’s stakeholders
• Communicating the new landscape within the Halal market arena.

Apart from these milestone achievements that will serve as a catalytic force in driving the industry forward, the World Halal Forum also announced that it is undergoing a structural change moving away from an event under KasehDia, into a Not-For-Profit entity under the International Halal Integrity Alliance (IHI Alliance) – a move that will allow the brand to propagate change on a different level altogether, working within the strong international network and support system of IHI Alliance.
“Through our Halal Supply Chain Initiative (“HSCI”), we bring together all the global stakeholders through a comprehensive private-sector driven framework in ensuring an unbroken chain of Halal integrity and market access” mentioned Darhim Dali Hashim, CEO of IHI Alliance. “WHF provides the ideal platform for all these stakeholders to interact with each other.” This change will also mean that it will be modelled into a membership-based structure with the announcement of an Executive Board and Advisory Board soon, and a year-round programme in different parts of the world.
In opening the 6th World Halal Forum, Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, former Prime Minister of Malaysia, said: “I congratulate the World Halal Forum for continuing in its quest to be the beacon of knowledge and a catalytic force of change in the global Halal industry. The industry needs leadership and for many years, people have looked to the World Halal Forum to fill that vacuum. It is good to witness the progress and maturation of the World Halal Forum that is now ready to take on that role to steer direct change in the industry.”
The 6th World Halal Forum was hosted by IHI Alliance, and was supported by Platinum Sponsor, HSBC Amanah Malaysia Berhad, and Event Sponsors, Colgate-Palmolive, Nestle Malaysia, Chemical Company of Malaysia and HPA Industries.

“You cannot imagine how many organizations I have contacted on behalf of the refugees and RAP is the only one that has even bothered to call back, let alone donate and give me information on other sources of help. I appreciate this so much,” said Nancy Lee, a volunteer working with Iraqi refugees in Chicago. Please help make the RAP  2011 Kitchen Kit drive a success. Please donate time, cash and supplies to those who are less fortunate.

The 3rd Annual RAP Kitchen Kit Drive in collaboration with ICNA Relief will be held on April 17, at the old ISNS mosque at 3950 Industrial Ave. in Rolling Meadows, IL . Visit www.rap-us.org to see the list of items needed to complete a kit. Join hands with your friends and family to put together a complete kit of new or gently used kitchen items.

Questions? Email: empoweringrefugees@gmail.com. Monetary donations can be made out to Refugee Assistance Programs/ WF, PO Box 2691 Palatine, IL 60078.

Salam and Peace everyone,

I just wanted to let you know about an offer we are running right now.

We’ve teamed up with Halal Consumer magazine to give our readers a free subscription! Halal Consumer Mag is a comprehensive source of all things Halal in the US and abroad.

As a Muslimas Oasis reader, you can sign up online for a free subscription to Halal Consumer magazine, how cool is that? You can also request bulk copies to be sent to your local mosque or community center (don’t forget to let them know the # of copies you need).

The offer only stands until the end of February so if you’re interested, sign up now.

Questions? Email Naazish YarKhan at HalalPR@gmail.com with HC Subscriptions in your subject line. Sorry to our international readers, this offer is for US based readers only.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Our Autism awareness event Blue Hijab Day is only about 6 weeks away! We have the fliers and tag up and ready to print out! Soon we’ll have suggestions for events you can plan for Blue Hijab Day on the site. Don’t forget to RSVP on the facebook event and join the facebook page.

This year, we also have versions of the fliers and tag without a face for those who don’t use images with faces and/or want to put the flier up in a mosque.