The Commissioner joined the community in Iftar and freely mingled with the members of community who engaged him in conversations regarding concerns over law enforcement and the role of NYPD. He later visited the Al-Iman School, where Sr. Iman Dakmak-Rakka, the Principal of the School and the students welcomed him with a bouquet of flowers and a presentation about the school.

The Commissioner later spoke in front of an audience of approximately 500 men and women and elaborated on the steps the NYPD has taken to shore up the security of the City. He encouraged every one to come forward and report a crime if they see one. He reassured the audience that the NYPD is not concerned with the immigration status of anyone, as it is not an immigration agency.

He was later presented with a plaque in recognition of his visit to Imam Al-Khoei Islamic Center and for the sterling services of the NYPD.

The month-long fast of The Month of Ramadhaan is over and 1st Shawwal is 'Eid Day. It is a day of joy, bonding, helping one another and spreading happiness all over the globe: "…Alladhi ja'altahu lil Musilimina 'Eida". However, the purpose of 'Eid is deeper than mere celebrations and relaxation. Lexically, 'eid in Arabic is derived from 'awd i.e. to return or recur. Thus, in the past when an afflicted community found relief and erstwhile prosperity and comfort returned, that occasion was called 'eid. In Al-Islam, after the month long fast and at the end of Hajj the human soul returns to its pristine state of cleanliness and purity; hence the celebrations of Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Hajj.

In the Qur'an, the word 'eid is used in the episode describing the disciples of Nabi Isa AS. "When the disciples (hawariyyin) of Nabi Isa AS said to him: 'Is your Lord able to send down to us a banquet from the heavens?' Nabi Isa AS told them not to make such demands," if they were real believers" (5:112). The disciples insisted on their demand for heavenly victual and said such illumined food from the heavens would restore their light of faith and confirm the veracity of Nabi Isa AS' mission (5:113). Nabi Isa AS reassured of their genuine desire to believe beseeched ALLAH SWT to send down the banquet so that it would become 'eid for the first and the last of them. It would be a sign from Him (a miracle) and sustenance for He is the best of providers (5:114). Nabi Isa AS called this day of the banquet 'eid for it was a day of success, cleansing and return to the state of having faith in ALLAH SWT. Traditions suggest that this was a Sunday; hence the Christian reverence for Sunday.

Imam Ali AS has defined 'eid as any day that is free of rebellion against ALLAH SWT. He is quoted saying "'Eid is for those whose fasts have been accepted and whose salaat are worthy of reckoning and every day when one does not commit a sin it is 'eid" (Nahjul Balaghah, maxim 427). 'Eid al-Fitr, therefore, is the day of success attained in the Month of Ramadhaan; fasting, revelation of The Qur'an, and Laylatul Qadr etc. being some of those successes.

The revelation of The Qur'an in this Month was a great success in that amidst the surrounding darkness of the Jahiliyah period, this Book brought the light of ethical behavior, kindness and end of cruelty of burying female children alive. It erased the blot of tribalism and replaced it with the unity of a single ummah. The Bani Israel squandered the blessing of the prophets from Ishak AS' progeny and The Almighty SWT in His infinite wisdom turned over prophethood to the progeny of Ismail AS and the scene shifted from Mount Sinai to Mount Abu Qubeis, and Syrian greenery was abandoned in favor of the arid Hijaz for the new mission.

This new achievement merited thanksgiving of 'Eid ul Fitr. Imam Ali AS in one of his sermons showed how 'Eid is to be celebrated. He gave one formula to be used always: "Remember ALLAH and He will remember you." The Imam AS explained that one adhering to the commandments of ALLAH SWT is protected by Him. So, the Imam AS told his audience to give the fitra of the individuals and their dependants. The Imam AS continued his khutba reminding the congregation of the obligations they have towards ALLAH SWT (Ibadaat). Then he admonished them to refrain from making allegations, to shun evil deeds, to abandon drinking, to stop shortchanging, to eschew false testimony and to stop running away from the battlefield.

In this khutba, Imam Ali AS pithily outlined those strengths of obedience to ALLAH SWT that enhance the great civilization of Al-Islam and those weaknesses that destroy individual and collective dignity. On practical level, Imam Ali AS, as the Caliph of the Muslims celebrated 'eid not in a luxurious mansion surrounded by sumptuous meal; rather, as one of his companions observed, in a hovel, shivering in the cold with only khutaifa (the food eaten by the poorest people) as his nourishment. The Imam AS led by example.

Imam Al-Ridha AS said that 'Eid was a day of unity. Hence, it was a day to give thanks and reaffirm faith in His favors and praise Him. 'Eid day is the first day when eating and drinking is once again permitted during daylight hours. So, for the seekers of Truth, 'Eid day is the first day of the year. Imam Al-Baqir AS in the qunoot of the salaatul 'eid beseeches ALLAH SWT that he sought that which ALLAH SWT's goodly souls wished to acquire from Him and protection from those matters that the goodly souls wished to be protected from. Imam Al-Baqir AS also reminded us of the sadness that accompanies the 'eid day, the sadness of the usurpation of the rights of the Ahlul Bayt AS and the violation of human rights.

The Imam of our Time, Imam Al-Asr AFS has captured this sadness in the Du'a Nudbah (Supplication of Lamentation) that is recommended to be recited on 'Eid.The message of 'Eid Al-Fitr is that no Muslim remains hungry on this day. It is a day that the rich and the poor enjoy happiness of the day, as the haves give the fitra to the have-nots. The fitra ensures acceptance of the fast as Imam Al-Sadiq AS has explained that fasts remain suspended between the earth and the heavens until fitra is executed. The emphasis on fitra is so much that a family capable of giving just one person's fitra can rotate that self-same fitra among every member of that family and fulfill this obligation. Indeed, a poor man receiving charity too should pay fitra from the sadaqaat he receives. Thus, the rejoicing on the day of 'eid is to obey ALLAH SWT and serve humanity, the twin purport of Al-Islam that The Prophet SAWW defined for the Bedouin of Arabia.

Al Huda Monthly Magazine, Imam Al-Khoei Islamic Center
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Rulings of Ayatullah Al-Udhma Seyyid Ali Al-Husaini Seestani, Dama Dhilluhu. (The rulings in brackets are of Ayatullah Al-Udhma Seyyid Abulqassim Al-Khoei, Ridhwanullahi Alayhi).

1. Payment of fitrah becomes wajib (obligatory) after sunset on the eve of Eid-ul-Fitr on a person who is baligh (attained puberty), aqil (sane), and is neither needy, nor indigent nor unconscious for himself and all his dependants wherever and whoever they are.
2. For the purpose of fitrah, dependants include guests who are present at the host's house at the time of sunset on the eve of Eid-ul-Fitr. However, if a guest comes without the consent of the host, his fitrah becomes wajib upon the host on the basis of ihtiyat wajib (obligatory precaution). This ruling also applies to a person who is forcibly made to maintain another person. The fitrah of a guest arriving after sunset even if he was invited earlier is not upon the host, unless he is a dependant of the host. (Ihtiyat Mustahab i.e. recommended precaution, to pay for uninvited guest or one forcibly maintained.)
3. Fitrah should be given from wheat, barley, raisins, rice or millet or its cash value at the rate of one sa'a (about 3 kg. /7.00 lbs.) per head. On the basis of obligatory precaution (ihtiyat wajib), one should not give fitrah from that food which is not staple in his place, even if it be wheat, barley, dates or raisins. (Staple food not a condition).
4. Fitrah is given to a needy person who, according to the shari'a is a faqeer, that is, a person who is not able to meet his living expenses for himself and for his dependants for one whole year, nor does he possess the means to earn a livelihood for himself and his dependants. It is ihtiyat wajib that the fitrah is given to a faqeer who is a Shia Ithna-Asheri. (Ihtiyat Mustahab to give to a Shia Ithna-Asheri Faqeer.) Note: The faqeer to whom fitrah is given need not necessarily be adil, but it is Ihtiyat wajib that fitrah should not be given to a person who drinks liquor, or one who does not perform his daily salaat or one who commits sins openly or one who will use the fitrah in a sinful way.
5. A non-Seyyid cannot give fitrah to a Seyyid even if he maintains a Seyyid and pays his fitrah.
6. It is ihtiyat mustahab that a faqeer be given a minimum of one full fitrah. More can be given to one person also. (Ihtiyat Wajib to give a minimum of one full fitrah to a person).
7. If a servant is employed on the condition that the employer will pay all his expenses, then the servant's fitrah becomes wajib upon the employer. But if the condition is the payment of the salary only, then his fitrah is not wajib upon the employer.
8. If the price of one type of grain is double that of the other, one cannot give half the measure of the better grain nor its cash value as fitrah.
9. It is recommended to give preference to one's relatives when giving fitrah, then to the neighbors and then ahlul ilm (people of learning). Preference, however, can be given to another category of people if there is a good reason to do so.
10. For those who pray Salatul Eid, it is ihtiyat wajib to give the fitrah before the Eid prayers and for those not praying Salatul Eid the time extends up to before Dhuhr. If fitrah is set aside but not distributed by Dhuhr, then whenever it is disbursed, the niyyah (intention) of fitrah should be made. If one does not give out or set aside the fitrah within the due time, he should give the fitrah later, on the basis of precaution, without making the niyyah of adaa or qadhaa but only qurbatan ila LLAH.
11. An item set aside for fitrah cannot be used or substituted by another item.
12. On the basis of ihtiyat wajib, fitrah should not be sent outside the town one resides in if there are deserving people in that town. If one does so and the fitrah gets spoiled or lost then it must be given again.
13. Fitrah cannot be given before the month of Ramadhaan and it is better not to give it during the month of Ramadhan. However, if a loan was given to a person who deserves to receive fitrah, then when the fitrah becomes due that amount can be set off against the fitrah.
14. If fitrah is given from an item which is inferior or defective, it will not be sufficient. IMAM AL-KHOEI ISLAMIC CENTER disposes of Fitrah on the same day on behalf of muminiin who avail themselves of its services.
15. FITRAH this year has been calculated at a minimum of $ 8.00 per person. You may pay Fitra online through our web site at: https://www.al-khoei.org/community/pay.asp. Brochures explaining the Fitrah and how to remit to Imam Al-Khoei Islamic Center have been mailed out. Please ensure that the remittance is received at this Center by Tuesday, September 30th 2008/30th Ramadhaanul Kareem 1429. Please make your intention of setting aside Fitrah after sunset on the eve of Eid i.e. on Tuesday night, 30th September 2008 and again before Salaatul 'Eid on Wednesday, 1st October/1st Shawwal, 'Eid Day, morning. If you do not intend to pray Salaatul 'Eid, then you should make your niyyah of giving the Fitrah by noon, before dhuhr prayers.

THE QA'EM IN THE QUR' AN by Sayyid Abul Makarim, Hashim bin Sulayman Al-Bahraani. Shiabooks, Miami, FL. 2006. pp313. US$20.00 (plus s&h).

The author of this book has collected verses relevant to the existence and reality of Imam Al-Qa' em as well as authentic ahadith from the Ahlul Bayt AS disposing of any doubts that may lurk in the mind because the proof is manifest. The verses of The Qur' an have been interpreted in ahadith of those whom The Qur' an has described as Rasikhuna Fil Ilm (3:7), the Aimmah of Ahlul Bayt AS.

The book cites 120 and 12 more verses from The Qur' an arranged according to the chapters of The Qur' an in which they appear. For example, verse 1 is 2:1-3 wherein Allah SWT says that The Book is definite guidance for those who believe in the unseen. The hadith that elaborates upon the verse is from Imam Al-Sadiq AS who identifies the pious as the Shias of Ali and the unseen is the Decisive Proof who will be in occultation i.e. Imam Al-Hujjah AFS. Those who believe in the unseen (2:3), according to Imam Al-Sadiq AS, are those who believe and testify that the rising of the QA' EM (The Twelfth Imam) is HAQQ (truth).

The Prophet SAWW has described those who believe in the unseen as blessed since they are patient during the occultation of The Twelfth Imam AS and maintain their love for the Imam AS, adding they are the party of Allah. Verily the party of Allah are the successful ones. (58:22). The next verse, 2:148 is discussed in the light of ahadith over 32 pages in which the names of 313 initial helpers The Imam AS, equivalent to the number of companions of The Prophet SAWW at Badr, have been cited by name and their city of origin (reported by Tabari).

Some of the ahadith refer to the Ta' weel (esoteric interpretation) of more than one verse of The Qur' an. Thus, in the ta' weel of verse 2:155, Imam Al-Sadiq AS explains that in the last days of the world, the believers will undergo severe test of fear from oppressive rulers, hunger due to runaway inflation, loss of wealth due to lack of profit in businesses, lives ending in sudden deaths and fruits i.e. meager incomes from farming and lean harvests. The glad tiding to the patient ones is the rise of The Qa' em AS, i.e. Imam Mahdi AFS.

The twelve additional verses in Appendix A' are culled from other works of the scholar. This is the honesty with which the scholar has dealt with the material. He has given rich and extensive footnotes citing other verses of The Qur' an or other important resources, geographical names, reference works, clarification of concepts etc.

The book has also under Appendix B' given a biographical sketch of the renowned Shi' a scholars cited in the book. The author and translator have also painstakingly compiled an index of all the 132 verses giving chapter and verse and page number where they appear and an index of the names of scholars and the pages at which they are cited.This attractive hardbound tome modestly priced makes it a very valuable resource. The blurb on the back cover cites The Prophet SAWW' s hadith that shows that The Mahdi, The Qa' em AFS, The Hujjah AFS is a reality from whom believers benefit in the same way as Allah SWT' s creation benefits from the sun even when it is behind clouds. The hadith of The Prophet SAWW: " One who dies without knowing the Imam of his time (with whom he will be raised on the Day of Judgment) is to die the death of Jahiliyyah, in the faith of pre-Islamic pagans".

The Merits of Shahru Ramadhan as per the Prophet SAWW

The Month of Blessings (Barakah), Forgiveness (Maghfirah) and Mercy (Rahmah) is slipping by and our deeds fall far short of what could have been. Yet, in the few remaining days, one can do as much as one can and The Merciful Almighty SWT will grant us His Favors.

The khutba of The Prophet SAWW that described the merits of fasting also included behavioral traits that demonstrate that fasting is not a month-long isolated exercise; rather, it is a training course for the rest of one's life secures The Hereafter.

Besides diet control, temper and temptation control, fasting instills empathy for the poor and the needy who have to go without square meals out of compulsion and not choice. We are far better off than many Muslims around the world who feel the pangs of starvation and die due to it because of strife, war, famine and mostly man-made causes. Thus, fasting should give us a sense of that pain of hunger and thirst and evoke in us the feeling of giving to the needy and the poor. Fasting means to go hungry and not stuff oneself with food so much so that studies show that Muslims gain weight in The Month of Ramadhaan instead of losing and the amount of food bought and consumed is higher than any other month. Merchants raise the price of food during this Month to make that extra buck off the Muslims. All this goes against the purpose of fasting.

The Prophet SAWW emphasizes the sense of realization of hunger and thirst of the Day of Judgment. Thus, the Month of Ramadhaan should train us to restrain ourselves and prepare ourselves for that Day. The Prophet SAWW also stressed the need to look after the orphans. He said that those who look after the orphans and fulfill their needs shall be very close to him in Paradise. And looking after orphans would also assure that one's children should they be orphaned would be looked after too. No one knows whose and when children of prosperous parents could become orphans.

The Prophet SAWW also admonished Muslims regards maintaining kinship ties and not breaking them. A recent case of a person murdering his own mother in New York shows the kind of society surrounding us and children not knowing who their fathers are a common phenomenon. These are all avoided by adhering to the teachings and practice of Islamic injunctions. Silatul Rahm (joining kinship ties) extends one's life and prosperity. Those who have broken ties with their kith and kin should re-examine their actions and strive to rebuild those relationships for the sake of happiness in this world and in the Hereafter.

The Prophet SAWW also stressed the need to give sadaqah and earn divine blessings. Zakaatul Fitrah is an obligatory act of worship for every Muslim and if a guest (one who travels from another place and stays the night) arrives at one's house before sunset on the eve of Eid al Fitr, his/her Zakaatul Fitr must be paid by the host. Guests do not include those invited for dinner on eve of Eid and arrive before sunset. Such "dinner guests" will be responsible for their own Fitrah. Fitrah ensures acceptance of fasting during The Holy Month. Imam Ja'far Al-Sadiq AS is quoted saying that the fasts of the Month of Ramadhaan remain suspended between the earth and the heavens until Fitra is paid. EID MUBARAK