DEBUT EDITION
Welcome to the premiere issue of Crescent Chronicles, your curated journal for Indiana Muslim living. Each edition brings you design that speaks softly but leaves a mark — thoughtful, informative, and deeply rooted in community connection.
Each month, in sha’ Allah, we journey through highlights of the Muslim community of Indiana. In addition to feature stories, we will offer recipes submitted by community members, a word puzzle, advice column, sharing about community events and programs and links to mosque directory and assistance options for aid seekers.
We hope that this publication will continue to grow with your support and your participation. Please contact us with story ideas, photos, poems, artwork and more.
Feature Story
THE BEE’S KNEES OF PLAINFIELD
photo by Carissa Dellen
The 16th chapter of the Qur’an, named An-Nahl (The Bee) shares one of Allah’s most magnificent creations, a humble insect, the bee. This chapter is both a literal insight into the purpose and actions of bees and a metaphor to lessons we can apply to ourselves. The Qur’an teaches us many things in Surah An-Nahl including scientific information about the life of a bee, how they build homes, eat from fruits and produce honey.
Superman? Super movie!
by: Carissa Dellen
The box office hit of summer 2025, Superman, directed by James Gunn, is a successful film reboot of the beloved comic book superhero. This adorable adaptation includes a humble and quirky Clark Kent/Superman reminiscent of the character originally played in 1978 by Christopher Reeves.
Fan favorite Krypto, a super dog companion to Superman, adds quite a comedic element to the film, while super villain Lex Luthor stays true to his greedy and malicious nature.
What really stands out in this reboot are the incredibly subliminal yet obvious messages in the plot. Part of the story revolves around a fictional land called Jarhanpur, subjected to a threat of land occupation by the brutal dictator of another fictional land. References and scenes of this part of the story line all but point towards the genocide of Gaza and the conditions and treatment of the Palestinian people. Eloquently and artistically shared are messages of anti-dictatorship, anti-Israel and animal welfare, among others.
Superman 2025
This film is a refreshing source of entertainment with a reassuring restoration in the faith of humanity,
Movie Rating: PG-13
(Language, action, violence and a mild kissing scene)
Running Time: 2h 9m
Link to film preview.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Submit your upcoming monthly events to [email protected] by the 22nd of each month. For more information about community programs and events, look for Indy Muslim Community on Whatsapp.
Click on images for more information or links to registration.
September 12 at 7p.m.
Grieving Gaza with Dr. Adil Husain
Iman Leadership Academy
Blood Drive
Click on image for registration.
Sisters’ Janazah Washing Class
For sisters, click on image for registration.
click on image for registration
click on image for registration.
Saturday September 20
Empower Protect Prevent
click on image for registration and more information
Indiana for Gaza
Click on image for registration and more information
Saturday school for special needs
Saturday September 13
How to choose your spouse.
The Essentials
Monthly Printables
Feel free to print or save these monthly features. Please share your favorite recipe and coordinating photos along with any fun or special story about your recipe to [email protected]
Moazam’s Pakoras
Community Recipe
This month’s recipe comes to us from Moazam Shahzad for his delicious Pakoras that his friends and family like to call Bougie Fries.
These delicious pakoras are packed with flavor and have a twist by using larger chunks of veggies than your traditional pakoras. You won’t regret preparing and enjoying these pakoras.
Pakoras
Makes about 4-5 servings
Ingredients:
1 large onion cut into medium to large strips
1 large potato cut into medium to large strips
2 sweet chilis or green chili if you want spicy, sliced
1 ¾ c. of besan flour (chickpea flour)
½ Tbsp. of salt or to taste
2 pinches of turmeric powder
½ Tbsp. of ground coriander
pinch of cumin
Kashmiri chili powder to taste (optional)
¾ c. water
1 egg (optional) to help bind and thicken the batter
½ c. oil for frying
Directions
In a bowl, combine the chickpea flour with all of the spices and add ¾ cup water. It should be a consistency like pancake batter. If it’s too watery, add the egg to bind the ingredients.
Add sliced potato strips, onion strips and pepper strips into the batter and mix well.
Bring a frying pan of shallow oil to heat.
Scoop pakora batter in rounds into your batter. Size is optional but typically for this recipe the size resembles a standard size patty.
Fry on one side until golden brown then flip to the other side until that side is golden brown and transfer them from oil to a plate or bowl lined with paper towel to absorb excess oil.
Enjoy by themselves or with your favorite dipping sauce.
Word Puzzle
created by an anonymous Muslim youth community member
Find the answers to the questions in the word search. Answers are a mix of people from the past and present!
Who is the richest person of all time? Munsa Munsa
Who was the famous leader of the Muslims during the crusades? Saladin
Who wrote the book ‘Reclaim Your Heart’? Yasmine Mogahed
Who was Islam’s most forceful theologist? Ibn Taymiyya
Which companion was known for his cats? Abu Hurayra
Who invented algebra? Al Khwarizmi
Who is the most famous boxer? Mohammed Ali
Who wrote Sahih Al Bukhari? Imam Bukhari
Who built the Razia Bibi mosque? Sultan Razia
Which Muslim basketball player is nicknamed, “The Dream”? Hakeem Olasuwon
Who was the father of Arab chemistry? Jabir Ibn Hayyan
Who was a famous African American human rights activist? Malcom X
Who founded Al-qarawiyyin university? Fatima al-Fihriya
Who founded Madrassa al-Firdaws? Dayfa Khatun
Which Muslim Pakistani girl fought for girls’ education? Malala Youafzai
Dear Hafsa
Dear Hafsa,
I’ve recently moved to Indianapolis. I don’t have any friends or family here. I am feeling lonely. I would like to explore Indianapolis, but I would rather have someone to go with. I don’t have a car currently. How to make friends here in Indianapolis?
Thanks,
Lonely Without Wheels
Our columnist prefers to stay anonymous so we will call her Hafsa. Send your questions to [email protected]
Subject line: Dear Hafsa
Your name and email will be kept confidential, and your question will always read from an anonymous title.
Dear Lonely Without Wheels,
Welcome to Indy! My biggest piece of advice would be to start looking for a friend at your nearest local masjid. Compared to making posts on FB for friends, I believe going to the mosque and making in person connections makes it easier to actually find friends. Nearly all the masajid I know of in Indianapolis have some kind of gathering at least monthly, if not weekly.
As for the wheels situation…
Indianapolis has a bus transportation system that runs all over the place. It's just a matter of looking on their website for bus routes. Of course, Uber or Lyft would also be an option. Once you make better connections at a masjid you could potentially carpool!
Salam,
Hafsa
Indiana Masjid Directory
DISCOVER INDIANA MOSQUES
Please click on the link below for a full guide.
IMCA/Masjid Al Fajr
2846 Cold Spring Rd
Indianapolis, IN 46222
Alhuda Foundation
12201 Lantern Rd.
Fishers, IN 46038
Masjid Al Mumineen
4088 Millersville Rd
Indianapolis, IN 46205
Need help?
We want to hear from you. This publication is for us, by us. Send us your news story ideas, highlight a community member, send your recipe submissions, events and programs, photos, poems and editorials to [email protected]
A Final Note
Ayat of the month
And be good “to others” as Allah has been good to you.
Al Qasas Verse 77
Salam Alaykom,
Crescent Chronicles
Connection Faith Lifestyle
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