Hadley Mall Fire has repercussions throughout the local Muslim Community

The fire that raced through the Casablanca Halal Market and destroyed hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of quick-lighting long-burning charcoals, hookahs, pipes, tobacco, and goat meat, according to owners Hassan Oulbeid and Mohamed Keffas, has also touched Muslims throughout the valley and as far away as Boston.

Most of the livelihoods destroyed in the fire were non-Muslim, but the tragedy has repercussions throughout the tightly knit Muslim community as well.

Please give generously and support these pillars of the local Islamic community, all pious followers of the Koran and Sunnah, the sayings and practices of Mohammad.

Rags to Riches Real Estate Tips from Mohamed Keffas and Hassan Oulbeid

Dozens of hard-working American's have lost everything in the tragic Hadley mall fire and will be struggling to make ends meet and support their families.

In these difficult times, as they try to begin life anew with nothing, they can take inspiration and hope from the successes of non-American resident aliens like Hassan Oulbeid and Mohamed Keffas.

Overcoming rampant Islamaphobia, they've scratched pennies and dimes from taxi tips and turned into a real estate and import/export empire.

The front of Casablanca Halal Market before they decided to stock the window and shelves with pipes, tobacco products, and quick-lighting fast-burning charcoals. 

Focus on the Laundromat - Pay No Attention to the well financed single Muslim men who operate the Halal Market at the center of the complex where the fire apparently began, assisted by cartons of quick-lighting long-burning charcoal.

The Police and Fire Investigators have only told the media that they are "focusing" on the area of the laundromat and hoping to hear from someone who might have seen the fire began there - although none of the laundromat patrons reported anything suspicious...

Focus on the Laundromat!
Focus on the Laundromat!

Sultan Quick-Starting Long-Lasting Charcoals may have contributed to Hadley Mall Fire

Casablanca Halal Market, owned by Easthampton entrepreneurs Hassan Oulbeid and Mohamed Keffas, appears to have been stockpiling an unknown quantity of Sultan Quick-Starting and Long-Lasting Charcoals.

Accelerants - Casablanca' Halal Market's Facebook page proudly features stacks of this Quick-Lighting Long-Burning charcoal to be used with the pipes and other flammable tobacco products sold there.

Insurance and Risk Assessment - Rt 9 Hadley Fire Disaster Victims learn from Hassan and Brahim Oulbeid

None of the victims of the horrendous fire that destroyed the mall in Hadley last Sunday will ever be the same again, and their customers can only hope that most will recover sufficiently to continue. 

Even those with insurance will find that no amount of money could compensate them for even the memory of their horrible loss.

One would hardly guess from the modest "front" of the Casablanca Halal Market they they take in almost a million dollars in revenue by importing items from Morocco that Muslims need.  Oubleid and Keffas have maximized their revenue by also providing taxi and delivery services for their products to customers as far away as Boston or NY.

A Word of Consolation to the Victims of Hadley's Rt 9 Fire from Chaplins Mohammed Abdelaal and Liza Locovaca

The Hadley mall was a shining example of American diversity, and the shops consumed by the horrific act of Allah destroyed the livelihood of people from many cultures,  Mexican, Vietnamese, Chinese, Buddhists, Catholics, Atheists, Artists.  

The Hadley Mall before the tragic fire of Oct. 27, 2013

"Those that deny Allah and Mohammed, We will burn in fire. No sooner will their skins be consumed than We shall give them other skins, so that they may truly taste the scourge. Allah is mighty and wise" (Quran 4:55–56).

Preliminary Fire Investigation - Rt 9 Hadley - 206 Russell St. 01035

The fire was called in at 7:41 PM on Sunday, Oct. 27, 2013
Flames were sighted at 206 Russell St. (Rt 9)
Within minutes they had torn through the Casablanca Halal Market and soon destroyed the entire building.

The two most important elements in a fire or arson investigation are (1) the source of the ignition and (2) the fuel which then maintains and feeds the fire.

No official reports have yet been released - determining the location of the ignition is the first step in finding its source.

The Quick Lighting Long Burning Charcoals stacked on the shelves of Casablanca Halal Market might be considered accelerants.  Investigators are trying to determine if they were properly licensed to stockpile and distribute such flammable tobacco products and pipes. 

Local Community shows support for those who lost everything in tragic "Wrath of Allah" fire that destroyed Hadley Rt 9 Mall

The tragic fire that destroyed a Hadley Mall on Sunday evening has brought together the community in a uniquely American way.  A Facebook page is chronicling an outpouring of support for the diverse businesses that were destroyed.

Help the Rt 9 Hadley Fire Victims - Facebook 

According to local media reports, here are some of the small businesses that may have lost everything in the inferno.

The Hadley Mall in happier times. The stores adjacent to Casablanca Halal Market were later occupied by Banh Mi Saigon and Mohawk Tattoo Parlor.

Dogs sniff for accelerants at Casablanca Halal Market for signs of arson in massive fire that destroyed a Hadley mall

Local media has reported that investigators have used trained dogs to sniff for accelerants at the scene of the suspicious fire that destroyed a Hadley mall on Russell St (Rt 9).

Investigators have not released details on whether the dog found any accelerants other than the quick-lighting long-burning charcoals warehoused at Casablanca Halal Market.

Allah Akbar - Halal Fire takes out Hadley Mall -

“We scratched every penny, every dime to build this," said Mohamed Keffas. 

The fire began just after Mohamed Keffas (L) had closed Sunday evening, and he assured Hassan Oulbeid that none of the hookahs, charcoals, or tobacco products that they stockpile were still burning.

Casablanca Halal Market owner Hassan Oulbeid and his accomplice Mohamed Keffas also operate a successful taxi business in Easthampton with Hassan's family, Brahim and Lanhen Oulbeid.

Arabic 101 with Five College Professor Mohammad El-Sawi Hassan - Free Introductory Lesson

Visiting scholar of linguistics Mohamed El-Sawi Hassan is the chairman of the Five College Arabic language program.

Islamic ethics teach Muslim gentlemen to always treat ladies according to the sayings and practices of their prophet. 

Hooked on Halal in Amherst? We're open for the holy month of Ramadan, so enjoy a halal gyro today.

If you're hooked on Halal you'll be happy to hear that, in celebration of Ramadan and with the blessings of Allah and the nearby Hampshire mosque, the Halal Guys in Amherst will be open during their regular daylight hours.

Stop by on your way to prayers or Friday Jumma at Hampshire mosque and ask about daily specials for mosque and MSA members.

UMass MSA president Noman Khanani and friends enjoyed delicious Ramadan lunchtime halal treats all month long at the Halal cart in Amherst, Massachusetts.