The participants of the first ever ‘Qom Summer Trip (2010)’ organised by the Muslim Student Council have successfully completed the intensive short vocational course. The group of 20 brothers and sisters and returned to their communities having benefited from the knowledge and experience they gained during their four weeks in the city of Qom, Iran.

The course was hosted by the Al-Mustafa International University and dubbed by them “Al-Ghufran 2010”. Students attended a well-balanced range of classes in English on a daily basis tailored based on their needs, which included: Philosophy (Falsafa), Islamic Laws (Ahkam), Ethics (Akhlaq), Theology and Beliefs (Aqa`id), Science of Hadith (Ilm Al-Hadith), Response to Doubts, Understanding Shia`ism, Tajweed Qur`an Classes, The Spiritual Crisis in the West and the Role of Islam, Lessons from “The Peak of Eloquence” (Nahj Al-Balagha), Islamic Politics and Islamic Mysticism (`Irfan).

More than 10 different scholars taught the classes including the renowned Sheikh Hamza Sodagar and Dr. Shomali. Students also enjoyed numerous illuminating cultural activities: Visitation to the palaces of the Shah, the residence of Imam Khomeini [QS], cemetery of the martyrs, tour of the Ayatullah Marashi Najafi Library, hiking excursions, amusement parks, museums, meetings with religious scholars such as Grand Ayatullah Marja Makarem Shirazi, Ayatullah Mousavi Lari and Ayatullah Tabasi who addressed the group disseminating spiritual advice and answered questions. The trip also featured a number of different cultural mini-trips to other cities of Iranian, such as Tehran, Isfahan and Mashad.

But the peak of the spiritual enlightenment was at the heart of the visitation to the shrines of the eighth Imam Al-Ridha in Mashad and his sister Fatima Al-Masuma in Qom, peace be upon them both.

God willing, the students take back with themselves knowledge, experience and cherishable memories. A similar trip is planned for the summer of 2011 next year – contact admin@muslimstudentcouncil.org to be kept informed.

Some quotes from the participants:

“I can say from my behalf that this was a very good trip, very organized and full of knowledge alhamdolilaah. I use to live in Sweden before and over there we don’t have so much going on like here, so this trip for me was flowering of knowledge, and it was just as I expected, the environment, the group everything was good alhamdolilaah, that’s why I even already thinking about going back next year inshalaah.”

“I found the Qom trip most wonderful and beneficial as it enabled me to flourish both socially and spiritually. The whole programme, from the beginning to the end, was very useful and has encouraged me to want to attend more trips like this, since in a very short period of time I was able to attend many classes and cover many aspects in Islamic studies. First and foremost I would like to thank the Almighty Allah (SWT) for His blessings and then sister Kosar and brother Pedram for the great experiences I had on this great journey”.

“Well the trip overall was a beautiful experience in every way. We were lucky to meet such a lovely group of people, who were all on this trip for the same purpose.”

“The trip was an experience filled with opportunities to build one’s spirituality. The scholars and speakers who were introduced to us not only provided us with quality lectures but allowed us to observe true iman through their actions. All the cultural and extra-curricular activities were very enjoyable and gave us an opportunity to ponder about the creation and blessings of God. Coming from Australia, I was blessed to make a number of good friends as well as experience a beautiful culture.”

“When deciding to come on the short course I had mixed feelings – will the course be boring? Will I get along with the rest of the group? Will it be well organised? etc. The trip turned out to be more than I had anticipated it to be. It was well organised, the group was very easy to get along with and the overall study was educational which I am able to put into my everyday life here in the west. If this trip was arranged again for the coming years inshAllah I would not hesitate to come. Thank you to all those involved in organising this trip – it exceeded my expectations by miles.”

“… And whosoever puts his trust in Allah, then He will suffice him…”⁽²⁾

Now that reliance upon God is important to this extent, what is the true way of reliance that is suggested by the Ahl al-Bayt (PBUT)? How can one align reliance upon God with the human effort and endeavor?

If we take a look at the worldly affairs, we can divide them into two categories: the first category is the matters that are entirely outside the human sphere of influence, i.e. there is not any apparent mean for their implementation or prevention, and the human has no control on their occurrence; for example, when the human is inflicted to a fatal disease. In such cases, relief or non-relief is outside the human capability. Therefore, obviously in such situation the only way left would be reliance upon God and praying.

The second category is for the matters that there are certain or probable means that make them attainable for the human being and attaining them depends upon our try and endeavor. For example, the endeavors we make for prosperity and wealth are among this category. However, this endeavor does not contradict reliance upon God, provided that we rely upon God, not on the means. Therefore, reliance does not mean putting aside the humane efforts and wisdom; since God has ordered us to make use of them and “Allah does not accomplish things except with their natural means”.⁽³⁾

In reality, the reliance of the human must be only upon God, not upon the means, as making use of the means is an order and suggestion of God. One should know that the cause of every mean is God, and must regard the probability that God is capable to satisfy the want of the human in an unexpected manner. God wants the people not to be confident about their endeavors, but to depend on His grace and blessing. However, unconsciously, when the human sees the means at hand, forgets God, and thinks that everything is dependent upon his own efforts, and on the contrary, when he sees that there is not any mean at hand, becomes hopeless and distressed. Whereas there have been plenty of times that all the means have been at hand but there has not been any achievement; and also there have been plenty of times that there has been an achievement but the means have not been at hand.

Imam Hassan al-Mujtaba (PBUH) has eloquently stated this subtle meaning:

“While striving for your want do not consider yourself a winner, and in the mean time do not be like a giver up and the ones who depend on fate (rather make your attempt).” ⁽⁴⁾

Based on the statement of the senior grandchild of the Great Prophet (PBUH&HP), one must not regard himself a winner while making an endeavor for achieving a goal; as his very endeavor is only a mean among the means of God, and its function is only at His hands, and His hand is always open to make the man’s efforts fruitful or unfruitful. On the other hand, the person should not behave like the one who has abandoned his/her efforts altogether expecting the fate to paint the future for him/her. Instead, he/she takes up the advice of the Holy Quran that “ … then when you have taken a decision, put your trust in Allah.” ⁽⁵⁾

This is the true meaning of reliance and such type of reliance never gets accomplished unless with the light of faith and certainty about God. The more the faith and the level of one’s belief in monotheism becomes perfect, the more he realizes the dependency of the means upon the will of Allah (SWT). His/her fear and hope solely is toward God; because he/she knows that all the means and causes are themselves at the hands of God. How do you and I behave in dealing with our matters and achieving our goals?

(The above is a selection taken from “Jaami’ al-Saádaat’”, by Late Mahdi Naraaqi, with summarization and additions)

The Roshd website congratulates the arrival of the 15^th of the Holy month of Ramadan, the birthday anniversary of the heir of the humane virtues and sublime morals, Imam Hassan ibn Ali, al-Mujtaba (PBUH) to all Muslims and especially you dear friend.

Roshd Islamic  Shia Website

Footnotes:

1. Kashf al-Ghummah, vol. 2, p. 346

2. The Holy Quran, (65:3)

3. Usul al-Kafi, vol. 1, p. 183

4. Tuhaf al-Uqul, p. 233

5. The Holy Quran, (3:159)

***CALLING ALL STUDENTS! IT IS TIME TO TAKE ACTION!***

“Humanitarian Crisis!” “Catastrophic Flood!” “20 million people homeless!” “Worse than 2004 tsunami, the Kashmir earthquakes and Haiti combined” (Oxfam and DEC reports)

PAKISTAN NEEDS YOUR HELP! “What can I do?” I hear YOU ask, well…
…

****TUBE COLLECTIONS FOR THE PAKISTAN FLOODS****

*WHEN*: 8 AM – 8 PM
Thursday and Friday (19th-20th August)

*WHERE*: Tube Stations around London (Precise details To Be Confirmed Shortly)

*WHO FOR*: Disaster Emergency Committee (DEC) Relief Fund for the Pakistani Floods

*WHY*: Its fun, rewarding, you make commuters smile and most importantly you will be changing lives!

*CONTACT*: Drop us an email at allforpakistan@gmail.com with:

1) Your Name (and the names of any friends who want to collect)
2) The times you’re able to collect on Thursday and/or Friday
3) Your email address(es)
4) Phone number(s) (so we can call you on the day)

Or phone:

07986 957 424 – Adil
07533 217 104 – Fatima
07786 963 325 – Naz
07576 617 794 – Hammad

Please invite your friends to this “Facebook Event”.

***PLEASE GET INVOLVED!!!!***

This is the worst Humanitarian Catastrophe in the history of the UN. With 20 million homeless, our help can make a difference more than ever, because sadly, the worst is still to come: the aftermath of the floods will increase the spread of diseases such as cholera and malaria. Countless lives are at risk.

Please come for all or part of the day. Even if it’s less than an hour! You Decide!

EVERY SECOND COUNTS! EVERY PENNY GOES A LONG WAY!

The All For Pakistan Team

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=145023615519812&ref=ts

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1st Week- ”Discovering the Treasures of Ramadan (The Prophet’s Sha’aban Sermon)”
Programme Starts at 7:00 pm | 18th August
By Br Mohammed Mehdi

2nd Week - ”Attaining Noble Character (Dua Makarimul Akhlaq)”
Programme Starts at 7:00 pm | 25th August
By Br Jaffer Ladak

3rd Week- ”Your Whispered Prayer (Dua AbuHamza Thumali)”
Programme Starts at 6:30 pm | 1st September
By Shaikh Bahmanpour

4th Week- ”Maintaining Your Spirituality (Imam Sajjad’s (as) farewell supplication)”
Programme Starts at 6:30 pm | 8th September
By Sayed Ali Abbas Rizvi

Venue: Abrar House

Venue Address: 45 Crawford Place, Edgware Road, London, W1H 4LP

Open to: Brothers and Sisters

Activities: Lecture, Q&A, Prayers, Dua and Iftar
Contact: London@ius.org.uk

Fee: Free but donations welcomed.

Tanzil is a simple and easy-to-use web interface to the Holy Quran.

You can browse, search, and listen to the holy Quran, with accurate quran text and quran translation in various languages in Tanzil Quran Navigator.

Believers, fasting have been made mandatory for you as it was made mandatory for the people before you, so that you may have fear of Allah. (The holy Quran, 2:183)

There are several passages in both the New Testament and Old Testament that discuss the greatness and importance of fasting.  Even today we witness Jews and Christians to fast an optional number of days in a year by refraining from meat, milk or other foods.

We also notice fasting in the story of Zachariah and Maryam (Mary) in the Holy Quran whom made a fast of speech.  Apart from the examples present in the scriptures, fasting can even be seen in ancient atheist tribes such as Egyptians, Greeks, Romans and idol-worshipers of India had a practice of fasting. Hence, fasting is understood by human nature as an act that brings them closer to their Creator and Lord. For instance, the idol-worshipers used to fast in order to repent and reduce the anger of their idols after committing any sin. They also used to fast when they had a specific request from idols. This action was a deal between them. The worshiper attempted to achieve his/her request by fulfilling the needs of the idols.

However, the act of fasting in Islam is not considered as a treaty between people and their Lord.  Allah the Almighty is the Creator of the whole universe and is far from any need or imperfection.

Therefore, just as the result of sin returns back to the sinner himself, similarly the benefits of worship return back to the worshiper himself, “We told you if you do good, it will be for your own benefit, but if you do bad, it will be against your souls” (The holy Quran, 17:7).

Allah (SWT) reminds us in the Holy Quran (2:183) that the result of fasting is piety.  Because of their fitra-a soul that was inspired with the faculty of knowing what is evil and what is good- humans have an understanding that if they want to reach a high status of spirituality, then they should stay away from aspects of useless pure desire.  They should consider themselves more valuable than to set a materialistic life as their utmost goal.  In other words, humans should make sure to keep away from things that prevent them from Allah (SWT).

And purity (Taqwa) is gained through fasting and avoiding carnal desires. The simplest and most effective spiritual diet, that is both beneficial for this life and the hereafter, is to avoid the lust of hunger and sex. If a person continues to avoid these lusts, he will gradually control of himself from committing sins. Then he will have strength to stand against sin, For, he who accepts this invitation and stays away from lawful acts of eating and drinking will become more obedient in avoiding sins.

(Selected from al-Mizan Interpretation, under the verse 183 of Surah al-Baqarah)

Roshd Islamic Shia website

The Annual Al-Quds Day Demonstration and Rally is confirmed to take place in London on Saturday 4th September 2010. This is a major national event with thousands of people coming from up and down the country in support of Palestine and the Palestinian people. Stand with us, united for the Palestinian cause!

End the Siege.
End the Oppression.
End the Israeli Apartheid.

Date: Saturday, 04 September 2010
Time: 2.00pm
Place: Assembling at Marble Arch (nearest tube station Marble Arch) and marching to the US Embassy in Grosvenor Square for a rally).

Supporting organisations include: AhlulBayt Islamic Mission, Friends of Lebanon, Innovative Minds, Islamic Centre of England, Islamic Human Rights Commission, Islamic Student Association UK, Lebanese Community UK, Muslim Association of Britain, and Palestine Return Centre.

Join us to protest for the rights of the oppressed in Palestine!

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For more information, please contact the office on the numbers or email below

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IHRC is an NGO in Special Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations.

Please help IHRC by visiting http://www.ihrc.org.uk/catalog and making a donation or buying an item from our on-line store.

If you want to subscribe to the IHRC list please send an email to subscribe@ihrc.org

If you want to unsubscribe from the IHRC list please send an email from your subscribed email address tounsubscribe@ihrc.org

If you are reusing this alert, please cite the source.

For more information, please contact the office on the numbers or email below.

“And what reason have you that you should not fight in the way of Allah and of the weak among the men and the women and the children, (of) those who say: Our Lord! Cause us to go forth from this town, whose people are oppressors, and give us from Thee a guardian and give us from Thee a helper.”
Holy Qur’an: Chapter 4, Verse 75

Join the Struggle for Justice. Join IHRC.

Islamic Human Rights Commission
PO Box 598
Wembley
HA9 7XH
United Kingdom

Telephone (+44) 20 8904 4222
Fax (+44) 20 8904 5183
Email: info@ihrc.org
Web: www.ihrc.org

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Most of the major supermarkets will stock dates produced in Israel, West Bank and the Jordan Valley. Dates produced in the West Bank and the Jordan Valley are from Illegal Israeli Settlements and should also be boycotted.

Alternative Dates (Medjoul) that help the Palestinians are available from zaytoun.org – A Fairtrade Importer. Zaytoun are able to supply organic and Fairtrade dates in wholesale quantities – visit their site to see their complete range of Palestinian produce. Inform your local dates retailer to the availability of this ethical produce.

The Holy Prophet (S.A.) had said that during the night of 15th Shaba’an the Almighty takes decisions in the matters of sustenance, life and death and welfare of the people. Next to the “Night of Qadr” the night of 15th Sha’baan is the most auspicious night (also known as “night of Baraat”). According to the Imam Muhammad bin Ali Al Baqir (as.) and Jaa’far bin Muhammad As Sadiq (as.) Allah has promised to fulfill every legitimate desire put forward to Him tonight. During this night Allah (swt) bestows on HIS people from HIS bounty & forgives them out of HIS grace & generosity .Of the blessings of this night is that ,at the dawn of this night ,was born the Leader of the Time Imam Mehdi (atfs) in Samarra -Iraq in the yr 255 AH .

Ahadith in the book Iqbalul A‘mal “Therefore, stay awake this night in prayer and worship and encourage your Ummah to also keep awake this night in order to get closer to Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) through their actions since this is a noble night. This is a night in which not a single person supplicates to Allah except that his prayers are accepted. Nobody asks for a single thing on this night except that it will be given to him. No one asks Allah for forgiveness except that his sins are wiped out. No one turns in repentance to Allah except that He accepts their repentance. Whoever is deprived of the goodness of this night has definitely been deprived of something great.”

Almighty Allah has chosen this night for the Ahl al-Bayt, in the same way as He has chosen the Qadr Night for our Prophet—peace be upon him and his Family.

The first thing that that Salik (the Wayfarer on the path towards Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He) must perform on this night is that he must remove the material pleasures and enjoyments of this world from in front of his eyes (and from his heart) and in order to make the most of this special night and ensure that all of his actions are performed properly, he must think to himself that tonight is his last night on this Earth (meaning that tomorrow he shall die) and thus, he will no longer have the opportunity to perform any more good deeds and that tomorrow the Day of Judgment will take place.

http://www.duas.org/15shabanamal.htm

“Usaam Ibn Mustalaq

And then began cursing him and his father as much as I could. As soon as I became exhausted and paused from cursing, he looked at me kindly and recited the following verse:

“O Our Messenger! Keep to forgiveness and enjoin kindness, and turn away from the ignorant. If a suggestion from Satan assails your mind, seek refuge with Allah; surely He is Hearing, Knowing. The pious people, when a thought of evil from Satan assaults them, they bring Allah to remembrance at that very moment, and they gain an insight! Their brothers (the evil ones), however, (the Satans from Jinn and Men) plunge them deeper into error, and never remiss in misleading the evils ones.” ⁽¹⁾

He then continued: “Take it easy upon yourself. I ask Allah’s forgiveness for you and myself. If you want any help from us, we will be happy to help you. If you need anything (in Medina) we will be glad to provide it for you. If you need guidance, we will guide you to your destination (without any hesitation).”

Shame filled my body as I remembered what I had done. The Imam however, reminded me of the verse about Joseph’s brothers, and how they were regretful of their actions:

“Now have no shame! May Allah forgive you, and He is the Most Merciful of those who show mercy.”⁽²⁾

Then Hussain (PBUH) asked: “Are you from Shaam?”  I said: “Yes.”  He said: “may Allah (SWT) protect us and you. Now, without hesitation and fear, ask us your requests.  God-willing you will find me in the best state (of hospitality).”

I was so ashamed because of his generous reaction that I felt the whole earth had tightened around me, and I had wished it could swallow me down. I then slowly distanced myself from him, while I had come to realize I loved no other more than Hussain and his father.

(Reference: “The Comprehensive Encyclopedia of the Statements of Imam Hussain (PBUH)” by Ali Mua’yyedi)

Dear Muslims and seekers of justice, please accept Roshd website’s congratulations on the third of Sha’ban, the blessed birthday of Imam Hussain (PBUH): the essence of piety, the leader of justice, and the mirror of bravery and blessing.

Roshd Islamic Shia website

Footnotes:

1-     The Holy Quran, 7:199-202

2-     The Holy Quran, 12:92