educational seminars

Bismillah,
'Read in the name of your Lord who has created you'

Knowledge in Islam is the beginning of one's servitude to God. He (swt) mentioned, 'Know for surety that there's no one worthy of worship except Allah'. The Prophet (s) was instructed to repeat the dua' ‘Rabbi zidni 'ilma’ – ‘O my Lord, increase me in knowledge.’

The Prophet (s) mentioned about the one who is on the path to seek knowledge is on the path to paradise. Such is the beautiful example of a student seeking knowledge in Islam.
Here I would like to mention how pleased I am with the recent proliferation of Islamic educational seminars. In central Jersey, we have al-Mishkat, al-Maghrib Institute, and Gibraltar Educational Initiative with a lineup of scholars such as Imam Dr. Djafer Sebkhaoui, Sheikh AbdulBary Yahya, and Dr. Shadee Elmasry. This is a great blessing and a mercy of God. May God increase our quest for knowledge.
Lastly, I want to mention a word of caution for the students of knowledge. Please beware of the following pitfalls:

1. Arrogance - 'dude, that's my fatwa on this issue'.
2. Tribalism - 'my group is the saved sect'.
3. Shaykh-ism - 'my shaykh is the scholar of all scholars and the Imam at the local masjid is so boring'.
4. Groupie - 'Islam is following my jamat'

Remember, knowledge is not simply mindless memorization. Rather, knowledge is that which benefits people in this world and in the hereafter. In conclusion, sufficient is the statement of Allah for all students of knowledge, "Have taqwa of God, and He will teach you".

Quran Reading Group - *special*

WHAT: QURAN READING GROUP
Please read carefully below and volunteer to recite a section of the Qur'an for this week.

WHAT: InshAllah we want to push/remind students to read the Quran on a daily basis. Unfortunately, most Muslims don't pay much attention to the recitation of the Quran outside of Ramadan. For this reason, the Quran Reading Group is here to support and remind you about your reading every week.

How does it work?

Basically, you look at the list of juz available for recitation and put your juz under comment section with your name OR you can send an email to Marwa and Saba. They will post your name next to the juz you volunteered to read. If there are more people and all 30 juz are taken, we can start another reading circle. It is up to you how much Quran you want to read weekly. Again, we are here to remind you and push you to daily recite the Quran.

Note: On the 7th day of the week, a reminder is sent out to the group about their reading. If someone can't finish their reading then we will make a general call to the entire group to read your juz (shame on you!).

Once first 30 juz (entire Quran) are taken by people (it could be two students who volunteer to read 15 juz or 30 people who volunteer to read a juz, or more or less...you get the idea), we can start another circle, and so on and so forth.

FAQs:

Qs. How do I volunteer to read?
Ans. You can put your juz no. with your name in comments section below. OR send an email to both Marwa marwa831@eden.rutgers.edu & Saba sabayh@gmail.com They will put your name next to the juz(s) you volunteered to read.

Qs. How many juz/para I have to read?
Ans. Each person picks the amount of Quran he/she can read... 1, 2, 10 juz... doesn't matter. Even if a person wants to read less i.e. 1/2 a juz per week, he simply has to find another person to read the other half. See example juz 30 below.

Qs. Do I read the same juz/para every week?
Ans. No, you can pick another juz and send an email for that particular week or put your juz number in comment section.

Qs. What if I cannot read the Quran (OMG!) in Arabic?
Ans. Relax, if you cannot read it in Arabic, just listen to the Quran - (reading & listening has the same reward). We will not stop you from participating :)


Quran Reading Group for May 24-31 WK ONE:
(who wants to read? put your name in comments section below with juz #)

We are trying to finish the entire Qur'an by next Friday

Juz 1 - Faraz Khan
Juz 2 - Saher Jilani
Juz 3 - Faraz Khan
Juz 4 - Faraz Khan
Juz 5 - Faraz Khan

Juz 6 - Faraz Khan
Juz 7 - Asim Usmani
Juz 8 - Asim Usmani
Juz 9 - Naqiyba Auston
Juz10 - Naqiyba Auston

Juz11 - NUI Seniors
Juz12 - NUI Seniors
Juz13 - NUI Seniors
Juz14 - NUI Seniors
Juz15 - NUI Seniors

Juz16 - NUI Seniors
Juz17 - Marwa E.
Juz18 - Salman
Juz19 - Leila H.
Juz20 - Nadia S.

Juz21 - Rabia M.
Juz22 - Farrah H.
Juz23 - Saba H.
Juz24 - Rabia M.
Juz25 - Saher Jilani

Juz26 - Natasha P.
Juz27 - Nadia A.
Juz28 - Mariam Buker
Juz29 - Saher Jilani
Juz30 - Dawud/Asia/Mujahid / Ingy Alhelawe (more than 1 person can read 1 juz)

Khutba at ISCJ

ZIKR (Remembrance of God) & Our Lives
Khutba
by Faraz Khan

O You who Believe, Be mindful of God and let every soul look at what it will forward for tomorrow. Be mindful of God for He is well-aware of what you do.

Do not be like those who forgot God, therefore He caused them to forget their souls. Such are bad people.

Not equal are the people of the (hell) Fire and the people of the Gardens. The people of the Gardens are the victorious.

Don't forget this test!

A New Beginning...

It is good to be done with exams. A group of students will now exit and another group will enter. Those that are graduating probably have plenty of advice for the new students. "Focus on your studies". "Education is your full-time job". "Don't party too much". "Watch out for lunatics on campus". Very sound and reasonable advice. How about the incoming students? What are they thinking about? "Let's have the best time of our lives". "Socialize and party!" "Let's get away from home!" "Study... what?".

The ones graduating understand the worth of time and hard work. It is because they have gone through the process, this crucible called higher education, that they know the things one must do and sacrifice to finally pass.

Similar to the above mentioned two groups, there are people who are entering and exiting this world. They also are either taking their test or are done with it. Those who have left this world know the worth of time and hard work. They surely understand the worth of having iman, salah, avoiding sins, doing good action, and following Allah & His messenger. They are done with their test and are waiting for their results to be given to them. They know the consequence of pass or fail.

This generation of ours, however, seems to be focusing on partying, enjoying life, and having the freedom to do whatever we want. We're just looking for the good times to continue, and are focused on everything except the exam: We are literally sitting in the test room partying. We have seen and heard about the generations before us but we do nothing to heed their honest advice.

The Prophet (s) said: A wise person is someone who takes himself to an account and works for that which will come after death and a foolish person is someone who follows his desires and then hopes for a good end.

My advice to you: be wise and focus on your test. May Allah be with you.

faraz