Rajab 20, 1442 AH 40 days to Ramadan*
Always Remember Allah
Year 7
Attendance:
7 Sisters
Location: Online via Google Meet
Agenda: (please note, we have included many links where you can read in detail more on each subject)
Note: During our Halaqa’s, Allah willing, we encourage discussion after each section. Sisters can share their reflections, thoughts and questions.
Opening Dua
O Allah, bless this Halaqa, allow us to gain, act upon and share beneficial knowledge.
Guide us, forgive our sins and grant us Jannah with our families and loved ones.
O my Lord increase me in knowledge*. رَّبِّ زِدْنِى عِلْمًا Ameen
*Part of ayah 114 Surah Taha(20)
Quran: Reciting
Sister Alia read Surah Fatihah aloud; then she recited from Surah Taa-Haa verses 126-135, followed by Sister Rim, reading the English Approximation by Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran. In sha Allah, this will be an ongoing part of our Halaqa, and one day in sha Allah, we will have Khatam Quran and begin again.
Quran: Tafsir
Surah Taa-Haa verses 126-135
We have chosen to use Tafsir Ibn Kathir Volume 6
Sister Alia read # 2 and 3.
Verse 127
The Command to be patient and perform the Five daily Prayers
Verses 128-130
Do not look at the Enjoyment of the Wealthy, be patient in the worship of Allah (this section was missing a Hadith at the end, we’ve included it below in the discussion)
The Request of the Polytheists for Proofs while the Qur'an is itself a Proof
Verses 131-135
Discussion:
Ayah #130 ties in with the video from Halaqa #174 Blink of an Eye
Episode 5: Switching Shifts | Angels in Your Presence with Omar Suleiman 5:09
Such a simple yet powerful instruction from Allah, the Most Generous.
«يَقُولُ اللهُ تَعَالى: يَا ابْنَ آدَمَ تَفَرَّغْ لِعِبَادَتِي أَمْلَأْ صَدْرَكَ غِنىً وَأَسُدَّ فَقْرَكَ، وَإِنْ لَمْ تَفْعَلْ، مَلَأْتُ صَدْرَكَ شُغْلًا وَلَمْ أَسُدَّ فَقْرَك»
Allah, the Exalted, says, "O son of Adam, perform My worship and I will fill your chest with wealth and fulfill your needs. If you do not do so, then I will fill your chest with toil and I will not fulfill your needs.''
Quran: Tajweed (postponed)
We are following a book from our library that is not copyrighted.
Tajweed for Beginners Prepared by Qari Ismail Essack
(today’s lesson PDf page 28) Booklet page 27
We now have a Tajweed Channel and Group on Telegram, where Sisters can catch up on missed lessons and participate in group discussions. Email us if you would like to join.
Note:
Sister Shimaa was unavailable for today’s lesson, therefore we postponed it.
A Temporary Gift
Sister Karima read:
Voices of the Oppressed: The ground will be opened
Reflections on Love, Loss and Healing: Allah’s Plans
Page 174-177
Link to Purchase a pdf Link to buy
Note:
Sisters were emotional listening to “Allah’s Plans”.
They reflected on the concept of time.
We remembered our previous Halaqa “Blink of an Eye”
Sister Bana discussed a podcast she had heard and shared it post-Halaqa.
Tafseer Surah 103 – Asr Part 1 by Nouman Ali Khan
Dua al Ghaib
One of our members had a family medical emergency. We prayed for her and her family.
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
أسال الله العظيم رب العرش العظيم أن يشفي
المرضى
I ask Allah, the Mighty, Lord of the mighty throne to cure the sick.
اللهم أذهب البأس رب الناس واشف انت الشافي لا شفاء إلا شفاؤك شفاءٌ لا يغادر سقما
Oh Allah, take away the hardship, Lord of the people, and remove this pain and cure it You are
the one who cures, and there is no one besides You that can cure, grant such a cure that no illness remains.
Oh Allah Al Shafi, grant a cure for our sister’s loved one and give them patience during this time.
Make it an expiation of their sins and increase them in ranking Ameen.
Nurturing Eman in Children
Sister Alia read the following:
Part Three: Developing an Islamic Personality
Chapter 12 Additional Keys to Developing an Islamic Personality
Encourage a focus on worthy values and related projects 1 page 2 pages
Pdf Page 165-166
Discussion:
While we want to educate our children on the realities of the world around them, we have to be sensitive to their unique personalities and how they can internalize some situations in negative ways that affect their mental health.
We have to not only show compassion and caring for the world at large but also in our micro-world with our sisters and community.
Don’t Be Sad
Sister Bana read Do not be sad ~ Always remember Allah
Pdf pg 106-107
E-book, page 107-108
Discussion:
We took the name of our Halaqa from this reading.
Sister Bana remarked on the Ayah quoted in regards to children diverting you from the remembrance of Allah. She said that we should try to remember Allah, when we are with our children, find moments to thank Allah and teach and help our children remember Allah as well.
Sister Winnie remembered a hadith she read recently:
The beginning of the reading had many quotes from the Quran using only the Surah number and not the name.
We discussed how we could try to memorize the Surah numbers.
We all have memories that are associated with particular numbers. A very simple example is the months of the years, if we say 7, we know that is July. Wouldn’t it be nice if we could have the same association for the blessed Surahs of the Glorious Quran?
Think of your age, your address, the year you graduated etc, etc. Look up the corresponding Surah. Print off a list of all the Surah’s then slowly list in the corresponding memory trigger.
Learn A Dua
Al-Buhuti reported: Umar, (Radhiyallahu anhu), may Allah be pleased with him, said,
“O Allah, show me the truth as truth and guide me to follow it. Show me the false as false and guide me to avoid it.”
Source: Sharḥ al-Muntahá al-Irādāt 3/497
Discussion:
Sister Rim discussed the difficulty in knowing truth from falsehood and how this dua is a comfort to those seeking to gain knowledge and benefit from it.
Sister Alia discussed how the early scholars in the past had differences of opinion and some were whipped or imprisoned. We need to have respectful disagreements. Only Allah, Al Haqq knows the absolute truth. We make this dua to help us follow the correct path.
Sister Winnie shared the following post Halaqa:
Source: And the Answer is . . . Al-Haqq! - Understand Al-Qur'an Academy
Sister Alia shared the following with the sisters.
Video Series: Angels in Your Presence
We watched the following video:
Episode 7: The Banner Above You | Angels in Your Presence with Omar Suleiman 3:27
Discussion:
We discussed the idea of taking this concept and using it to help our children think of the start of their day. Make little flags with various intentions written on them. Then, when the child wakes, have them choose one of those flags. If the child does something inappropriate throughout the day, take their flag away and have a talk with them. Explain how Allah, Al Ghafur forgives and gives another chance for us to do good then have the child choose a new or the same intention.
Another way to help children start their day is to surprise them with notes written on the bathroom mirror with whiteboard markers.
News and Schedule
Off the Record
A few minutes set aside before the Halaqa ends for sisters to share personal observations from their life.
Closing Dua
For the expiation of sins, said at the conclusion of a sitting or gathering. To listen to this dua click here.
"How perfect You are O Allah, and I praise You.
I bear witness that None has the right to be worshipped except You.
I seek Your forgiveness and turn to You in repentance."
سُبْحـانَكَ اللّهُـمَّ وَبِحَمدِك، أَشْهَـدُ أَنْ لا إِلهَ إِلاّ أَنْتَ أَسْتَغْفِرُكَ وَأَتوبُ إِلَـيْك
Subhânaka l-lâhumma wa bi-hamdika. Ash-hadu an lâ ilâha illâ anta, astaghfiruka wa atûbu ilayka..
If any of this information was good and true, know that it comes from Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala.
If there are mistakes, we ask for Allah’s Forgiveness and Mercy.
