Halaqa # 10

Smile it’s Sunnah

Attendance:

• 4  Sisters
• 2  Junior Sisters

Location:  Headquarters

Agenda: (please note, we have included many links where you can read in detail more on each subject)

• OPENING DUA

Oh Allah, we have gathered together in our love of You.  Strengthen our bond and unite our hearts.  Help us to gain useful knowledge and implement it in our lives.  Grant peace and blessings on our beloved Prophet Muhammed.

• QURAN RECITATION

We read Surah Fatihah aloud altogether, then sisters individually read aloud a few letters/words, ayahs (according to her ability and with the help and encouragement of her fellow sisters).  We read Surah Baqarah from Ayat 113  till Ayat 126.  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.

• SISTER’S TALK

Sister Winnie read aloud an article called Prophet Muhammad’s Smile  Sisters then participated in a lively discussion regarding different aspects of using smiling in our daily lives and interactions to uplift our moods and spread our deen.

• LEARN A DUA

Dua to say when seeing another Muslim smiling (laughing)

May Allah keep you smiling (laughing)

Adhhakallaaho sinnak

أَضْحَكَ اللَّهُ سِنَّكَ

• SISTERS TALK

Sister Winnie shared  a fun interactive book of simple dua’s, geared to children, but at the same time very useful for those who are learning arabic as it has both transliteration, Arabic lettering and english translation.  You are able to hear the duas just by clicking a button.  Apologies though as it is only for use with ipads and macs.

Supplication for kids ibook available for free on itunes.

We listened to some of the dua’s altogether.

• VIDEO  

Pursuit of Happiness  Sheikh Hamza Yusuf   (3:31)

• TECH TALK

Sister Winnie shared with everyone a website she recently discovered.

http://80percentwords.com/

This, website is a free interactive fun educational tool to help you learn and understand the arabic of the Holy Quran.  To see a short video of how to use the website click here.

• CLOSING DUA

Oh Allah, put smiles on our faces and in our hearts. Allow us to share the joy and happiness of Islam and belief in you with our fellow sisters, family and friends.

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.

Halaqa # 9

Farewell Ramadan

Attendance:

• 2  Sisters
• 2  Junior Sisters

Location:  Headquarters

Agenda: (please note, we have included many links where you can read in detail more on each subject)

• OPENING DUA

Oh, Allah, All Mighty, Most Merciful, Glorified and Exalted are You, accept our fasting, our standing in prayer, our recitation of Quran and all the deeds and acts of worship we have performed solely for your sake during the month of Ramadan.

It was from the traditions of the sahaba that they would prepare for Ramadan six months in advance. They would pray to Allah for forgiveness, and pray that Ramadan would arrive in a time where they were at the peak of iman. For five months after the completion of Ramadan, the sahaba would ask Allah to accept their deeds.

• QURAN RECITATION

We read Surah Faatihah aloud altogether, then sisters individually read aloud a few letters/words, ayahs (according to her ability and with the help and encouragement of her fellow sisters).  We read Surah Baqarah from Ayat 106  till Ayat 112.  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.

• SISTER’S TALK

Sister Winnie read aloud an article called “Ramadan my dear guest, I’m sorry”  To read this article, click here.

• LEARN A DUA

Surah Al-Anaam 162-163

Qul 'Inna Şalātī Wa Nusukī Wa Maĥyāya Wa Mamātī Lillahi Rabbi Al-`Ālamīna	Verily, my Salaah, my sacrifice*, my living, and my dying are for Allaah, the Lord of the Worlds.	قُ‍‍لْ ‌إِنَّ صَ‍‍لاَتِي ‌وَنُسُكِي ‌وَمَحْي‍‍َ‍ايَ ‌وَمَمَاتِي لِلَّهِ ‌‍رَبِّ ‌الْعَالَم‍‍ِ‍ي‍‍نَ
Lā Sharīka Lahu ۖ Wa Bidhalika 'Umirtu Wa 'Anā 'Awwalu Al-Muslimīna	He has no partner. And of this I have been commanded, and I am the first of the Muslims	لاَ‌ شَ‍‍ر‍ِ‍ي‍‍كَ لَه ُ‌ ۖ ‌وَبِذَلِكَ ‌أُمِرْتُ ‌وَ‌أَنَ‍‍ا‌ ‌أَ‌وَّلُ ‌الْمُسْلِم‍‍ِ‍ي‍‍نَ

* 'The Arabic word nusuk used here signifies ritual sacrifice as well as the other forms of devotion and worship.

• SISTERS TALK

Sister Rim read aloud an article titled Post Ramadan Syndrome  which  shares two reminders sent out by  FOSIS (Federation of Student islamic Societies)  upon Ramadan's departure.

• VIDEO  

Allah is near (12:26) from Quran Weekly by Ustadh Nouman Ali Khan

• DISCUSSION

Two questions were brought up after hearing the articles.

First: Would a mourning widow be allowed or encouraged to attend Eid?

Second:  In regards to the 6 days of Shawwal.  Do they have to be done before or after making up fasts missed due to menses etc.

Post Halaqa we posed these two questions to Sister Mariam from our Shura Council and received this reply:  

1 - Woman in her iddah whether it is after divorce or death of her husband should not leave her home except dire necessity, thus she cannot attend eid prayer which is recommended act for women but not an obligation - this is supported by ash-Shawkani and Assim al-Hakim among others.

2 - According to the majority of the scholars, the make-up fasts should be done before the Shawwal fasts, because that which is obligatory always comes before that which is additional; however some scholars will allow to reverse the sequence if she has a valid excuse preventing her from fasting all of the days (make up + 6) in Shawwal, yet many will argue that actually fasting the 6 days can be done in any month starting from Shawwal till the next ramadan, thus making up should come first.

• CLOSING DUA

We pray to Allah All Mighty, Most Merciful, Glorified and Exalted be He (subḥānahu wa ta'Ala) to  Allow us to continue our acts of worship and to grow closer to you every hour of the day, every day of our lives.  

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.