Halaqa # 87

﷽

Safar 13, 1439

Growing

from our Past

Year 4

Attendance:

• 12 Sisters
• 5 Junior Sisters
• 6 Junior Guests

Location: Headquarters

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

• OPENING DUA

Sister Marwa read our 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 RECITATION: TAJWEED/LEARN ARABIC

We listened to the Surah Quraish

The above link has both the recitation by Sheikh Husary and the individual word pronunciation (click on each word) for learning Arabic.

Quran for Listening, Learning and Practicing

Sisters who practice their reading in sha Allah will have an opportunity at the next Halaqa to have a sister listen to their recitation.

Note: Using a notebook

Tajweed isn't like other topics you listen and internalize and reflect on etc. There are specific and certain rules, and it helps to have a spot for your notes to review, go back to. It is proven that writing notes yourself versus getting a printed handout for example solidifies information more and faster. Note-taking in general increases benefit extraction from Halaqa and is a good step in general to take when seeking knowledge.  An option as well is to review the material post Halaqa using the website.

Tajweed rule

Sister Dania presented our Tajweed Rule.

The Makhaarij of the Letters: Al Lisaan

Alhamdulillah, Sister Noora has volunteered her time and expertise to teach sisters Arabic and Tajweed. Please contact us to join our learning Arabic group if you would like to take advantage of this generous offer.

• QURAN RECITATION AND REFLECTION 

Note: We have an ongoing survey to accept feedback for our Halaqa’s.

One idea we received was to recite Surah Fatiha after our opening dua.

We discussed this with the sisters present and have decided to move the Quran Recitation and Reflection

to follow the Opening Dua directly, followed by our Tajweed lesson.

 

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 Yusuf from Ayah 53 to Ayah 63.  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.

We read an English Approximation (Sahih International) of the above verses.

We have chosen to use Tafsir Ibn Kathir.

Volume 5 Page 179-184 (From our library shelf)

We only had enough time to read:

“Yusuf’s Rank with the King of Egypt”

“Yusuf’s reign in Egypt (last part)”

“Yusuf’s brothers travel to Egypt”

You can view this tafsir online: Link

• WOMEN AROUND THE MESSENGER

After reading a summary of Aminah bint Wahb, the sisters present discussed the material presented, in which there were several details provided without references, proofs or evidence. Therefore, it was decided that it was best to suspend following the book, and choose a new book to follow instead.

• A TEMPORARY GIFT

Sisters Walaa and Rim read the Introduction: pages 18-22

Link to Purchase a pdf

Link to buy

• NEXT HALAQA and News

In sha Allah, our next Halaqa will be on Thursday, November 16th.

Alhamduililah, during our Halaqas we have developed new friendships, but the time for socializing is very limited. Therefore we have started a new Group called Friends and Family.  In sha Allah, we will be meeting in the off weeks of the Halaqa for a mall walk and chat. We are staying in touch via WhatsApp and announce the day, time and location a few days ahead. Please send us a message if you would like to be added to this informal group.

In sha Allah, our sister Mona will be having a booth at this event with her Sister.

November 11th, Syeda Khadiijah Centre 7150 Edwards Blvd Mississauga

Link: http://muslimwomenpreneurs.ca/register/

• DON’T BE SAD

Sisters read The past is gone forever

Discussion:

• This reading ties into Asmaa Hussein’s book.  She has taken the past and used it as a stepping stone to the present and to growing as a person. This reading states, “The past is non-existent.”  Do you agree with that statement?

Link to the purchase pdf

We have this book in our Library (it is currently borrowed, but you can submit a request to borrow, in sha Allah)

• NURTURING EEMAN IN CHILDREN

Sisters read a Summary of the first part of Chapter Three

• The importance of the marital relationship
• Considerations in Marriage
• Marriage and Parenting

Discussion:

The happiness of the other partner should always be placed above one’s own will or desires.

Free PDF Link

• Dua al Ghayb

Sister May, led a dua for sister M.

• VIDEO  

Stories of the Prophets - Prophet Adam

Sheikh  Abdul Nasir Jangda 8:01

• CLOSING DUA

Sisters Siham and Cindy read our closing Dua.

For the expiation of sins, said at the conclusion of a sitting or gathering. To listen to this dua click here

196 - "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.

Nurturing Eeman in Children, Chapter Two Summary

Intro:

As Muslims, it is important to understand the significance and responsibility of the parenting role, the importance of preparing children for the hereafter, and the obligation of protecting them from the hellfire. This should be a main focus in parenting from an Islamic perspective.

Responsibility and accountability

The Prophet (saws) said:

«Each of you is a guardian and is responsible for his ward. The ruler is a guardian and the man is a guardian of the members of his household; and the woman is a guardian and is responsible for her husband’s house and his offspring; and so each of you is a guardian and is responsible for his ward.»'  

This hadith of the Prophet (saws) emphasizes the fact that parenting is a crucial responsibility that must be approached earnestly and sincerely. Allah will hold each and every parent accountable for how they carried out this responsibility and this will be present on their balance of deeds in the hereafter. For this reason, parenting could be a person’s door to paradise or it could be his or her gate to the hellfire.

Parents have the capability to influence a child more than any other person. This influence, in turn, affects the community in which they live. Families are the building blocks of society, and the society is only as strong as its foundation.

Children as a test from Allah

One of the most fundamental concepts for a parent to understand is that children are a test and that through this test they will be held accountable on the Day of Judgment. Once this is realized, there should be a profound change in how they relate to and deal with their children.

Out of Allah’s mercy to His servants, He sends tribulations and tests so that they may return and repent to Him, giving up that which Allah has forbidden, and so that Allah might forgive them. It is part of Allah’s mercy that tests occur in this life so that our souls might be purified and come back to Allah before we die.

What most people often forget is that blessings may also be a test or tribulation from Allah. Wealth and children, for example, are a trial and a trust by which Allah tests His servants to know who will give thanks for them and who will be distracted from Allah by them

Unfortunately, in this day and age, too many people fail in this test that Allah has given them, or they attempt to avoid the test as much as possible. Other aspects may be given precedence over the children, such as career, money, hobbies, or friendships.

Parenting does require a lot of effort and hard work, but it is also one of the most rewarding tests that Allah could give His servants. It is, above all else, a test of patience, selflessness, and sacrifice.  It is amazing that in the process of nurturing believing children, parents also ‘nurture’ themselves. The increase in eeman that is experienced through parenting will bring one closer to Allah and closer to an understanding of His infinite wisdom and mercy.

Rewards and joys of parenting

Parenting holds some of Allah’s greatest rewards on this earth: unconditional love, bonding and human closeness, shared moments, a smiling face with loving eyes, and hugs full of love and care.

A devout parent will experience the gratification of watching his or her child grow into an obedient servant of Allah; a believer who will love and obey Allah and contribute to the society around him or her. A pious child who supplicates is one of only three ways through which a person may acquire continuing good deeds for presentation on the Day of Judgment.

Goals of parenting

In Soorat Luqman (Chapter 31 12-19 of the Qur’an), we find the wisdom that Prophet Luqman (raa) provided to his son. Luqman was a wise man whose insight was bestowed upon him by Allah. He taught this wisdom to his son for his benefit in this world and the world to come.  Understandably, priority was given to teaching tawheed and warning against polytheism, since this is the foundation of the Islamic creed. Following one’s duty to Allah, he enjoined kindness and obedience to parents. This ingredient is critical in terms of parenting, for it eases the task when children assimilate this principle into their personalities. After informing him of the rights due to Allah and parents through the expression of gratefulness, Luqman reminds his son of the awareness of Allah (swt) in all matters, public and private. Allah is aware of all that we do and for this reason we should have fear of Allah. We should also be cautious about taking sins lightly. Those few verses contain an abundance of wisdom for parents. From this, parents can delineate the important goals for their children.

Activity: Look on the card you were given at the beginning of this talk.

Green cards

• Belief (eeman) in Allah with pure tawheed and avoidance of associating partners with Allah
• Kindness, respect and obedience toward parents
• Fear of Allah and awareness of His all-encompassing presence
• Establishment of prayer, on time and in the correct manner
• Enjoining what is right and forbidding what is wrong
• Bearing life with patience
• Humility and meekness
• Moderation and avoidance of extremes

In addition to these, the following may be added:

Blue cards

• Strength in belief and faith
• Attachment to the Qur’an and authentic hadiths
• Love of and sincerity to Allah, His Messenger, and His Book
• Adherence to the Sunnah of the Prophet (saws)
• Understanding of all things from the perspective of Islam
• Islamic personality, values, and identity
• Equity and justice in dealing with other
• Kindness, mercy and good character towards all people
• Concern for the affairs of all Muslims (aid them, fulfil their rights)
• Inviting others to Allah and Islam
• Pride in being Muslim

Associated personality characteristics that would be desirable include the following:

Yellow cards

• Self-confident and with positive self-esteem
• Motivated
• Responsible
• Persistent, hard-working
• Capable and skilful
• Content and satisfied
• Honest and trustworthy
• Courageous
• Leader

Free PDF Link