Halaqa # 64

Safar 18, 1438

“Seerah”

Year 3

Attendance:

• 5 Sisters
• 1  Junior Sister
• 2 Junior Guests

Location: Headquarters

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

• 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. Ameen

• 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 A'raaf from Ayat 156 to Ayat 178.  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.

• LEARN A TERM

Sister Megan read the following:

So what is ‘Seerah’?

The word linguistically means ‘a path’, ‘to walk in a particular direction’. More figuratively, it refers to someone’s life biography. Specifically, Seerah refers to the Prophetic biography. It includes everything from the occurrences in the life the Prophet Muhammad (sallallahu alayhi wasallam), from his daily practices, attributes, physical characteristics, mannerisms, expeditions, to family life.

Why study Seerah?

It goes hand-in-hand with the study of the Quran. The Quran itself states that there is not a better example than the Prophet Muhammad (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) himself:

There has certainly been for you in the Messenger of Allah an excellent pattern for anyone whose hope is in Allah and the Last Day and [who] remembers Allah often. (Quran 33:21)

Source: qalaminstitute.org

• PIC PICK

• NEXT HALAQA and News

In sha Allah, our next Halaqa will be held in two weeks on Dec.1st at Sister Sara’s home.

• SISTERS TALK

Sister Sara read the following::

The Seerah: Your Key to Productivity

• LENDING LIBRARY

Sisters looked at the following books available in our library.

• Short Biography of The Prophet (saws) and His Ten Companions
• The Life of Muhammad
• The Noble Words
• The LIfe od Muhammad CD set
• Muhammad the Last Prophet
• The Last of the Prophets (saws)
• When the Moon Split
• The Global Messenger

Each sister chose a book and we all agreed that we would each prepare a simple quiz based on the book we read in sha Allah.  These quizzes will be presented during the second Halaqa in February isa.

• TECH TALK

Sister Winnie discussed a blog she came across:

Seerah.Net

Plus bonus for our Halaqa attendees, a sister site by the same sister chronicling her adventures in Home-Schooling,  full of interesting articles on a variety of topics, all with an Islamic Perspective. Imaan.Net

As-Seerah An-Nabawiyyah - The Prophetic Biography by Taimiyyah Zubair

• PODCAST

Knowledge of the Prophetic Biography (Seerah) is necessary for every Muslim and sharing it with everyone is a responsibility. This series is an effort to make the classical sources related to the life of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) available to English speakers worldwide. Everyone is encouraged to subscribe, download, listen, and share these recordings. We hope that this will not only increase people’s understanding of the Prophetic Biography but also serve as a resource for community leaders, lecturers, khateebs, teachers, and parents to We urge you to subscribe and tell others to subscribe as well.  Please share this resource with family and friends.teach and share lessons from the life of the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) with their families and communities.  

Seerah Life of the Prophet Series

• VIDEO

What is Seerah? (30:21)

In this video Abu Nasir Jangda speaks about what Seerah is and why it is important to study and he mentions some of the benefits of knowing the Seerah.

• 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.

Let's Learn Arabic Survey Results.

• Let's Learn Arabic Survey

What obstacles do you face with learning Arabic?(4 responses)

Lack of local qualified teachers and programs for in person options. Time constraints with everyday life, work or family duties and other crucial priorities.

Not being able to travel and immerse myself in an Arabic-language environment. You can learn it in the west but going to Arabic-speaking countries brings it alive.

Lack of time to dedicate to improving my Arabic

Procrastination, fear of failure

What advice would you share with sisters wanting to learn Arabic?(4 responses)

Du'aa. Consistency. Support group.

Learn fus-ha (classical or Modern Standard Arabic), not a dialect. Fus-ha is the language of Qur'an. If you learn it first you can learn a dialect afterwards - it's easier that way round. The best gift an Arabic teacher ever gave me was to make me learn the plural of each new vocabulary word. You don't want to know how many patterns of the "broken" (irregular) plural there are! But if you learn the plural when you learn the word, it's less painful in the long wrong, and you will eventually begin to see the patterns in the language. Check out Studio Arabiyyah online - one of my offspring is learning fus-ha with it and finding it very beneficial.

Try to use both conventional and unconventional methods. Attending a class and working out of workbooks is always recommended however once the basics are in place and even minimal understanding has been achieved try simply reading the Quran, perhaps with a Quran with a read-aloud pen or follow-along app; emerse yourself in Arabic environments with those who might speak Arabic fluently or try watching Arabic shows and follow the story, even kids ones. It takes lots of dedication and also patience with yourself so always ask Allah swt for his help and ease.

Make Dua Just start and make a very small commitment per week. That way, it will be too easy not to get done. Then, slowly as time passes, increase your weekly commitment and in sha Allah, you will start to see actual progress. In sha Allah, with a good intention, that little effort every week will bring rewards in this world and the next.