Assalam alaikum The first weekend had its ups and downs. As for the ups of the weekend, I really liked the environment. Studying with so many people just makes the learning experience that much greater. I liked the fact that there were two different prayer rooms so that when it came to salat time we weren’t distracting each other before it was time to stand before Allah and so many other good things that happened during the weekend (alhamdulilah I must say that I am thankful I was among those that Allah had chosen for this seminar). As for the negatives, there are a few. I was surprised with the first time I opened my binder for the course and saw the outline. The first word that came to my mind was, “different” (which alhamdulilah is not always a bad thing) but it seems like he was rushing through a lot of the material. I listened to the series of the Life of Muhammad (saw) by Anwar Al-Awalki and he was amazing and I also read the Sealed Nectar so alhamdulilah I knew most of the stories he spoke about but the point is, that doesn’t mean the brother sitting beside knows them also. I was more interested in the lessons that the shiek would share but even when it came to that, I felt like he just rushed through the lessons without really going into detail. But being a brother I had easy access to the shiek which I fully took advantage of. I asked questions about his statements and his lessons and so I cant really complain. He mentioned that the Meccan period is a boring period which needs patience (when examining and learning) but I remember when I first started reading the Sealed Nectar, the Meccan period was interesting and the encounters that the Prophet (saw) had with Jibreel were full of excitement but than again, maybe that’s just me. As for the Light Upon Light course to come (inshallah) the knowledge of that seminar had reached me before the start of this seminar (you can say that I have some people working on the inside for me but don’t tell Almaghrib) and Im really looking forward to it inshallah.

Subhan’Allah this is a very important issue and thanks for posting it sis. As I was reading this, I could remember several quotes written by various shieks and/or scholars. I remember reading a shiek as he wrote, “opinions are many but knowledge is limited” and another scholar (who died in 329H) as he wrote, “examine carefully the speech of everyone in your time” and subhan’Allah because he knew the importance of speaking and/or acting without knowledge. And Allah knows best

Mash'Allah you got a talent so keep on posting your skill and let us reflect on your words

He's just a coward as one member said above and cowards dont live to enjoy their life so in due time Justice will be established throughout the land and perhaps we can unite as One People and lead the way for other Muslim countries to follow. and Allah knows best P.S. Dont these people (who are in authority) understand that this world belongs to Allah and that they will either be guided back to the straight path (which we should all pray that happens) or Allah will replace (and not mention, disgrace them) them with people that love Allah and Allah loves them.

Alle-ubaahne you are indeed right but patience is what we need during this fitnah. Its just a matter of time so may Allah make us among those who defend the weak. Unfortunately, words dont mean anything and any man can talk the talk but little actually walk the walk. Personally I dont fight for no country and I wont fight for nobody but I am command to speak the truth and stand for justice and defend those in need and Allah knows best May Allah have mercy on those who have left us and those of us who are soon to experience the same, may He be Praised

A new suitcase $65 Hajj to Mecca $4000 Shopping money while in Mecca $500 My life compared to material wealth, Priceless For everything else there is the dou’aa, the true weapon of the believer and Allah knows best

Cam, please continue cause I am a student of life and I enjoy to study issues in great detail (unless of course if studying it will only cause more questions to arise). But I think the examples that you have presented are great examples of how Allah puts love and mercy in the hearts of the couple. and Allah knows best

or maybe Val hit it right on the spot.

Its the angel of death who has come for her.

Some sister wrote this and I happen to come across it so enjoy. DREAMS DREAMING TO EXIST A PAINFUL LONGING SUSPENDED UNTIL THAT MOMENT WHEN QADR WILL TAKE OVER AND EYES WILL MEET EYES AND LOOKS WILL TOUCH LOOKS AND SILENCE WILL SING LOUD TWO SETS OF EYES IN THE EYE OF A STORM TWO SOULS COMPLETED TWO BODIES SEPARATED AND QADR WILL BE FULFILLED FULFILLED AS WRITTEN 50,000 YEARS BEFORE THE WORLD UNDER OUR FEET WAS CREATED SHHHHHHHHHH IT'S OKAY SHHHHHHHHHH IT'S OKAY WAIT... FOR ME... IT WAS WRITTEN ALREADY THE DAY OF OUR NIKAH THE DAY OF OUR DEATH THE DAY OF JUDGMENT JANNAH OR JAHANAM HERETOFORE WE ARE MARRIED A PROMISE WAITING TO BE CONCLUDED THEREFORE NO WORRIES NO STRESS NO ENDLESS SEARCHING... THE OBJECT OF AFFECTION UNKNOWN UNSEEN PATHS UNCROSSED AND YET I THINK OF YOU ALREADY AS YOU THINK OF ME AT THE SAME MINUTE...1 AM 2 OR 3 OUR SOULS DESTINED FOR ANOTHER OUR BODIES DESTINED FOR EACHOTHER SAVE YOUR TOUCHES FOR ME...ONLY ME WHY ARE YOU SO FAMILIAR....... HE'S MET YOU SOMEWHERE SOMEWHERE IN HIS DREAMS NO FORCE CAN PREVENT THAT MEETING IT WAS WRITTEN BY "HE" NO HARM CAN TOUCH THIS LOVE UNLESS PERMITTED BY "HE" SABR HABIBTI SABR RESPECT YOUR HUSBANDS RIGHTFUL PLACE RESPECT HIM ALTHOUGH HIS HANDS, HIS FACE EXISTS NOT YET IN YOUR REALITY... YOUR EYES YOUR SOUL YOUR THOUGHTS YOUR HANDS...CHASTE SHHHHHHHHHHHHH CLOSE YOUR EYES... NO LONGER A NEED NO LONGER A NEED FOR MUSIC NO LONGER A NEED FOR DANCE NO LONGER A NEED FOR NEED NO LONGER A NEED FOR ADDICTION NO LONGER A NEED TO BE... BUT 2 MARRIED SOULS REMAIN AT THE CORNER BOTTOMS OF A TRIANGLE IN SUDJOOD WHERE FOREHEAD AND NOSE SURRENDERS ON GROUND TO THEIR RABB ABOVE "HIS" OWN PEAK THE REAL REASON OF UNION TO WORSHIP AND COMPLETE HALF YOUR DIN CLOSE YOUR CONSCIOUSNESS... REMIND ME NEVER WAS IT BETWEEN YOU AND I IT WAS ALWAYS BETWEEN A SLAVE AND "HE" AND TO "HIM" WE SHOULD ONLY PLEASE OPEN YOUR ABSTRACT CONSCIOUSNESS... SWIM WITH HIM IN CLEAR TURQUOISE SEAS TOUCH HIM INNOCENTLY WITH YOUR FRAGRANT BREEZE WAKE UP IN A ROUND BED WITH A SMILE TO TEASE LET'S SWIM IN DREAMS DREAMS DREAMING TO EXIST LET'S SWIM IN REALITY UNTIL REALITY EXISTS AS THE SUN RISES TO SET AND THE SEASONS CONTINUE TO LEAVE LET'S SWIM IN DREAMS LIKE THIS UNTIL... A L L A H D E C R E E S

The answer is either the people of Ad or Thamoud. But if I remember correctly, the people of Ad got distroyed with a serious wind that lasted for eight days and seven nights so the answer I would have to say in this case is, the People of Thamound and their Prophet was Saleh. And Allah knows best

I have another question, so who do yall think will make the playoffs this year from the Eastern Conference? and Allah knows best P.S. Yall better not leave the Toronto Raptors off the list :mad:

I had the pleassure of watching Vince Carter come into the league and develop into the Monster Dunker he is, that was atleast before he decided that he didnt want to stay in Toronto (shame on him, look up Vince, yes the Toronto Raptors are ahead of yall by 4 games). But anyways, I wont hate on him so he would be number 1 on my list, followed my MJ. After them it really depends on your style of basketball that you enjoy to watch but to round off the list I would have to say Dom. Wilkens, Kobe (got ta give him some pros) and lets take it back to old school and say Dr.J.

AAliyah, I can see where you’re coming from and where you are headed and you do have a point. BUT! To be completely honest (and since I’m a guy I should know a little more) a guy, as you said can’t possibly conceal his entire personality especially if the relationship is being dragged on. However, he can always conceal the worst part of his character and later (unwillingly) present that to you as a "wedding gift" (I’m sure that wasn’t the wedding gift you were expecting) hence why they say “dating is just a big waste of time” (not to mention Haraam). So if we can’t date Islamically and reality makes it clear to us that dating brings about more evil than good, than how do we go about it? Ummm....ummm....the question that many people have been asking themselves but the answer never really came to them. and Allah knows best

I don’t like to thank President Bush for being so arrogant and for sticking with a foreign policy that is distained to fail. For waking up the Muslims in that part of the world, heck, I wanna thank him for waking up the Muslims in general and for leaving office (inshallah in 2008) leaving behind a complete mess for the next president. Thanks to you we have some bad days but surely the days of good are soon to reach us. May Allah make us among the patient. and Allah knows best

Since I cant get my nominations to be official recognized than just for the record I was going to nominate Valenteenah for “taking so long to reply” (just joking) Nomadique for “most complete personality” Aisha for “Staying Focused” Taliban for “the brother who would never abandon me on the battlefield” Nur for “most knowledgably” Kimiya for “most understanding” Puja for “the next top poet on Sol” Pucca for “being herself” Haneefah for “transferring into the sister she is” Khalaf for being “the brother that I would stand up whether he is oppressing or is the oppressed” Rudy for “never really knowing what comment in going to come out of his mouth next” That’s it for now… And Allah knows best

So its clear that Valenteenah just simply forgot to send in her nominations and we know Islamically speaking, an act that an individual forgets to do, is well understandable and that’s because we are humans and will fall victims to our own selves every now and than. By the way Val, who were you going to vote for anyways? I mean if we can’t get our votes in why not share with each other some of those who we would have nominated if we "just" had one more chance.

Centurion brother, surely you seem like a man who can compromise with those of us who didnt get our nomination in on time. Plus I dont know the reason why Valenteenah chose to ignore to due date for the nominations but as for me, well Im still on dial-up so surely I can not be held accountable for my misfortune. Plus I really wanted to nominate some members and hopefully my vote will tip the scale over to their favor so that could be recognized for their efforts or their continuous posts (otherwise known as "their ability to high-jack threads on a regular") ....so can we still drop our nominations into your mail box Mr.Cen or do we have to wait until next year and if that’s the case I say____________ and Allah knows best

Centurion bro, so when are you going to post the official results of the polls? We are all waiting... and Allah knows best

Lets keep the quiz going so its been a few days and no response so the answer to my question is, the seven surah(s) are: Al-Baqarah, Al-Imran, An-Nisa, Al-Ma'idah, Al-Anaam, Al-Afraaf and At-Taubah So I have already asked a question and so the floor is now open for the next person to step up and any question they wish. and Allah knows best

Brother, amazing article and so much truth within it. Unfortunately our brothers and sisters are getting killed each and everyday and the most shameful part of the war is, we the Muslims feel nothing in our hearts when we hear the news of their deaths. I can only shake my head and hold myself accountable for my actions but may Allah forgive us and grant them (and us) victory. And Allah knows best P.S. It is our duty that we should search for the truth of whats really going on in Iraq, Afghanistan, Somalia and other parts of the Muslim World and not become ignorant of the realities of the present day.

Buuxo has a point. As men, we also have to maintain our hijab and although it may not be a cloth that covers our entire bodies but nonetheless we should focus on correcting ourselves first before we look out-ward. At the same time, I have to say that perhaps Khayr has been misunderstood. You’ll probably say, how? Don’t you see the words he has chosen to get his message across? YES, I do. But I think his intention at the beginning were nothing but good, but than again, I’m not in this world to judge anything based upon intentions. So in this case and every other case that exists it is fair to say… Allah knows best

Kimiya sister, may Allah have mercy on your firend and grant her a safe home in the hereafter. I came across an interesting hadeeth today and Im not sure how many of yall have ever come across it before but Im sure there are some lessons that can be learned from it.. Volume 7, Book 62, Number 24: Narrated Sahl bin Sad As-Sa'idi: A woman came to Allah's Apostle and said, "O Allah's Apostle! I have come to give you myself in marriage (without Mahr)." Allah's Apostle looked at her. He looked at her carefully and fixed his glance on her and then lowered his head. When the lady saw that he did not say anything, she sat down. A man from his companions got up and said, "O Allah's Apostle! If you are not in need of her, then marry her to me." The Prophet said, "Have you got anything to offer?" The man said, "No, by Allah, O Allah's Apostle!" The Prophet said (to him), "Go to your family and see if you have something." The man went and returned, saying, "No, by Allah, I have not found anything." Allah's Apostle said, "(Go again) and look for something, even if it is an iron ring." He went again and returned, saying, "No, by Allah, O Allah's Apostle! I could not find even an iron ring, but this is my Izar (waist sheet)." He had no rida. He added, "I give half of it to her." Allah's Apostle said, "What will she do with your Izar? If you wear it, she will be naked, and if she wears it, you will be naked." So that man sat down for a long while and then got up (to depart). When Allah's Apostle saw him going, he ordered that he be called back. When he came, the Prophet said, "How much of the Quran do you know?" He said, "I know such Sura and such Sura," counting them. The Prophet said, "Do you know them by heart?" He replied, "Yes." The Prophet said, "Go, I marry her to you for that much of the Quran which you have." So what lessons did you pull out of this hadeeth after reading it? Share and I will looking forward to reading your posts inshallah. And Allah knows best

In Surah Yasin, Allah the Most-High says, "And there came to them a man running from the farthest part of the town. He said, "O my people! Obey the Messengers. Obey those who ask for no wage of you (for themselves) and who are rightly guided" verses 20-21 Allah, the Most-High has also informed us of what happened to him in verse 26-27, Allah says, "It was said (to him when the disbelievers killed him): "Enter Paradise." He said, "Would that my people knew". That my Lord has forgiven me and made me of the honored ones". As for the names of the three messengers and the name of the village they are, the names of the first two Messengers were Sham`un and Yuhanna, and the name of the third was Bulus, and the city was Antioch (Antakiyah). As for my question, I wanna get more people involved so I’ll ask a simple question. Name the seven long Surahs in the Quran that the Prophet (saw) would sometimes recite in the night prayers. And Allah knows best

^^^MashAllah Well I suppose there are a few things I would like to comment on from your post but I know wisdom can also be found in silence, therefore I will like to quote the words of a sister who recently said, "I'm just gonna let that slide" lol@ perfectly hijabified (is that even a word lol) sister On the real though, please sister don’t hold us responsible for the fact that our hearts have suffered the negative effects of a society that offers more evil than good. But even that’s no excuse to allow the eyes to wander freely, which in return, causes the heart to suffer pain so may Allah help to succeed in dunya wal ahkira. Personally, The Toronto Raptors are more of a fitnah to me than women (who am I kidding ) The Sealed Nectar in English is an alright book (I own it and read a big chunk of it) but I suggest the series on the Life of Muhammad (saw) by Imam Anwar Al-Awalki which covers the life of our beloved prophet in great detail. Just one question. I assume the shiek will not be able to cover the entire Seerah in two weekends so is he just going to cover the main events of the Life of the Prophet (saw) and share some lessons that were learned? And Allah knows best