ALI-216: Glimpses into Nahjul Balagha (women)

Description: This course will study the text Glimpses of the Nahjul Balagha, by Aytaullah Murtadha Mutahhari. Students will read and discuss selected passages of the book. Dates: 4 sessions: Monday evenings, Sept. 17 – Oct. 8, 2012 Timings: 8.30 pm – 9.30 p.m. Instructor: Tahera Kassamali Resources Session 1 – Slides Session 2 – Slides Session 3 – Slides Session … Read more

ALI-215: Qur’anic Arabic – Understanding the Divine Message

This course will cover lessons from the book Access to Qur’anic Arabic by AbdulWahid Hamid as well as handouts prepared from various sources including Arabic Through the Qur’an by Alan Jones and Qur’anic Language Made Easy by Hafza Iffat Hasan. Students will understand the basics of Arabic grammar as well as gain familiarity with the vocabulary of the Qur’an. Level 2 … Read more

ALI-219: Qur’an Appreciation, Sura Ibrahim

Description: The course will include reading, understanding and discussing selected passages from Sura Ibrahim (#14). Students will create their own lapbooks on the Sura with collages, poems, word meanings, short write ups . . . about the passages discussed. Dates: 10 sessions: Friday evenings, Sept. 14 – Dec. 14, 2012 Timings: 4.15 pm – 5.15 p.m. Instructors: Tahera Kassamali and … Read more

Reflection No. 96 on Q 21:94 – Working Hard for Good Deeds

 فَمَنْ يَعْمَلْ مِنَ الصَّالِحَاتِ وَهُوَ مُؤْمِنٌ فَلَا كُفْرَانَ لِسَعْيِهِ وَإِنَّا لَهُ كَاتِبُونَ Famay-ya‘mal minas-swāliHāti wahuwa mu’minun falā kufrānaa lisa‘yihi wa-inna lahu kātibūn. Whoever shall do of good deeds and he is a believer, his endeavor shall not go unappreciated, and We will indeed write it down for him. (Sūratul Ambiyā, Āyat 94) The human being … Read more

Reflection No. 95 on Q 40:61 – Ingratitude to Allah

إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَذُو فَضْلٍ عَلَى النَّاسِ وَلَٰكِنَّ أَكْثَرَ النَّاسِ لَا يَشْكُرُونَ Innallāha ladhū fadlin ‘alan-nāsi walākinna aktaharan-nāsi lā yashkurūn Allah is full of grace to mankind, but most people are not grateful. (Sūrat Ghāfir, No.40, Āyat 61) Ingratitude to Allah is a common quality among mankind. But that does not make it acceptable. It is … Read more

Reflection No. 94 on Q 49:12 – Suspicions and Negative Assumptions

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اجْتَنِبُوا كَثِيرًا مِنَ الظَّنِّ إِنَّ بَعْضَ الظَّنِّ إِثْمٌ Yā ayyuhal-ladhīna āmanū-jtanibū kathīram-minaz-zanni inna ba‘daz-zanni ithm O you who believe! Avoid much suspicion. Indeed some suspicions are sins. (Sūratul Hujurāt, No. 49, Āyat 12) Suspicions, or negative assumptions, are deadly in relationships. Assumptions, both positive and negative, make up a big part … Read more

Reflection No. 93 on Q 5:74 – Forgivness and Repentance

أَفَلَا يَتُوبُونَ إِلَى اللَّهِ وَيَسْتَغْفِرُونَهُ ۚ وَاللَّهُ غَفُورٌ رَحِيمٌ Will they not then turn to Allah and ask His forgiveness? And Allah is Forgiving, Merciful. Sura Maidah, verse 74 The door of repentance and forgiveness that Allah has kept open for the believers is a sign of His great love for them. He has told … Read more

Reflection No. 92 on Q 5:83 – Remembering Allah with Emotion

تَرَىٰ أَعْيُنَهُمْ تَفِيضُ مِنَ الدَّمْعِ مِمَّا عَرَفُوا مِنَ الْحَقِّ you see their eyes overflowing with tears on account of the truth that they recognize Sura Maidah, verse 83 Tears are an authentic sign of emotional turbulence. When the heart is overwhelmed with emotion, it releases it through tears. That is why psychologists believe it is … Read more

Reflection No. 91 on Q 61:2 – Matching your Actions with your Words

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لِمَ تَقُولُونَ مَا لَا تَفْعَلُونَ O you who believe! why do you say that which you do not do? Sura Saff, verse 2 Many believers want to do good, and say they will, but they lack the determination to follow on what they say. This weakness is reproached in this verse, … Read more