Sadr Lajna Ima‟illah- USA Dhiya Tahira Bakr
National Secretary Nasirat Nurjamilah Bahri
Prepared by the Nasirat-ul-Ahmadiyya USA under the guidance of Sadr Lajna Ima’illah USA, Dhiya Tahira Bakr
Taleem Team Tarbiyyat Team
Amtul Qudoos Bhatti Attiya Ghani Kuratul Ain Abaidullah Rabia Anwar Amna Anwar
Lajna Ima‟illah USA Publication Layout: Rabia Anwar Artwork: Asiya Khan and Amatul Baqi Bahri Cover & Editing: Amatul Baqi Bahri, Asiya Khan, Jaziba Bahri, Sabahat Pall
Contents
1) Acknowledgement 2) Welcome Message
3) Taleem Age 7-9 o Quarter 1 . Surah Al-Akhlas . Salat . Qaseeda . Prayers, Hadith, and Attributes of Allah Hadith: Cleanliness Prayer: After Wudu or Tayammum Attribute of Allah: Al-Ghafoor o Quarter 2 . Surah An-Nas . Salat . Qaseedah . Prayers, Hadith, and Attributes of Allah Hadith: Greet Each Other Prayer: For Increase in Knowledge Attribute of Allah: As-Salam o Quarter 3 . Surah Al-Falaq . Salat . Qaseedah . Prayers, Hadith, and Attributes of Allah Hadith: Think Before You Speak Prayer: Starting a Meal Attribute of Allah: Al-Kaafee
o Quarter 4 . Surah Al-Kauthar . Salat . Qaseedah . Prayers, Hadith, and Attributes of Allah Hadith: Deeds are Judged by Motives Prayer: On Finishing a Meal Attribute of Allah: Ash-Shaafee o Quarter 5 . Surah Al-Nasr . Salat . Qaseedah . Prayers, Hadith, and Attributes of Allah Hadith: Paradise Under Mother‘s feet Prayer: For parents Attribute of Allah: As-Saboor o Quarter 6 . Surah Al-Baqarah v 1-3 . Salat . Qaseedah . Prayers, Hadith, and Attributes of Allah Hadith: Abuse is a Sin Prayer: On waking up Attribute of Allah: Al-Waahid o Quarter 7 . Surah Al-Baqarah V. 4-5 . Salat . Qaseedah . Prayers, Hadith, and Attributes of Allah Hadith: Show Mercy to Others Prayer: On Going to Bed Attribute of Allah: Al-Hakeem o Quarter 8 . Surah Al-Baqarah V. 6 . Salat . Qaseedah . Prayers, Hadith, and Attributes of Allah Hadith: Allah‘s Help Prayer: Getting into Vehicle Attribute of Allah: Al-Mujeeb
Age 10-12 o Quarter 1 . Holy Quran: Surah Al-Fil . Salat . Qaseedha . Prayers, Hadith, and Attributes of Allah Prayer: Seeking Allah‘s Protection Hadith: It is a sin to abandon praying. Attribute of God: Al-Muhaimin
o Quarter 2 . Holy Quran: Surah Quraish . Salat . Qaseedha . Prayers, Hadith, and Attributes of Allah Prayer: Achieve Allah‘s Blessing Hadith: Backbiting Attribute of God: Rabbul‟ Aalameen o Quarter 3 . Holy Quran: Surah Al-Ma'un . Salat Qaseedha . Prayers, Hadith, and Attributes of Allah Prayer: Steadfastness Hadith: A Muslim is a mirror of another Muslim Attribute of God: As-Samee o Quarter 4 . Holy Quran: Surah Al-Lahab . Salat . Qaseedha . Prayers, Hadith, and Attributes of Allah Prayer: Leaving Home Hadith: Remembrance of Allah Attribute of God: Al-Baseer o Quarter 5 . Holy Quran: Surah Al-Kafirun . Salat . Qaseedha . Prayers, Hadith, and Attributes of Allah Prayer: On Entering Home Hadith: Modesty Attribute of God: Al-Mutakallim o Quarter 6 . Holy Quran: Surah Al-Baqarah v. 7-9 . Salat . Qaseedha . Prayers, Hadith, and Attributes of Allah Prayer: Controlling anger Hadith: Thankfulness Attribute of God: Ar-Rasheed o Quarter 7 . Holy Quran: Surah Al-Baqarah v. 10-13 . Salat . Qaseedha . Prayers, Hadith, and Attributes of Allah Prayer: Grief Hadith: A Muslim is a mirror of another Muslim Attribute of God: AsShakoor o Quarter 8 . Holy Quran: Fulfilled Prophecies of the Holy Quran . Salat . Qaseedha . Prayers, Hadith, and Attributes of Allah Prayer: Prayer for Allah‘s help Hadith: Moderation is Best Attribute of God: Ar-Razzaaq
Age 13-14 o Quarter 1 . Holy Quran: Surah Al-Baqarah, verses 14-17 . Salat . Qaseedah . Prayers, Hadith, and Attributes of Allah Prayer: Entering Mosque Hadith: Excellence of Conduct Attribute of God: Al-Waliyy o Quarter 2 . Holy Quran: Ayat Al-Kursi . Salat . Qaseedah . Prayers, Hadith, and Attributes of Allah Prayer: Leaving Mosque Hadith: Fire of Jealousy Attribute of God: Al-Kareem o Quarter 3 . Holy Quran: Surah Al-Asr . Salat . Qaseedah . Prayer: Beginning of Fast . Hadith: Criteria of a True Believer . Attribute of God- Al-Ghaniyy o Quarter 4 . Holy Quran: Surah Al-Ala . Salat . Qaseedah . Prayers, Hadith, and Attributes of Allah Prayer: Breaking Fast Hadith: Keep Company of Righteous Attibute of God: Al-Haadee o Quarter 5 . Holy Quran: Surah Al-Qariah . Salat . Qaseedah . Prayers, Hadith, and Attributes of Allah Prayer: After Adhan Hadith: Falsehood Destroys Attibute of God: Al-Bari o Quarter 6 . Holy Quran: Surah Al-Takathur . Salat . Qaseedah . Prayers, Hadith, and Attributes of Allah Prayer: Steadfastness Hadith: Word of Goodness Attibute of God: Al-Haleem o Quarter 7 . Holy Quran: Surah Al-Humazah . Salat . Qaseedah . Prayers, Hadith, and Attributes of Allah Prayer: Funeral Prayer Hadith: Spending in the Way of Allah Attibute of God: Al-Qadir o Quarter 8 . Holy Quran: Prayer of Finishing Quran . Salat . Qaseedah . Prayers, Hadith, and Attributes of Allah Prayer: Prayer After Salat Hadith: Repentance from Sins Attibute of God: Al-Musawir
Appendices for Taleem o Salat o Al-Qaseedah
4) Tarbiyat o Table of Contents o Quarter 1 . Part 1- A Living God . Part 2- Religion- The Word of God . Part 3- Science –The Works of God o Quarter 2 . Part 1- Wi-Fi to Heaven through Salat . Part 2- Stages of Salat & Iqamatus Salah . Part 3- Acceptance of Prayer & Predetermination o Quarter 3 . Part 1- Etiquettes of Mosque & Salat And Salat Tracker . Part 2- Importance of Recitation of Holy Quran . Part 3- Etiquettes and Guidelines on Recitation- Part 1 o Quarter 4 . Part 1- Etiquettes and Guidelines on Recitation- Part 2 . Part 2- Importance of Financial Sacrifice . Part 3- Purification of Wealth and Jamaat Chandas o Quarter 5 . Part 1- Obedience to Parents and Associated Etiquettes . Part 2- Essence of Taqwa . Part 3- Etiquettes of Dressing Modestly and Etiquettes of the Home o Quarter 6 . Part 1- Developing Love of Khilafat . Part 2- Purpose and Significance of Ba‘it Conditions 1-5 . Part 3- Purpose and Significance of Ba‘it Conditions 6-10 o Quarter 7 . Part 1- Etiquettes of Gathering/Meeting and Conversation, Eating and Eating in Gathering . Part 2- Importance of Writing to Huzoor (aba) . Part 3- Steps on Writing Letter to Huzoor (aba) o Quarter 8 . Part 1- Importance of Zikr-e-ilahi . Part 2- Rights of Neighbors and Etiquettes of Pathway . Part 3- Etiquettes of Seeking Knowledge and of School & Learning
5) References
Acknowledgments
All praise belongs to Allah, the Almighty. Through His Help, we were enabled to complete the Nasirat Activity Book. This project was supervised by National Sadr Lajna Ima‘illah USA, who provided encouragement and special prayers for its success. The National Nasiratul Ahmadiyya USA are indebted to the team members who were committed to completing this monumental task. They are gratefully acknowledged and appreciated. The following team members helped in various ways:
Taleem Section: We thank Amna Anwar Sahiba from the GA/SC chapter for completing the 7-9 years syllabus, Rabia Anwar Sahiba from the GA/SC chapter for completing the 10-12 years syllabus, and Attiya Ghani Sahiba from the GA/SC chapter for completing the 13-14 years syllabus.
Tarbiyyat Section: We thank Qudoos Bhatti Sahiba from the GA/SC chapter and Kuratul Ain Abaidullah from the Philadelphia chapter for design and completing this section.
Planning, Editing, and Program-writing: We thank our Jaziba Bahri from the GA/SC chapter.
Front Cover and Illustrations and Drawings throughout the book: We thank Nasirah Amatul Baqi Bahri from the GA/SC chapter.
Back Cover Illustration: We thank Nasirah Asiya Khan from the GA/SC chapter.
Layout: We thank Rabia Anwar from the GA/SC chapter.
Book Graphic Design Layout: We thank Sabahat Pall from the GA/SC chapter.
Thanks must also be extended to National Lajna Isha‘at Department USA, along with their teams for the publication of this workbook. This is our hope and we pray to Allah Almighty that the Taleem and Tarbiyyat Syllabus will be beneficial for our Nasirat members.
Sincerely,
Nurjamilah Bahri National Nasirat Secretary
Hudhur‟s Message for Nasirat (excerpt from Hudhur‟s Address to Lajna during Jalsa Salana 2008) ―Similarly Nasirat repeat the pledge that they shall always keep themselves ready to serve Islam, their nation and their country and shall always adhere to truth. Nasirat should not think that they are little girls and their responsibilities are less than those of Lajna. Although you are young in age, the same responsibilities of Lajna are going to be vested in you.‖
Based on Hudhur‘s message, we would like to encourage local Nasirat secretaries to have their own secretaries who are old enough to assist the Nasirat secretary, with the approval of the local Sadr. This is further supported by Line 109 in the Lajna Constitution, which states that ―Secretary Nasirat shall make an Amila team of Nasiratul-Ahmadiyya‖.
There should be at minimum a secretary of finance, Tarbiyyat, Taleem, Tajneed, and physical health.
Welcome Message
Dear Nasirat and Nasirat Secretaries,
Assalaamo Alaikum Wa Rehmatullahi Wa Barakatahu.
We would like to welcome you all to our new Nasirat Program. What you hold in your hands is the Nasirat workbook for the next two years, 2019- 2021.
The Nasirat program is designed to provide girls ages 7-15 with the opportunity to develop and improve their religious knowledge (Taleem) and moral training (Tarbiyyat), while simultaneously allowing for the growth of personal and social skills.
Unlike previous workbooks, this is slightly different due to the national publication of Tahir Academy Workbooks. The Tahir Academy workbooks are a comprehensive guide which cover exactly what would have been in your Nasirat workbook. The Tahir Academy workbooks are divided into six levels based on your age. They are all available online at the Tahir Academy website and hard copies will also be available to purchase: http://www.tahiracademy.org/
The Nasirat team prays that you will find this Nasirat Activity book a great tool in laying the foundation for your journey over the next few years. We pray that you will grow to become productive and fruitful members of the Ahmadiyya community and remain steadfast in your faith, Insha‘Allah. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact Nasirat Secretary Sahiba for assistance. May Allah shower you with His blessings here and in the hereafter. Ameen. Jazakumullah.
Praying for your success,
Nasirat Team USA
HOLY QUR‟AN APRIL, MAY & JUNE 2019
Chapter 112: Surah Ikhlas
1. In the name of Allah, the Gracious, the Merciful.
2. Say, “He is Allah, the One!
3. Allah, the Independent and Besought of all.
4. He begets not, nor is He begotten;
5. And there is none like unto Him.”
Introduction and Short Commentary
Background This Surah was reveled in Mecca. The Surah has the distinction of being called by the Holy Prophetsaw as the greatest of all the Qur‘anic Surahs. Holy Prophetsaw used to recite this and the last two chapters of Qur‘an at least thrice before going to bed.
Meaning Allah is One, Alone, Absolute and Independent of all. There was no one Like Allah and there will never be anyone like him. He has no father/mother and has no children. This surah teaches us not to associate any partners with Allah. He is one and only one to create this universe. Allah is independent and everything is dependent on Him. Allah is ever living God. Everything in this earth will come and go but Allah alone will exist for ever. Keywords QUL: (Say) spread the message that He is one and only one to create this universe and He needs no partner. Allah: The distinctive name used in the Qur‘an for the Supreme Being. The word is never used for any other thing or being. Ahad: This means One, Alone, and Unique. Samad: This means independent of all and to Whom every being is dependent to. Activities
Activities are created based on translation and commentary
Memorize Surah Al-Ikhlas
Match the words with the meaning Qul One, Alone, Unique Allah Say Begotten The independent and besought of All Ahad Was reveled in Mecca Samad Distinctive name for the Supreme Being Al-Ikhlas Has no Father and Children
Scramble word Al-Ikhlas
Salat (appendix XYX)
APRIL, MAY & JUNE 2019
Activities
Memorize Niyyah (Intention for Prayer) and Thanaa‘ ( Glorification)
Fill in the blanks
Straight, Sajdah, Niyyah
a. We start our Salat (Prayer) by standing ______b. We face toward the Ka`bah, in Mecca, and say ______Namaz c. While standing or sitting the eye should be focused on the place ______
Qaseedah APRIL, MAY & JUNE 2019
Memorize two couplets of Qaseedah
Prayers, Hadith, and Attributes of Allah
Hadith April 2019
Cleanliness
Cleanliness is a requirement of faith (Muslim)
The Holy Qur'an commands the believers to clean their bodies and environment. Cleanliness is an important part of our belief, system and faith. No religion except Islam has taught its followers that cleanliness is a religious duty.
Activities Memorize the Hadith and translation. How can we implement cleanliness in our day to day life? ______
Fill in the blanks
Cleanliness is a ______of faith (Muslim) ______is a requirement of faith (Muslim) Cleanliness is a requirement of ______(Muslim)
Prayer May 2019
Prayer after Wudu or Tayammum
How to perform Wudu 1. One should say, BismiLlaahirRahmaanir-Raheem (In the Name of Allah, the Gracious, the Merciful) and perform Ablution as follows: 2. Washing the hands three times up to the wrist; the right hand first and then the left. 3. Cleaning the mouth by rinsing it with water three times, massaging the gums at the same time. 4. Cleaning out the nostrils thoroughly by putting some water in them. 5. Washing the face three times. 6. Washing the forearms including the elbows three times. 7. Moistening the hands and running them over the head from front down to the neck, then running the thumbs around the ears and wiping inside. 8. Washing the feet including the ankles, three times; the right foot first and then the left. In case socks are put on after ablution, then during the rest of the day, it is allowed to pass wet fingers over them, instead of washing the feet each time, provided these have not been taken off during this time.
Ablution Facts If a person is sick or if water is not available, he is allowed to perform Tayammum instead of Wudu. Tayammum is performed by rubbing the hands which have touched on clean dust or powder and then wiping them over the face and forearms. Once ablution has been performed, one may participate in Salat as long as ablution does not lapse. When it lapses, ablution must again be made as part of the preparation for the Salat. Lapse or termination of ablution can happen in any of the following situations: Sleeping, dozing off while leaning against a support, urination, defecation, passing wind, unconsciousness, injury, bleeding or vomiting.
Activities
Memorize Prayer after Wudu or Tayammum
Explain in your own words how can wudu help us maintain personal hygiene? ______
Attribute of Allah June 2019
The Most Forgiving
How can this attribute be used in the prayer? 1) O Al-Ghafoor! Please forgive me make me a better person. 2) O Al-Ghafoor! Please grant me ability to forgive people who do wrong to me.
Activities 1 How can you use this name in your daily life? Give three examples ______
HOLY QUR‟AN JULY, AUGUST, & SEPTEMBER 2019 Chapter 114: An-Nas
1. In the name of Allah, the Gracious, the Merciful.
2. Say, “I seek refuge in the Lord of mankind,
3. The King of mankind,
4. The God of mankind,
5. From the evil whisperings of the sneaking whisperer;
6. Who whispers into the hearts of men,
7. From among jinn and men.”
Introduction and Short Commentary This surah was revealed in Medina, and the Holy Prophetsaw used to recite Surah An- Nas before going to bed. Meaning The whispers mentioned in the Surah can be referred to men or jinn who create doubt in hearts of people with the intention to harm them. Evil thoughts can implant doubts in believers‘ hearts, leading to uncertainty of faith. The weakness of faith may lead to doubting the existence of God or associating partners (shirk) with him which is the greatest sin one can perform. All believers must understand that Allah alone is the provider and he alone should be worshipped. The following beliefs can lead to shirk – associating partners with Allah: When one believes another person to be their Lord, King or God. When one believes another to be the support of their lives. When one loves and adores an object or person with an obsession causing interference in their daily lives. A believer must always ask forgiveness from Allah for unintentional sins and other mistakes. To stay away from evil thoughts and sins, one must understand that Allah: Is the Creator and Lord of mankind and the support of life. Is one true God and should be obeyed unconditionally. Should be the real object of believers love and adoration Key words: Nas: Common men Rabb: Lord of mankind. The developer of man‘s physical appearance and moral behavior Malik: King of mankind. The rewarder or punisher of thoughts, words and actions Ilah: God of mankind. God is the object of man‘s love and adoration
Activities
Memorize surah Al-Nas and understand its meaning
1. Fill in the blanks. a. King of mankind is called______b. This Surah was revealed in ______c. Whispers of evil could be among both ____ and ____ d. Nas means ______e. Lord of mankind is called ______f. A believer should look up to ______alone to stay away from _____ thoughts g. The Holy Prophetsaw used to recite Surah Naas regularly at before going to ______.
Medina, Jinn, Rabb, bed, Malik, Men, Common Men, God, Evil,
What are the three main causes of sin?
______
Start reciting this surah before going to bed. Describe God with three phrases found in Surah Nas. 1. ______2. ______3. ______
Explain in your own words how doubts could lead to sin.
______
Match the words with its meanings. Rabb Men or jinn who creates doubt Nas King of mankind Malik God of mankind Whispers Common men Ilahi Lord of mankind
Salat (appendix XYX) JULY, AUGUST, & SEPTEMBER 2019
Activities
Memorize At-ta`awwuz and Surah Al-Fatihah
Qaseedah July, August, and September 2019
Memorize two couplets of Qaseedah
Prayers, Hadith, and Attributes of Allah Hadith July 2019
When meeting another Muslim greet them with ―Assalamu alaikum- May peace be upon you‖. The Holy Qur'an (2:149) commands us to excel each other in the performance of good deeds. So, if a Muslim tries to be the one who says Assalamu Alaikum first (i.e., before the other person), he can earn Allah‘s pleasure and nearness to Him. The Holy Prophetsaw was once asked, ―Who should say Assalamu Alaikum first when two persons meet?‖. He responded, ―The one who is nearer to God‖. This means that by trying to be the first to say Assalamo Alaikum, one can earn nearness to Allah.
Activities
Memorize Hadith
Discuss the scenario. Who is doing the right thing? Iman and Sheila are two best friends. Whenever Iman goes to mosque, she greets everyone in mosque with a happy face and says salaam. Sheila on the other hand teases Iman every time she does this. Saying, ―if someone wants to meet you, they will come to you and say salaam to you. You don‘t have to go to everyone and say salaam every time.‖ ______
Fill in the blanks Allah ______those who hasten to be the first to greet others ______prefers those who hasten to be the first to greet others Allah prefers those who ______to be the first to greet others Allah prefers those who hasten to be the ______to greet others Allah prefers those who hasten to be the first to ______others Allah prefers those who hasten to be the first to greet ______
Key word search
Allah Prefers Those Who Hasten To Be The First To Greet Others
Prayer August 2019
For Increase in Knowledge
This Hadith proves that Islam promotes equal treatment amongst men and women in matters of learning and gaining knowledge. Islam emphasizes education throughout one‘s life. Every Muslim must excel in both religious and worldly knowledge, through hard labor and Qur'anic prayers. The Holy Qur‘an is the word of the Almighty God and is the powerhouse of all knowledge applies to anyone at any time. We as human beings have a limited understanding of our surroundings. However, with God‘s help and Qur‘anic guidance, we continue to explore and discover more about the mysteries of nature and the universe. The Promised Messiah (AS) Stated that knowledge has three stages: • Knowledge through inference • Knowledge through observation • Knowledge through experience
Activities
Memorize prayer to increase knowledge
True/False 1. Gaining knowledge is important for both men and women. TRUE FALSE 2. Islam doesn‘t discriminate between men and women TRUE FALSE 3. Qur‘an is powerhouse of Knowledge TRUE FALSE
Fill in the blanks Oh my ____, Increase me in Knowledge Oh my Lord, ______me in Knowledge Oh my Lord, Increase me in ______Lord, Increase me in Knowledge
Attribute of Allah September 2019
The Source of Peace
How can this attribute be used in the prayer? 1) O As-Salaam! Please grant me peace of heart. 2) O As-Salaam! Please create peace in this world.
Activities How can you use this name in your daily life? Give three examples
______
HOLY QUR‟AN OCTOBER, NOVEMBER & DECEMBER 2019 Chapter 113: Al-Falaq
1. In the name of Allah, the Gracious, the Merciful.
2. Say, “I seek refuge in the Lord of the dawn,
3. From the evil of that which He has created,
4. And from the evil of darkness when it over- spreads,
5. And from the evil of those who blow upon the knots of mutual relationships to undo them,
6. And from the evil of the envier when he envies.”
Introduction and Short Commentary Background This Surah was revealed to the Holy Prophetsaw in Medina. Meaning Allah has given us the ability to choose right from wrong. Those who disobey Allah and His commandments willingly are evil and are living in darkness.
We live in a world full of good and evil people. Evil people like to create disorder in the earth whereas good people want to create peace in this World. Those with an evil mind like to break the knots of relationships (The knots that Allah has tied) and cause the disorder. Evil minded people are jealous and try to harm others. They continuously look for ways to put others down, so they can be on the top. Allah is the only one who can guide us to the right path. Thus, we must only rely on Allah – The Lord of Dawn – to help us to stay away from darkness and evil.
Key words Falaq: dawn Evil people: people who like to create disorder Knots: knot of relationship Evil of the envier: people who are jealous and like to harm
Activities
Memorize Surah Al-Falaq
Choose the correct answer for each question. 1. Those who disobey Allah and His commandments are a. Believers b. Evil and are living in darkness c. Are angels 2. Falaq means a. Dawn b. Evil 3. Evil people like to create peace in world? a. True b. False 4. The Lord of Dawn can help us stay away from? a. Truth b. Can guide us to right path c. From darkness (evil) 5. Evil people try to break the knots of relationship created by God. a. True b. False 6. Evil people are a. Good people b. Are jealous and can harm others c. Have good intentions d. Do not create disorder in earth
Explain in your own words how can you stay away from evil on daily basis.
______
Salat (appendix XYX)
Memorize Surah Al-Ikhlaas Rukoo`, Tasmee`,Tahmeed and Sajdah (Prostration)
Qaseedah OCTOBER, NOVEMBER & DECEMBER 2019
Memorize two couplets of Qaseedah
Prayers, Hadith, and Attributes of Allah
Hadith October 2019
Think before You Speak
Speaking (without thinking) leads to trouble (Chehl Ahadith)
Once words are out of our mouth, we have no control over the good or bad effects it may have on people. Therefore, we must think before we speak. All of us are accountable for our own words. Before saying something, we must keep other‘s feelings in our mind. As a Muslim, it is our duty to always be nice and kind to every individual. Activities
Memorize the Hadith
Write three to four sentences explaining how you can implement this in your life.
______
Self-analysis question: Do I always think before I speak?
Trace the follwing Hadith
Find key words
Think Before You Speak Speaking WithoutPrayer Thinking Leads Trouble
On Starting a Meal Prayer November 2019
Prayer on starting a meal
BismiLlaahi wa `alaa barakatiLlah-i In the name of Allah and with the blessings of Allah (I start eating)
This prayer sheds light on two important points. Only God is the ―Provider‖ of necessities, such as food. Only God is the real source of blessings, Who can provide for us. The Holy Qur'an teaches us to say the name of Allah before starting anything good. Starting a meal with Allah‘s name brings us goodness, and blesses our food.
Activities
Memorize the prayer on starting a meal.
Fill in the blanks 1. Only God is the ______of necessities, such as food. 2. Only God is the ______of blessings. 3. The Holy Qur'an ______us to say the name of _____ before starting anything _____.
Provider, good, God, real source,
teaches
Choose the correct answer for each question. 1. We should always do this before eating a. Talk to our friends b. We should use our phones c. We should take a shower d. We should say this prayer, ‗In the name of Allah and with the blessings of Allah (I start eating)‘ 2. Who is the provider of our food? a. God almighty b. Our parents 3. Starting meal with Allah‘s name brings us a. Goodness and bless our food b. Be more focus
Attribute of Allah December 2019
The sufficient
How can this attribute be used in the prayer? 1) O Al-Kaafee! Please grant me strength. 2) O Al-Kaafee! Please grant me health.
How can we use this name in our daily life? Give three examples
______
HOLY QUR‟AN JANUARY, FEBRUARY, AND MARCH 2020
Chapter 108: Al-Kauthar
1. In the name of Allah, the Gracious, the Merciful.
2. Surely, We have bestowed upon thee abundance of good;
3. So pray to thy Lord, and offer sacrifice.
4. Surely, it is thy enemy who shall be without issue.
Introduction and Short Commentary Background This surah was revealed in Mecca.
Meaning Kauthar means abundance of goods (to have more than what you need).
This Surah refers to Holy Prophetsaw as one who has been given abundance of goods. This Surah was revealed when Holy Prophetsaw didn‘t own anything and had nothing to give away. He was a very poor man. He was mock (made fun of) and persecuted (treated badly because of his religious belief). He was treated so badly that he had to migrate to Medina. Even in Medina he was mistreated. Years later, God showered him with abundance of goods in every shape and form. He was blessed with a company of followers who were loyal to him, thus fulfilling the above Surah.
In this Surah, we are also told that we should pray constantly, and to offer sacrifices in the way of Allah. Both of these acts are pillars of Islam.
Key words Kauthar: abundance of goods (a very large quantity of something)
Activities
Memorize Surah Al-Kauthar
Match words with its meaning
Kauthar Most Successful of all the Prophet Migrated Guide for all the times Persecuted First pillar of Islam Holy Prophetsaw Moved Prayer (Namaz) Abundance of goods Qur‘an Treated badly due to religious belief
Fill in the blanks 1. Holy Prophetsaw migrated to ______due to persecution. 2. Quran is ______for all the times to come. 3. We should pray constantly and offer ______in the way of Allah. 4. Namaz is ______of Islam. 5. Holy Prophetsaw is most Successful ______.
guidance, prophet, Medina, first pillar, among, sacrifice,
Salat (appendix XYX) JANUARY, FEBRUARY, AND MARCH 2020
Activities
Memorize Prayer between two Sajdahs
Qaseedah JANUARY, FEBRUARY, AND MARCH 2020
Memorize two couplets of Qaseedah
Prayers, Hadith, and Attributes of Allah
Hadith January 2020
Importance of Motives
Innamal a`maalu binniyyaati wa innamaa li-kullim-ri-in maa nawaa
Deeds are judged by motives, and everyone is rewarded according to his motives. (Bukhari-Kitab Fazz‘ilul Qur‘an)
The Holy Qur‘an (3:30) warns mankind that Allah knows well what people keep hidden in their thoughts and whatever is in their minds. God is well-aware of the motives behind the actions, even though we may hide them from other people. Similarly, the Holy Qur‘an (22:38) states, regarding the sacrifice of animals: ―their flesh reaches not Allah, nor their blood, but it is your righteousness that reaches Him.‖ So, our motive of sacrifice reaches to Him not the actual animal. When we intend to do good things, He rewards us for our good intentions. Therefore, it is every important to keep our thoughts and motives pure.
Activities
Memorize the hadith about importance of motives
Deeds Judged Motives Everyone Rewarded According Motives Hidden
Fill in the blanks Deeds are judged by motives, and everyone is rewarded according to his ______. Deeds are ______by motives, and everyone is rewarded according to his motives. Deeds are judged by motives, and everyone is ______according to his motives. ______are judged by motives, and everyone is rewarded according to his motives. Deeds are judged by ______, and everyone is rewarded according to his motives. Prayer February 2020
On Finishing a Meal
Alhamdu liLlah-illadhee at- `ama-naa wa saqaa-naa waja`alanaa minal-muslimeen
All praise belongs to Allah, Who provided us with food and drink and enabled us to be Muslims (submissive to God) (Tirmidhi Kitab-ud-Da`awaat)
It is very important to start every task with Allah‘s name and finish every task by thanking Allah the Almighty. After eating a meal, we must be thankful to Allah for providing us with such a blessing. And we also thank God for satisfying our spiritual thirst and spiritual hunger by guiding us to the right path.
Activities
Memorize the prayer after eating.
True or False 1. We should always thank God for providing us with food. TRUE FALSE 2. We don‘t have say Allah‘s name before starting a task. TRUE FALSE 3. We should say Allah‘s name when we finish a meal. TRUE FALSE 4. Only Allah is able to provide us food. TRUE FALSE
Attribute of Allah March 2020
The Healer
How can this attribute be used in the prayer? 1) O Ash-Shaafee! Please heal my friend‘s broken arm 2) O Ash-Shaafee! Please heal my wound.
How can you use this name in your daily life? Give three examples
______
HOLY QUR‟AN APRIL, MAY, & JUNE 2020 Chapter 110: An-Nasr
Introduction and Short Commentary Background This Surah was revealed to the Holy Prophetsaw in Medina during the last few days of his life. Meaning This Surah is talking to the believers, especially to Holy Prophetsaw. Allah says that he has fulfilled the promise of victory to Holy Prophetsaw. Now that the promise has fulfilled, and people are converting into Islam in large number. Allah in this Surah is asking believers and Holy Prophetsaw to be thankful to Allah for his mercy. Allah gave the good news to Holy Prophetsaw that He will forgive the sins of the new converts that they have made previously. Holy Prophetsaw was also guided to pray for the new convert so they can follow the right path.
Activities
Memorize Surah Nasr
Fill in the blanks This Surah was revealed to the Holy Prophetsaw in ______during the last few days of his _____. Allah has fulfilled the promise of ______to Holy Prophetsaw Allah will forgive the past sins of ______.
new converts Life, victory, Medina,
An-Nasr
Troops Forgiveness Converting Victory Believers Promised Medina Last Entering Mercy
Salat (appendix XYX) APRIL, MAY, & JUNE 2020 Activities
Memorize At-Tashah-hud
Qaseedah APRIL, MAY, & JUNE 2020
Memorize two couplets of Qaseedah
Prayers, Hadith, and Attributes of Allah
Hadith April 2020
High Status of Mothers
c
Al-jannatu tahta aqdaamilummahaati Paradise is under the feet of mothers (Sunan Nisaie).
This Hadith tells us that we can please God so much by just treating our mothers with respect that we will be worthy of Paradise.
Hadhrat Abu Hurairah relates that once a person came to the Holy Prophet (saw) and asked, `O Holy Messenger of Allah who is the most deserving person to get nice treatment from me?‘ He replied, `Your mother.‘ He asked, `Who next?‘ To this, he got the same reply. When he repeated this question for the fourth time, he was told by the Holy Prophet (saw), `Your father.‘
Activities How can you please your mother to earn the paradise?
______
Scenario: Shafi and Amtul are classmates in school. Shafi always talks about how much she loves her mother and that she treats her mother with a lot of respect. Amtul on the other hand laughs at Shafi and says my mom does my work but it is her duty to do so. So why should I respect her. Discuss who is right in this condition.
______
Write down a letter to your mother thanking of everything she has done for you. Present the letter to your mom. (please write on a separate piece of paper)
______
Prayer May 2020 For Parents
C
Rabbir-ham-humaa kamaa rabba-yaani sagheeraa O my Lord, have mercy on them even as they nourished me in my childhood (17:25)
Our parents do so much for us without even us realizing it. They raise us, they teach us how to walk, talk, and eat. They sacrifice their time to give us attention. Thus, it is our responsibility to respect our parents.
Holy Prophetsaw once told a very interesting anecdote to his companions about three people. According to him, the three people were once traveling when heavy rains began to fall. They took shelter in a cave. Incidentally, a big stone came hurtling down and blocked the opening of the cave. All the three travelers lost the hope of their survival. One of them told the rest not to lose hope and pray to Almighty Allah, by describing the most virtuous deed of their lives, for enabling them to get out of the cave. One of them addressing Almighty Allah, submitted that he had old parents and several small children. When he would come back home after grazing the goats he would first offer the milk to his old parents and then to his children. Once when he came home quite late, his parents were asleep. He milked the goats as usual and taking the cup of milk went to his old parents but did not disturb their sleep. The whole night he stood near his parents (to give them milk whenever they get up). He prayed to Allah to enable them to come out of the cave. Allah was pleased with the act of this man and the stone moved a little. Similarly, after the other two related their tales, the stone was fully moved and they were able to come out of the cave.
Activities
. Memorize prayer for parents
Attribute of Allah June 2020
c
The Patient
Activities
How can this attribute be used in the prayer? 1) O As-Saboor! Please grant me patience to deal with stress. 2) O As-Saboor! Please grant me patience to deal with this world‘s problems.
How can you use this name in your daily life? Give three examples
______
HOLY QURAN JULY, AUGUST & SEPTEMBER 2020
Chapter 2: Al-Baqarah
1. In the name of Allah, the Gracious, the Merciful.
2. Alif Lam Mim.
3. This is a perfect Book; there is no doubt in it; it is a guidance for the righteous,
Introduction and Short Commentary Background This is the longest Surah of Holy Qur‘an and was revealed in Medina.
Meaning Alif Lam Mim: I am Allah, the All-Knowing.
This perfect book contains all the knowledge and guidance. Qur‘an has talked about all the important subject matters that a person may need in everyday life.
Qur‘an has some of the most miraculous prophecies such as: Airplanes: ―And when the she-camels, ten months pregnant are abandoned‖ (81:5). “And He has created horses and mules and asses that you may ride them, and as a source of beauty. And He will create what you do not yet know‖ (16:9). Finger prints: ―Their skins will bear witness against them as to what they have been doing‖ (41:21). Pollution: ―Corruption has spread on land and sea because of what men‘s hands have wrought‖ (30:42). Genetic Engineering: ―They will alter Allah‘s creation‖ (4:120). Women‘s rights: ―And when the female-infant buried alive is questioned about – For what crime was she killed” (81:9-10).
Activities
Memorize surah Al-Baqarah verses 1-2
True or False 1. Qur‘an is the perfect book. TRUE FALSE 2. Qur‘an has no prophecies about future inventions. TRUE FALSE 3. Allah is all knowing. TRUE FALSE 4. Qur‘an is the perfect book for all the times. TRUE FALSE 5. Qur‘an had already prophecies about airplane before anyone ever thought of creating one. TRUE FALSE 6. Qur‘an is perfect book and has knowledge on every subject matter. TRUE FALSE 7. Qur‘an talks about finger prints. TRUE FALSE
Fill in the blanks 1. This is the ______Surah of Holy Qur‘an and was revealed in ______2. Alif Lam Mim means I am Allah, the ______3. Qur‘an contains all the ______and ______4. ―Their skins will ______against them as to what they have been doing‖ (41:21). 5. ―They will alter Allah‘s ______‖ (4:120).
Creations, Longest, knowledge, Medina, All-Knowing, guidance, bear witness
Why do you think Qur‘an is the perfect book?
______
Keyword search
All Knowing Medina Longest
Quran Perfect Salat: Promised Book Durood Shareef- Salat `alanNabee Guidance Airplanes Qaseedah Finger Prints
Genetic Engineering
Salat (appendix XYX) JULY, AUGUST & SEPTEMBER 2020
Memorize At-ta`awwuz and Surah Al-Fatihah
Qaseedah JULY, AUGUST & SEPTEMBER 2020
Memorize two couplets of Qaseedah
Prayers, Hadith, and Attributes of Allah
Hadith July 2020
Abuse is a Sin
Sibaab-ul muslimi fusooqun Abuse by (or of) a Muslim is an evil (Bukhari)
A true Muslim is the one who keeps his temper under control and restrains his language and his hands in times of anger. The Holy Qur'an prohibits the Muslims to abuse even the false gods of the idolaters (6:109). Hence a Muslims, follower of Islam which teaches peace and submission should not create disorder in the earth.
Activities
Memorize abuse is a sin Hadith
How can we incorporate this Hadith in our daily lives?
______
Fill in the blanks ______by (or of) a Muslim is an evil (Bukhari) Abuse by (or of) a ______is an evil (Bukhari) Abuse by (or of) a Muslim is an ______(Bukhari)
Prayer August 2020
On Waking Up
Alhamdu li-Llahil-ladhee ahyaanaa ba`da maa amaata-naa wa ilai-hin-nushoor
All praise belongs to Allah who brought us back to life (woke us up), after causing us to die (sleep), and to Him will we return
Sleep is a partial death. When we wake up, we enter life once again. Thus, we should thank Allah for bringing us back to the life. Life is so unpredictable thus a person should always ask for Allah‘s forgiveness and should always thank Him.
Activities
Memorize prayer on waking up
Why should we thank God after waking up?
______
Attribute of Allah September 2020
The One
How can this attribute be used in the prayer? 1) O Al-Waahid! You are the most forgiving, please forgive my sins. 2) O Al-Waahid! You are the only one who provides health, please grant my parents a healthy life.
How can you use this name in your daily life? Give three examples
______
HOLY QURA‟N OCTOBER, NOVEMBER & DECEMBER 2020
Chapter 2: Al-Baqarah
1. In the name of Allah, the Gracious, the Merciful.
4. Who believe in the unseen and observe Prayer, and spend out of what We have provided for them;
5. And who believe in that which has been revealed to thee, and that which was revealed before thee, and they have firm faith in what is yet to come.
Introduction and Short Commentary Background Baqarah means cow.
Meaning
Some of the qualities of a true believers are as follow: 1. He/She should believe in what is hidden from his/her eyes and is beyond his/her physical sense. For example, a believer has complete faith in existence of God even though He is unseen. 2. He/She should observe prayers as prescribed, to thank God for all his creations. 3. He/She worships with both body and soul, for without both one‘s prayer is not perfect. 4. He/She should serve his fellow being by spending out of what God has given them 5. A true believer should believe in Prophetsaw, the prophets before Holy Prophetsaw like Hadhrat Adam, Hadhrat Noah, and he should also believe in whatever is to come.
Activities
Memorize Surah Baqarah verses 3 - 4
Fill in the blanks: 1. Baqarah means ______. 2. A true believer should believe in ______truth. 3. A believer believes in existence of God even though He is ______. 4. A true believer should observe ______as prescribed 5. A true believer should ______his fellow being by spending out of what God has _____ them.
Prayers, Cow, hidden, serve, unseen, given
True or False: 1. A believer should pray how he it is prescribed to him 2. This Baqarah means village 3. We should always thank God 4. Without both body and soul worship is not perfect.
How can we make our prayers perfect?
______
Al-Baqarah
Hidden Prayer Serve Unseen Prophet Spending Merciful Cow Baqarah Salat
Salat (appendix XYX) OCTOBER, NOVEMBER & DECEMBER 2020
Concluding prayers
Qaseedah OCTOBER, NOVEMBER & DECEMBER 2020
Memorize two couplets of Qaseedah for this quarter
Hadith, prayer and Attribute of Allah
Hadith October 2020
Show Mercy to Others
Mallaa yarham laa yurham One who does not show mercy will not be shown mercy (BukhariKitabul Adab).
Since God is Merciful and His Mercy includes everything, a person who does not try to act mercifully in his daily life, is unaware of an important attribute of God. He, therefore, is not worshipping God as properly as he could have — he is not making any effort to fulfil the purpose of his creation. If a person is not being merciful to other people, then how can he expect Allah to be merciful to him when he needs?
Activities
How can we be merciful in our daily life?
______
Scenario Tina and Durdana are neighbors. Tina is a very forgiving and a kind girl; however, Durdana is a person who doesn‘t forgive and is harsh on other people. If you were Tina, how would you explain to Durdana about forgiveness using the above hadith.
______
Prayer November 2020
On Going to Bed
Allahumma bismika amootu wa ah-yaa
O Allah, in your name I die (sleep) and I become alive (awake).(Bukhari Kitab-udDa`awaat).
Commentary State of sleep is similar to the state of death. Therefore, we trust Him alone to take care of us when we are asleep.
Activities
List three things that we should do before sleeping.
______
True or False We should recite prayer before going to sleep. TRUE FALSE We should use cell phone before sleeping TRUE FALSE We should recite Darud before sleeping TRUE FALSE
Attribute of Allah December 2020
The Wise
Activites How can this attribute be used in the prayer? 1) O Al-Hakeem! You are the wise one, please give me wisdom to decide what is good and what is bad for me. 2) O Al-Hakeem! Please grant me wisdom to pass my exam.
How can you use this name in your daily life? Give three examples
______
HOLY QUR‟AN January, February & March 2021
Chapter 2: Al-Baqarah
6. It is they who follow the guidance of their Lord and it is they who shall prosper.
Introduction and Short Commentary Meaning In this verse Allah is giving Glad Tidings to the believers mentioned in previous quarter. A believer who is following the right path will never be disappointed by God‘s mercy
Activities
Memorize Surah Baqarah verse 6
Choose the right answer 1. We should believe in the Unseen a. True b. False 2. We should always spend in the way of Allah a. True b. False 3. We should always pray with both body and soul a. True b. False
Al-Baqarah
Successful Spend Baqarah Observe Guidance Believers Lord Prayers
Salat (appendix XYX) January, February & March 2021
Concluding prayers part 2, Salaam, and
Tasbeeh
Qaseedah January, February & March 2021
Memorize two couplets of Qaseedah
Hadith January 2021
Allah‟s Help
Allah-hu fee `aunil`abdi maa kaanal `abdu fee`auni akhee-hi.
God helps a person who helps his brother (in mankind) (Bukhari; Muslim Kitabuz Zikr)
Abû Hurayrah relates that Allah‘s Messenger (peace be upon him) said: ―Whoever removes one of the hardships of a believing soul, Allah will remove from him one of the distresses on the Hereafter. Whoever solves someone else‘s problem, Allah will make things easy for him in this world and the Hereafter… Allah is ever assisting His servant as long as that servant is helping his brother.‖ [Sahîh Muslim (4867)]
Doing service for humanity is one of the greatest ways we can show our devotion to Allah. The Holy Qur'an place great emphasis on helping others. In Islam, helping others and solving their problems is not only an important virtue, it is also a thoughtful act of worship. It is a means of righteousness that promotes peace on Earth and allows us to earn Allah‘s eternal reward in the Hereafter
Activities
Fill in the blanks God helps a ______who helps his brother (in mankind) ______helps a person who helps his brother (in mankind) God helps a person who ______his brother (in mankind) God helps a person who helps his ______(in mankind)
Choose the right answer 1. We should always help each other a. True b. False 2. Doing service for humanity is one of the greatest ways we can show our devotion to Allah. a. True b. False Scenario Asna and Shazi are in the same class. Asna likes to help anyone who needs help whereas Shazi doesn‘t like that. Shazi tells Asna not to do that and it is not her responsibility to do so. Discuss who is right and wrong
______
Prayer February 2021
Getting into a Vehicle
Bismi-Llahi majray-haa wa mursaa-haa, inna rabbee laghafoorur-raheem
In the name of Allah be its course and its mooring. My Lord is assuredly Most Forgiving, Merciful. (11:42)
We are always in need of Allah‘s protection, no matter where we are and what we do. This is a prayer for safe travels, and we recite it when we are beginning a journey. In this prayer, we are asking Allah to protect us from all kinds of evil and make our travel a source of blessings for us.
Activities
Memorize the prayer of getting into vehicle
Choose the right answer: 1. We should recite the prayer before getting into vehicle a. True b. False 2. Allah is the only Protector a. True b. False 3. How often should we recite this prayer a. Once a week b. Once a month c. Every time we go out d. Never 4. Allah is the protector of all kinds of a. Goods b. Evil 5. Allah is Most Forgiving a. True b. False Word Search
Vehicle Allah Forgiving Raheem Protection Attribute Reciteof Allah Evil TravelMarch 2021
The Answerer (of prayer)
Activities
How can this attribute be used in the prayer? 1) O Al-Mujeeb! I have no one else but You to ask from, please be my guidance in every part of life and help me become a better Muslimah.
How can you use this name in your daily life? Give three examples
______
HOLY QURAN April, May, and June 2019
Chapter 105: Surah Al-Fil
1. In the name of Allah, the Gracious, the Merciful.
2. Hast thou not seen how thy Lord dealt with the People of the Elephant?
3. Did He not cause their plan to miscarry?
4. And He sent against them swarms of birds,
5. Which ate their carrion, striking them against stones of clay.
6. And thus made them like broken straw, eaten up.
Introduction and Short Commentary
Surah Al-Fil was revealed very early in Mecca. Its title is taken from the expression Ashaabul-Fil (owners of the Elephant).This Surah refers to the invasion of Mecca by Abraha Ashram. He was the viceroy in Yemen of the Christian King of Abyssinia who came with the intention of destroying Ka‘bah in order to obtain favor with the Negus, the King of Abyssinia, and to break the national unity of Arabs.
Abraha marched in Mecca with an army of 20,000 in 570 A.D., the year of Holy Prophetsaw birth, to raze (destroy) the Ka‘bah to the ground. He also had a number of Elephants with him. Arriving at a place a few miles from Mecca, he sent for the leaders of Quraish in order to negotiate the fate of Ka‘bah with them.
The Quraish delegation, led by the honorable Abdul-Muttalib, grandfather of Holy Prophetsaw, met Abraha who treated him with great honor. But to Abraha‘s great surprise and contempt, Abdul-Muttalib, instead of beseeching that the Ka‘bah be spared, only requested that his two hundred camels, which Abraha‘s men had seized, be restored.
Abdul-Muttalib, on being told by Abraha that he had not expected such a paltry (worthless) request from him when he had come to destroy their house of worship, poured out the anguish of his heart and expressed his firm faith in the invulnerability of the Ka‘bah in the words, ―I am the master of the camels and Ka‘bah has a master of its own Who will protect it‖ (Al-Kamil, Vol. I).
Abraha‘s army had hardly moved when the divine scourge overtook them. A plague or epidemic of the nature of smallpox, completely destroyed his army and their rotting bodies were eaten up by swards of birds.
*This commentary is taken from Holy Quran Translation by Hadhrat Mirza Tahir Ahmad
Activities
Homework: Please Memorize the Surah with translation.
Activities are created based on the translation of the Surah and the commentary.
Q1- What did Abdul-Muttalib reply to Abraha when he accused Abdul-Muttalib of making a paltry (worthless) request, instead of beseeching to save Ka‘bah? ______
Q2- What happened to Abraha‘s Army when he tried to destroy Ka‘bah?
______
Q3- Tell the story of Surah Al-Fil in your own words, assume you are trying to tell what happened to your younger sister or brother. ______
Crossword Puzzle
Salat
April, May, and June 2019
Homework: Memorize following with translation: Niyyah- Intention (for Prayer). Sanah ATa`awwuz Referc to appendix t Activities Fill in the blanks.
Keywords 1. WSalat, straight, partners, Masjid Ul Haraam, Ka`bah, Fast, attention, Heavens, earth, einclined, chest, Praiseworthy, Majesty, Allahu-Akbar, refuge, rejected, At-ta`awwuz, Satan sitting, exalted, prostration, worshiped s
t art our ______by standing______, facing towards the ______, in Mecca.
2. I have turned my full ______towards Him Who has created the______and the ______, being ever ______to Him, and I am not one of those who associate______with Allah.
3. Raise hands to ear-level, call out Takbeer-e-Tahreema:______, „Allah is the Greatest‟, then fold hands on the ______. During Salat, while standing or ______, the eyes are focused on the place of ______.
4. Holy are You, O Allah, the ______, and blessed is Your name, and ______is Your ______, and there is none to be ______besides You. 5. After glorification (Sanah), ______is recited. 6. I seek ______with Allah from______the ______.
What is recited while doing the following posture during Salat?
______
What is the first recited, as soon as we start the prayer and are in the following posture?
______
Qaseedah April, May, and June 2019
Memorize two couplets of the Qaseedah with translation. Qaseedah can be found in Appendix.
Prayers, Hadith, and Attributes of Allah
Prayer April 2019
Memorize Promised Messiah prayer for Seeking Allah‟s Protection
Yaa hafeezu yaa `azeezu yaa rafeeq
O Protector! O Mighty! O Kind God! (I seek Your protection, Your support and Your friendship)(Tadhkirah)
Homework: Memorize Prayer with Translation
Examples of when to read this prayer: We are scared of an animal. We are being bullied, and need help. Someone is fighting with us, and we do not want to fight back. When are are falsely accused of something.
Write two examples of situations when you should read this prayer. 1) ______2) ______
Hadith May 2019
Tark-uddu`aa‟i ma`si-yatun
It is a sin to abandon praying.
Commentary
The Holy Qur'an says, ―Say to the disbelievers: What would my Lord care for you, were it not for your prayers.‖ (25:78)
Promised Messiahas states, ―Prayer is the elixir which turns a handful of dust into pure gold. It is water which washes away inner impurities‖ (Lecture Sialkot 33).
It is obvious, therefore, that mankind is constantly in need of praying to God. There is no substitute for prayer. The Holy Qur`an says, ―So worship Him alone and be steadfast in His service.‖ (19:66)
Activity
Homework: Memorize Hadith with Translation
In this activity, give each Nasirat a piece of paper and ask them how they would tackle the following situations. Once the Nasirat are done, have everyone come back together to hold a constructive conversation.
1) Rimsha is watching her favorite TV show. When it comes the time for Salat, she ignores her mom calling for prayer, and continues to watch TV. What would you tell Rimsha?
2) Iqra has a very difficult exam in a few hours, Taniya asks her to pray with her, so their exam goes well. Iqra laughs off and says that she has studied a lot. She continues by saying that she is confident that she will pass the exam, and thus does not need to pray. What is she doing wrong in this scenario? If you were Taniya, what would you tell her?
June 2019 Attribute of God
The Protector
How can this attribute be used in the prayers? 1) O Al-Muhaimin! Please protect me and my family during the bad weather. 2) O Al-Muhaimin! Please protect me and my family during the car ride.
Come up with 3 more scenarios where you can use this attribute to call upon Allah for help. Write them on the lines below. 1) ______2) ______3) ______
Holy Quran July, August, and September 2019 Chapter 106- Surah Quraish
1. In the name of Allah, the Gracious, the Merciful.
2. Thy Lord destroyed the Owners of the Elephant in order to attach the hearts of the
Quraish 3. To make them attached to their journeys in winter and summer.—
4. So they should worship the Lord of this House,
5. Who has fed them against hunger, and has given them security against fear.
Introduction and Commentary
This Surah, like the Surat Al-Fil, was revealed at Mecca in the early years of the Call (prophethood). Though an independent surah, complete in all respects, its subject- matter is so closely related to Surah Al-Fil that it has been wrongly regarded by some commentators as its component part.
In Surah Al-Fil a brief but graphic and forceful description was given of total destruction of Abraha‘s army, who had come to destroy the Ka‘bah, by a heavenly scourge (plague) which took the form of an infectious variety of smallpox.
In the present Surah, God reminds the Quraish that it behooved (expected) them to worship ‗the Lord of House‘. In Surah Al-fil mention was made of an enemy of the Ka‘bah and of the divine punishment that overtook him for his audacity to launch an attack on it. In this Surah it is stated, how in the utterly bare and arid valley of Mecca God provided the custodians of this House with every kind of food and made them secure against fear and danger.
Quraish used to travel to Yemen in winter, and Syria in the summer for trade purposes. Through these journeys the Quraish brought the necessities of life to Mecca. By this trading activity, they developed a certain prestige, added prosperity to their town, and also became acquainted with the prophecies about the appearance of a great Prophet in Arabia by coming into contact with the Jew of Yemen and the Christian of Syria who knew those prophecies. It constituted a great divine favor upon them that by their journeys to these places they, besides other advantages accruing from these journeys, were being prepared to accept the Holy Prophetsaw whose appearance was expected to take place soon. If Abraha had not been destroyed, the Quraish would not have loved journeying to these places and their journeys would not have been safe. The destruction of Abraha thus besides opening the way for trade journeys for the Quraish, made the Ka‘bah the more sacred in the eyes of the Arabs for whom it was already a place pilgrimage.
Activities
Homework: Memorize Surah with Translation. We should make a habit of reading Prayer of Finishing Qur‘an every time after we recite Qur‘an. This prayer can be found in appendix of taleem Section page.
In verse 3, where did Quraish travelled to in winter and summer, and what were the benefits of these journeys? ______
How is this Surah related to Surah Al-fil? ______
Describe what Surah Quraish means in your own words. ______
Crossword Puzzle
Salat Activity July, August, and September 2019
Memorize Surah Al-Fatiha with translation
1. Fill in the blanks
Keywords: worlds, worship, displeasure, blessings, Allah, Guide, implore, Judgement, Ta‘awwuz, Merciful
a) During first Raka`at, after ______Surah Al-Fatiha is recited. b) All Praise belongs to ______, Lord of all the ______. The Gracious, the ______. Master of the Day of ______. Thee alone do we ______and Thee alone do we ______for help. ______us in the right path— The path of those on whom Thou hast bestowed Thy ______, those who have not incurred Thy ______, and those who have not gone astray.
Qaseedah July, August, and September 2019
Memorize two couplets of the Qaseedah with translation. Qaseedah can be found in the appendix.
Prayer, Hadith, and Attribute of God Prayer July 2019
To Achieve Allah‘s blessing
Rabbi ‗innee limaa anzalta ilayya min khairin faqeer
My Lord, a beggar I am of whatever good Thou bestows on me (28:25)
Home Work: Memorize the prayer with translation
Examples of when to read this prayer: This prayer can be read after the concluding prayer during the Salat. This prayer can be read during the middle of night when you get up to go to the bathroom. If we are going through a bad day, we should read this prayer to ask Allah‘s help
Write two examples of situations when you should read this prayer. 1) ______2) ______
Hadith August 2019
Al gheebatu ashaddu minal qatli
Backbiting is worse than killing
Backbiting means speaking ill of someone who is absent and, therefore, unable to defend herself against what is being said about her. Some people take pleasure only in listening to others while they gossip and think that they are not backbiting, but gradually, they become part of the talking circle and commit this grave sin. People often talk about others fearlessly but they do not like it if they become the subject of such talk. Therefore, as a rule, we should never participate in any activity that would be hurtful if someone else did the same to us.
Hadhrat Khalifatul Masihra I advised that one should abstain from being too curious about the lives of other people because that leads to backbiting which in turn leads you away from becoming righteous.
The Promised Messiahas advises us to abandon the habit of backbiting because Allah abhors those who backbite. Ask for forgiveness and Allah, the Almighty, has the power to set you towards the right path. (Summary from Friday Sermon delivered on December 26th, 2003)
Holy Qur‘an says,
―O ye who believe! avoid most of suspicions; for suspicion in some cases is a sin. And spy not, nor backbite one another. Would any of you like to eat the flesh of his brother who is dead? Certainly you would loath it. And fear Allah, surely, Allah is Oft-Returning with compassion and is Merciful.‖
Thus Holy Qur‘an prohibits backbiting and equates it with the inconceivably vile act of eating the flesh of one‘s dead brother. It is obvious that one would be extremely repelled at the mere thought of it.
Activity
Home Work: Memorize the Hadith with translation
In this activity, give each Nasirat a sheet of paper and ask them how they would tackle the following situations. Once the Nasirat are done, have everyone come back together to hold a constructive conversation.
1) Maryum and Sidra are making fun of a friend in absence of her. Amina walks up to them and asks them to stop backbiting to which Maryum replies, we are not backbiting we are just stating the facts about her. If you were Amina, what would you reply to Maryum and Sidra? How can you help them understand what backbiting is, and what Allah says about it?
2) Aliya is sitting and eating her lunch quietly during the school break. Her two friends walk up to her, and start talking bad about Nora. How should Aliya respond? Even after stopping her friends, if they continue to backbite, should she sit on the table with them?
Attribute of Allah September 2019
The Lord of all the Worlds
How can this attribute be used in the prayers? 1) O Rabbul‘ aalameen! There is nothing that‘s not in your power, please help me with my exams so I can succeed in life. 2) O Rabbul‘ aalameen! Please help me with my homework.
Come up with 3 more scenarios where you can use this attribute to call upon Allah for help. 1) ______2) ______3) ______
Holy Quran November, December, and January 2019 Chapter 107- Al-Ma‟un
1. In the name of Allah, the Gracious, the Merciful.
2. Hast thou seen him who denies the judgment?
3. That is he who drives away the orphan,
4. And urges not the feeding of the poor.
5. So woe to those who pray,
6. But are unmindful of their Prayer.
7. They like only to be seen of men,
8. And withhold legal alms.
Introduction and Commentary
Al-Ma‟un means small household articles of common use, such as axe, cooking pot, etc. The Surah is among those chapters which were revealed very early at Mecca. In the preceding Surah, the Quraish were told that God had granted them peace and security from danger and had provided them with all the necessities of life purely out of His special grace and mercy and not due to any effort on their part or because they deserved these favors. They were told, therefore, that as an act of gratitude they should have rendered sincere and devoted service to their Gracious Creator. Instead, they became engrossed in the pursuit of worldly affairs and took to idol-worship. In this Surah it is stated that love of the world caused nations to lose faith in Hereafter and to consign God to oblivion. It also deals with the two basic principles of Islam whose neglect constitutes denial of Religion itself: 1. Worship of God 2. Service to fellow human beings.
This Surah speaks of two very deadly social ills which if not scrupulously guard against, are calculated to bring about the total decline and disintegration of a community. 1. The failure to take proper care of the orphans kills in a people the spirit of sacrifice 2. Neglect of the poor and the needy deprives a useful section of the community of all the initiative and the will to improve their Lot.
Activity
Homework: Memorize Surah with Translation. We should make a habit of reading Prayer of Finishing Qur‘an every time after we recite Qur‘an. This prayer can be found in appendix of taleem section.
What are two social ills, if not guarded against, can cause a total decline and disintegration of a community and why? ______
How is this Surah related to Surah Quraish, Chapter 106? ______
Talk about what Surah Al-Ma‘un means in your own words. Assume you are trying to explain it to your little brother or a sister. ______
Crossword Puzzle
Salat October, November, and December 2019
Homework: Memorize the following with Translation Surah Al-Ikhlas Rukuh Tasmeeh Tahmeed, and Sajdah Keywords: Al-Fatiha, Great, bowing, praise, raka‘ah, first two, Lord, Independent, Merciful, One, Begets, None, Gracious, horizontal, feet, blessings
1. Surah ______is recited in every ______. After reciting Surah Al-Fatiha, a portion (preferably at least 3 verses or a short Surah) of the Holy Qur‘an is also recited in the ______raka`aat only. 2. In the name of Allah, the ______, the ______Say, He is Allah, the ______. Allah, the ______and Besought of all. He ______not, nor is He begotten. And there is ______like unto Him. 3. While ______, keep hands on the knees, back ______, and eyes focused between the ______. This Tasbeeh is repeated 3 times or more in odd numbers. Holy is my ______, the most ______. 4. ______is recited during Tasmee. 5. Our Lord, Yours is the ______— praise that is abundant, pure and full of ______.
Qaseedah
Memorize two couplets of the Qaseedah with translation. The Qaseedah can be found in the appendix
Prayer, Hadith, and Attribute of Allah Prayer October 2019
Rabba-naa laa tuzigh quloobanaa ba`da id ha-daita-naa wa hab-lanaa milla-dunka rahmah, inna-ka antal Wahhaab
O our Lord, let not our hearts become perverse after Thou hast guided us; and bestow on us mercy from Thyself; surely, Thou alone art the Bestower. (3:9)
Homework: Memorize Prayer with Translation
Examples of when to read this prayer: 1. This prayer should be read on daily basis, to seek Allah‘s help to stay on the right path 2. This Prayer can also be read when we are feeling weak in faith, or are tempted to do something that Islam does not allow.
Write two examples of situations when you should read this prayer. 1) ______2) ______
Hadith November 2019
Al-muslimu mir‟aa-tul muslimi
A Muslim is a mirror of another Muslim (Bukhari)
―A mirror always provides the true image of a person who chooses to consult it, highlighting all the details of his beauty or ugliness. He would receive this message without any negative reaction against the mirror, because the message is based on truth, honesty, and secrecy. He would rather be grateful to the discretion mirror if it was a living thing ―
Similarly, when a Muslim seeks an advice or consultation from another Muslim, they should give the most honest advice, and the person receiving the advice should take it without any negativity. A Muslim should be able to trust another Muslim, like one can trust the mirror to show exactly what is there. The believers should reform a society, by inviting people to goodness and preventing them from following evil things.
Activity In this activity, give each Nasirat a piece of paper and ask them how they would tackle the following situations. Once the Nasirat are done, have everyone come back together to hold a constructive conversation.
1) A very wise lady called Taniya to the side, advised her very politely and privately, that she should not be talking to her friend during the Friday sermon. But Taniya still felt bad for feeling confronted. In light of this Hadith, did the lady do the right thing? Should Taniya have felt bad, or happily accepted the advice, and considered it as an opportunity for improvement?
2) Aisha asked Anita to tell her how her presentation was? Anita, thought it needed some improvements, but she did not tell this to Aisha, instead she said, ―it was great!‖, very well done. Is Anita being a true mirror to Aisha? Should she have nicely talked about the improvements needed in the presentation? Discuss in the light of this hadith.
Attribute of Allah December 2019
All hearing
How can this attribute be used in the prayers? 1) O As-Samee! Please hear our prayers, nothing is hidden from You, please help us do well in my Nasirat class. 2) O As-Samee! You are aware of all said and done, please remove the misunderstandings between my friend and me.
Come up with 3 more scenarios where you can use this attribute to call upon Allah for help. 1) ______2) ______3) ______
Holy Qur‟an January, February, & March 2019 Chapter 111- Al-Lahab
1. In the name of Allah, the Gracious, the Merciful.
2. Perish the two hands of Abu Lahab, and perish he!
3. His wealth and what he has earned shall avail him naught,
4. Soon shall he burn in a flaming fire;
5. And his wife, too, bearer of slander,
6. Round her neck shall be a halter of twisted palm-fibre.
Introduction and Commentary
This Surah was revealed at Mecca during the early years of the Call. Some scholars, however, are of the opinion that the Surah was the fifth to be revealed. It deals with the people having red-faces and fiery tempers, hence its title.
Abu Lahab (father of Flame) was the nickname of Abdul-Uzza the Holy Prophet‘ssaw uncle, his enemy and persecutor of Islam. He was given this title either because of his complexion and hair were ruddy or also because he had a fiery temper. The Surah recalls an incident during the early preaching of the Holy Prophetsaw. On being commanded by God to call together his relatives and to deliver them the Divine Message, the Holy Prophetsaw, one day stood on mount Safa and called the different Meccan and his near relatives, and told them that he was the Messenger of God, and that if they did not accept his message and did not give up evil ways, Divine punishment would overtake them. The Holy Prophetsaw had hardly finished his speech, when Abu Lahab stood up and said, ‗Ruin seize thee, is it for this that thou hast called us together‘ (Bukhari)?
The nick name of ‗Father of Flame‘ may either refer particularly to Abu Lahab or any hot-tempered enemy of Islam or better still it may apply to Western nations of Latter days who own and control atomic and nuclear weapons- one group of them repudiating God altogether and the other denying Divine Unity, but both being equally opposed to Islam. In this sense ‗the two hands‘ in second verse would mean these two groups, and the verse would signify that all endeavors and machinations of the enemies of Islam, particularly of the two groups of Western powers and their satellites, would utterly fail and all their nefarious designs would recoil on their own heads; they would burn with rage at seeing Islam progressing and their own wealth, power, and possessions perishing before their very eyes.
Activity
Homework: Memorize Surah with Translation. We should make a habit of reading Prayer of Finishing Qur‘an every time after we recite Qur‘an. This prayer can be found in appendix of taleem section.
Who was Abu Lahab? Why was he called Abu Lahab? ______
What other things might this Surah be referring to by using the words ‗Abu Lahab‘? ______
Explain what Surah Al-Lahab means in your own words? ______
Crossword Puzzle
Salat January, February, and March 2020
Homework: Memorize the following with translation: Glorification for Sajdah Prayer between Sajdah with translation.
Tahmeed and Sajdah
Activity
1. AKeywords: Three, Head, Forgive, Allahu Akbar, Great, odd, shortcoming, Sajdah, f Holy, Jilsah ,Allahu Akbar, grant t er Tahmeed, recite ______(Allah is the greatest) again and start prostration position called ______, knees on the ground, and then the ______. 2. ______is my Lord, the most ______3. Glorification for Sajdah is repeated______times or more in ______numbers. 4. After Sajdah, Say ______and sit down. We should sit down on our left foot while the toe of our ______should be touching the ground — keeping the hands on the knees. In this position of ______, we recite prayer between two Sajdahs. 5. O my Lord, ______me and have mercy on me, and guide me and ______me security and make good my ______, and provide for me and raise me up (in status).
Qaseedah
Memorize two couplets of the Qaseedah with translation. Qaseedah can be found in the appendix.
Prayer January 2020
On Leaving Home
BismiLlaah-i tawakkaltu `alAllahi walaa haula walaa quwwata illaa biLlaah-i
(I leave my house), In the name of Allah and I put my trust in Allah. (One has) no power (to be safe from sins) and no power (to do good) except with (the help of) Allah.
Homework: Memorize Prayer with Translation
Examples of when to read this prayer:
1) By saying this valuable prayer, we put ourselves and our house under Divine protection against all the potential evils, mishaps and dangers of the world. This prayer can be read before leaving any place, office, leaving mall, and leaving school.
Write two examples of situations when you should read this prayer. 1) ______2) ______
Hadith February 2020
Remembrance of Allah Gives Life
Mathalulladhee yadhkuru Rabbahoo walladhee laa yadhkuruhoo mathalul hayyi wal- mayyiti
The analogy of one who remembers Allah and the one who does not, is like one who is alive and one who is dead (Bukhari, Kitabud Da`wat)
Commentary
Allah Says in Holy Quran, ―I have not created the Jinn and the men but that they worship Me‖ (51:57). Thus Allah has created all living beings to Glorify him. If one is not constantly indulging in the remembrance of Allah, we are not fulfilling the purpose of our living. Holy Prophetsaw compares a person who does not remember Allah with a dead person. Allah the Most High says in the Holy Qur‘an: …and remembrance of Allah indeed is the greatest virtue… (29:46) That is, remembrance of Allah is higher in status than all other acts of worship. The more time we spend in the remembrance of Allah, the more the angels will be with us and will constantly remind us to perform good deeds. Allah says in the Holy Qur‘an, ―And remember the name of thy Lord during the morning as well as the evening. (76:26)‖
Activity
In this activity, give each Nasirat a sheet of paper and ask them how they would tackle the following situations. Once the Nasirat are done, have everyone come back together to hold a constructive conversation.
Saima is having a get-together with her friends, when it comes time for Salat, they ignore it. They are playing games and having so much fun that they do not want to break their momentum. Discuss this scenario. If you were invited to Saima‘s party what would you do?
Furthermore, every time a friend of Saima brings up topic about God or religion, she makes fun of them saying why are we discussing this boring topic, let‘s talk about something fun. If you were in that party, what would you tell Saima, explain in light of this hadith?
Attribute of God March 2020
The All-Seeing
How can this attribute be used in the prayers?
1) O Al-Baseer! Nothing is hidden from You, You are all seeing, please reduce my fever, and help me get better. 2) O Al-Baseer! You see my parent‘s kindness and love towards me, please grant them a long and healthy life.
Come up with 3 more scenarios where you can use this attribute to call upon Allah for help 1) ______2) ______3) ______
Holy Quran April, May, and June 2020 Chapter 109- Al-Kafirun
1. In the name of Allah, the Gracious, the Merciful.
2. Say, ―O ye disbelievers!
3. I worship not as you worship,
4. Nor do you worship as I worship.
5. Nor do I worship those that you worship,
6. Nor do you worship Him Whom I worship.
7. For you your religion, and for me my religion.‖
Introduction and Commentary This Surah was revealed at Mecca and has a deep connection with Surah Al-Kauthar. In Surah Al-Kauthar, it was stated that spiritual and material blessings will be bestowed upon the Holy Prophetsaw such as have no parallel or precedent in human history. In this Surah, however, those disbelievers, against whom a divine decree had gone forth that they would not accept Islam, are warned that when after having seen such manifest Signs in support of the Holy Prophetsaw they had refused to accept him, how could they expect Muslims to give up their Faith and accept their foolish beliefs?
Holy Prophetsaw have reported to have said that Surah Ikhlas was equal to 1/3 of the Quran, and Surah Al-Kafirun to ¼ of it, and whosoever would frequently recite these two Surahs and give serious thought to their subject-matter would command great respect and Prestige (ibn e Mardawaih).
- Surah Al-Ikhlas deals with a basic principle of Islam—Divine Unity. - In Surah Al-Kafirun, believers are enjoined courageously to stick to their faith in a hostile environment and under adverse circumstances.
Therefore, he who will comprehend and realize the significance and importance of these two chapters, will necessarily command great respect.
The Divine command, expressed by the word Qul in the first verse, applies to every Muslim. Wherever it is used in the Holy Qur‘an it emphasizes the importance of the subject matter governed by it. Thus believers are enjoined to proclaim loudly and repeatedly, and convey to disbelievers in clear and definite terms, the great principles of Islam declared and emphasized in this Surah.
Activity
Homework: Memorize Surah with Translation. We should make a habit of reading Prayer of Finishing Qur‘an every time after we recite Qur‘an. This prayer can be found in appendix of taleem section.
What did Holy Prophetsaw say about Surah Al-Kafirun, and Surah Al-Ikhas?
______
Why are Surah Al-Ikhlas, and Surah Al-Kafirun very important to understand and memorize? ______
Describe Context and meaning of this Surah in your own words. ______
Crossword Puzzle
Salat April, May, and June 2020
Homework: Memorize Tashahudd with translation
Activity
Keywords: second, worship, Ta„awwudh, first, Rak„at, Holy Quran, physical. Prostrations, forefinger, completed, Thana‟ (Glorification), Qa„dah, Peace be on you ,Tashahhud, Muhammad ,right, righteous servants, worshipper,
1. After Jilsah, do a ______Prostration by saying Allahu Akbar and, again Subhana Rabbiyal A„la is done three times or, if more, in odd number. In every ______of Prayer there are always two Prostrations. At the end of the second ______, one Rak„at of Prayer is______. 2. During the second Rak„at,______and Ta„awwudh are not recited. Thana‟ and ______are recited only in the______Rak„at of every Prayer. 3. For second Rak‘at, recite Surah Al-Fatiha and then some verses of the ______and complete the Rak„at in the same manner as the first. After the second Prostration, sit down in the same manner as in the position called Jilsah. 4. This Sitting Position, at the end of the second Rak„at is called ______. During this position ______is recited. 5. All verbal ______is due to Allah — and all ______acts of worship and financial sacrifices.______, O Prophet, and the Mercy of Allah and His Blessings. Peace be on us and the ______of Allah. I bear witness that there is no god but Allah, and I bear witness that ______is His Servant and Messenger.
6. While reciting Tashahhud, when the ______reaches the phrase Ashhadu alla ilaha illallahu, he should raise the ______of his ______hand and should drop it down as he has recited it.
Qaseedah
Memorize two couplets of the Qaseedah with translation. Qaseedah can be found in the appendix
Prayer April 2020
On Entering Home
Allahumma innee as-aluka khairal mau-laji wa khairal makh-raji bismiLlah-i walajnaa wa `al-Allahi rabba-naa tawakkal-naa
O Allah! I supplicate You to grant me the best of entries (to my house) and the best of exits. In the name of Allah we enter and in Allah, our Lord, we put our complete trust
Homework: Memorize Prayer with Translation
Examples of when to read this prayer:
On entering our house, we supplicate our beloved Allah to grant us everlasting protection and best achievements each time we enter or leave our house. This prayer can be read before entering any place that we visit, it could be our school, home, gym, or office.
Write two examples of situations when you should read this prayer. 1) ______2) ______
Hadith May 2020
Al-hayaa‟u khairun kullu-ho.
Modesty is all virtue (Chehl Ahadith)
In our secular and ‗emancipated‘ society, people seem to have difficulty in seeing the significance and relevance of various Islamic norms and values, like chastity and modesty. To this society, Islamic morals seem antiquated and impractical mostly due to the lack of proper comprehension of the overall objective and the philosophy of Islamic teachings. It is our duty as an Ahmadi Muslim women to remove these misconception and become epitome of successful hardworking women while observing recommended Islamic modesty and Hijab.
Addressing the pious wives of the Holy Prophetsaw, Allah says: You are not like any other women if you are righteous. So, be not soft in speech, lest he in whose heart is a disease should feel tempted; and speak a decent speech. ( 33:33) So, Ahmadi Muslim girls and women should recognize their identity. If they are righteous, they cannot be like other women. They should be modest and decent in their appearance, conduct and demeanor. They should not behave like other women in the use of cell phones, chat rooms, web-‐cams, Facebook.
Activities In this activity, give each Nasirat a sheet of paper and ask them how they would tackle the following situations. Once the Nasirat are done, have everyone come back together to hold a constructive conversation.
1) Anaya‘s parent‘s wants her to wear a hijab before going out, but she does not want to look different from her friends, she wants to fit in. Anaya came to you for an advice, in light of above hadith and commentary how would you explain to Anaya that what her parents are recommending is best for her. 2) Rani always wear Hijab before she goes out, but she posts her pictures and videos on Instagram without her hijab. When Aisha worryingly asks her that ―posting pictures online ruins her Purdah‖, Rani Replies, ―My profile is limited to my very close girlfriends only‖. Discuss what is wrong with Rani‘s approach.
Attribute of God June 2020
The speaker; He who speaks to His servants
How can this attribute be used in the prayers?
1) O Al-Mutakallim! Guide me to the right path, make it clear to me which career path is best for me 2) O Al-Mutakallim! My living God, speak to me, guide me in my decision, and make what‘s best for me apparent.
Come up with 3 more scenarios where you can use this attribute to call upon Allah for help 1) ______2) ______3) ______
Holy Quran July, August, & September 2020 Chapter 2: Al-Baqarah Verses (7-9)
7. Those who have disbelieved — it being equal to them whether thou warn them or warn them not — they will not believe.
8. Allah has set a seal on their hearts and their ears, and over their eyes is a covering; and for them is a great punishment.
9. And of the people there are some who say, ‗We believe in Allah and the Last Day;‘ while they are not believers at all.
Introduction and Commentary
This is the longest Surah of the Quran. It was revealed at Medina in the first four years after Hijrah. The Surah derived its title from verses 68-72 where an important incident in the life of the Jewish nation is briefly mentioned. Surah Al-Baqarah is also called az- Zahra, which means Bright star. The Surah opens with a statement of three fundamental beliefs- The rest being an extension and explanation of these principles and ordinances. - Belief in God, - Revelation and Life after death, and - Two practical ordinances about prayer and Zakat
Verses 7-9 speaks of such disbelievers who have become so indifferent to the truth that it does not matter whether they receive a warning or not. It is declared that as long as their present condition continues, they will not believe. Organs which remain unused for a long time eventually become useless. The disbelievers mentioned in the verse 8 here refused to employ their hearts and ears for the comprehension of truth, consequently their capacities for hearing and understanding were lost. Verse 9 talks about the hypocrite, who pretend to be among Muslims but their hearts are in doubt of Islam. In verse 9, only God and the last day are mentioned, other Islamic beliefs being left out, because God and the Last day are respectively the first and the last items in the Islamic formula of faith.
Activities
Homework: Memorize these verses with Translation. We should make a habit of reading Prayer of Finishing Qur‘an every time after we recite Qur‘an. This prayer can be found in appendix of taleem section.
1) What is another name for Surah Al-Baqarah, and what does it mean? ______
2) What are the three fundamental beliefs that Surah Al-Baqarah opens with? a. ______b. ______c. ______
3) What does Surah verse 9 say about hypocrites? ______
Crossword Puzzle
Salat June, July, and August 2020
Homework: Memrorize Durud (Assalatu-„alan-nabi) with translation
Keywords: prayers, Prosper, Glorious, Abraham, Praiseworthy, blessings, Muhammad,
1. After reciting Tashahhud, the invocation of______on the Holy Prophet(saw) called Durud (Assalatu-„alan-nabi) and some other______are recited.
2. Bless, O Allah, Muhammadsaw and the people of Muhammadsaw, as Thou didst bless ______and the people of Abraham. Thou art indeed the ______, the Glorious.______, O Allah, Muhammadsaw and the people of Muhammadsaw, as Thou didst prosper Abraham and the people of Abraham. Thou are the Praiseworthy, the______.
Qaseedah June, July, and August 2020
Memorize two couplets of the Qaseedah with translation. Qaseedah can be found in the appendix.
Prayer June 2020
Prayer to Control Ones Anger
Allahummagh-fir-lee dhambee wa adh-hib ghaiza qalbee wa a-jirnee minash-shaitaa- nirrajeem
Oh Allah! Forgive my sins and relieve my heart of my anger and take me in Your protection against the accursed Satan
Homework: Memorize Prayer with Translation
Examples of when to read this prayer:
Every time our sibling is arguing with us, and we get really angry. When you are being criticized, and we don‘t like it. Your brother ate your favorite food that you had kept in the fridge, and you are really mad at him.
Write two examples of situations when you should read this prayer. 1) ______2) ______
Hadith July 2020
Laa yashku-r-Ullaha mallaa yashkur-un-naasa
One who is not thankful to people, is not thankful to Allah. (Tirmidhi)
This Hadith signifies that being Thankful to God alone is not enough, first you have to be thankful to the people around you. Hazrat Musleh Maudra in his book, ways of seeker, says that a perfect moral has two components - Rights of Allah - Rights of Human beings If a person is not doing both of them at the same time, she cannot have perfect moral standards. This hadith sheds the light on the same concept, if we are not saying ―thank you‖ and being grateful to the people for smallest things that they do for us, than our thankfulness to Allah is in vain too.
Activities In this activity, give each Nasirat a sheet of paper and ask them how they would tackle the following situations. Once the Nasirat are done, have everyone come back together to hold a constructive conversation.
1. Sidra gives Saima a beautiful necklace. Saima loves it, but she doesn‘t say thank you to her in return. Saima‘s mom reminds her to say thank you to Sidra, to which Saima replies, ―I am not going to say thank you to her, it is Allah who has given me this necklace, I will say thank you to Allah‖ If you were Saima‘s mom, what would you tell her in light of this hadith.
2. Laila is a very courteous person in public, she says ―thank you‖ to everyone on smallest things, but she never does her Salat or express gratitude towards Allah. If you were Laila‘s friend, how would you approach this issue in a kind way? Attribute of God August 2020
The director of the right path
How can this attribute be used in the prayers? 1) O Ar-Rasheed! Please help me choose the right classes for next semester 2) O Ar-Raheed! Please help me choose the best laptop for school, so I can do proper research, gain knowledge and spread Islam.
Come up with 3 more scenarios where you can use this attribute to call upon Allah for help. 1) ______2) ______3) ______
Holy Quran October, November, & December 2020 Chapter 2 - Al-Baqarah Verses (10-13)
ُا
10. They would deceive Allah and those who believe, and they deceive none but themselves; only they perceive it not.
11. In their hearts was a disease, so Allah has increased their disease;[30] and for them is a grievous punishment because they lied.
12. And when it is said to them: ‗Create not disorder on the earth,‘ they say: ‗We are only promoters of peace.‘
13. Beware! it is surely they who create disorder, but they do not perceive it.
Introduction and Commentary God speaks of two diseases of the heart. 1) Disbelief 2) Hypocrisy Disbelief has already been addressed in verses 7 and 8. Verse 10 refers to disease of hypocrisy and points out those suffering from it do not act as normal and healthy people do. God has shown so many Signs in support of Islam and it has become gradually so powerful that the hypocrites have become more and more afraid of Muslims and have consequently grown in their hypocrisy.
Homework: Memorize these verses with Translation. We should make a habit of reading Prayer of Finishing Qur‘an every time after we recite Qur‘an. This prayer can be found in appendix of taleem section.
Activities
What are two diseases of hearts? ______
What form of disease is addressed in verses 9-13? ______
Salat October, November, & December 2020
Memorize Concluding Prayer 1, Concluding Prayer 2, Salam, and Tasbeeh with translation.
1. CKeywords: grace, forgiveness, peace, Assalamu „Alaikum wa Rahmatullah, oprotect, the torment, observe Prayer, end, parents, left, blessings, nreckoning, this, c l uding prayer 1: Our Lord, grant us good in______world, as well as good in the world to come, and______us from ______of the Fire. (2:202)
2. Concluding prayer 2: My Lord, make me ______, and make my children too. Our Lord! Bestow Your ______on me, and accept my prayer. Our Lord, grant ______to me, and to my parents, and to the believers on the day when the______will take place. (14: 41-42)
3. After reciting these prayers, turn your face towards the right and say ______, i.e. peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah, and then turn your face towards the______and repeat Assalamu „Alaikum wa Rahmatullah, to mark the______of the Prayer. 4. Tranlsation of Assalamu „Alaikum wa Rahmatullah is ______be on you and the ______of Allah
Qaseedah October, November, & December 2020
Memorize the Promised Messiah‘s Qaseedah with translation Qaseedah can be found in the appendix
Prayer October 2020
Rabbi najji-nee min hammee O my Lord! Relieve me of my grief!
Homework: Memorize Prayer with Translation
Examples of when to read this prayer: - Someone close to us passed away - We are sad about something that did not go our way - Our pet died
Write two examples of situations when you should read this prayer. 1) ______2) ______Hadith November 2020
Al-muslimu man salimal muslimoona milli-saani-hee wa yadi-hee A (true) Muslim is he who keeps protected other Muslims from his tongue and hands (Bukhari, Kitabul Eeman)
To keep protected another Muslim from one‘s tongue, means abstaining from his backbiting, or accusing him unjustly, or abusing him/her. To keep protected another Muslim from one‘s hand means abstaining from causing any physical injury to him/her. A true Muslim is the one who keeps his temper under control and restrains his language and his hands in times of anger. The Holy Qur'an prohibits the Muslims to abuse even the false gods of the idolaters (6:109). Hence a Muslims which follows teachings of peace and submission should not create disorder in the earth.
Activity
In this activity, give each Nasirat a sheet of paper and ask them how they would tackle the following situations. Once the Nasirat are done, have everyone come back together to hold a constructive conversation. 1. Tahani is a very brilliant girl, she knows all of her Nasirat material, but she has a bad habit of making fun of people who could not memorize their homework. This habit of hers have made a lot of girls feel sad and uncomfortable in her presence. What is Tahani doing wrong? If you were Tahani‘s friend, how would you politely explain this hadith to her?
Attribute of Allah December 2020
The most appreciating
How can this attribute be used in the prayers? 1) O Ash-Shakoor! Make me a more thankful and content person. 2) O Ash-Shakoor! Accept my prayers, and bestow Your on mercy.
Come up with 3 more scenarios where you can use this attribute to call upon Allah for help. 1) ______2) ______3) ______
Holy Quran January, February, & March 2021 Fulfilled Prophecies of the Holy Quran
Prophecy is foretold news about any future event. In religious world, a prophecy, quite distinct from an educated and wise guess, is considered the most authentic criterion and a vital proof for the truthfulness or otherwise of a prophet. In modern era atheists put the religions on trial by presenting criteria to check the genuine-ness or otherwise of the prophecies mentioned in the religious scriptures. Mr. Douglas E. Krueger, an atheist, on Pages 96-98 of his book, ―WHAT IS ATHEISM – A Short Introduction‖ has presented the following five criteria to judge a prophecy. He wrote: ―Some criteria are needed in order to distinguish cases of lucky guesses from those of true prophecy. Let us define a genuine prophecy as one that satisfies the following five criteria:
1. The prophecy must be clear, and it must contain sufficient detail to make its fulfillment by a wide variety of possible events unlikely. 2. The event that can fulfill the prophecy must be unusual or unique. 3. The prophecy must be known to have been made before the event that is supposed to be its fulfillment. 4. The event foretold must not be of the sort that could be the result of an educated guess. 5. The event that fulfills the prophecy cannot be staged, or the relevant circumstances manipulated, by those aware of the prophecy in such a way as to intentionally cause the prophecy to be fulfilled.‖
According to these criteria, we see that the Quranic prophecies, some of which are presented here, prove to be quite genuine and true. No one can ever imagine that an unlettered person living in a nomadic society of Arabia 1400 years ago can predict such amazing scientific events, as mentioned hereunder, to happen. It is very well beyond the human capacity to foretell or even visualize such incredible incidents. The only conceivable source of these prophecies and predictions is purely divine. Interestingly, all such prophecies are fulfilled by those who were not Muslims, rather many of them are atheists. Thus no question of staging the prophecy and manipulating the circumstances arises.
Finger Prints “Their skins will bear witness against them as to what they have been doing” (41:21) The finger prints system at borders, criminal investigation cells and immigration centers prove the fulfillment of this Quranic prophecy.
Pollution “Corruption has spread on land and sea because of what men‟s hands have wrought” (30:42) One of the interpretations of the above verse of the Holy Quran is the environmental pollution, caused by human being. And that is spread both in land and sea due to our own inventions, i.e., fumes from chimneys of factories, chemical and nuclear waste, and huge traffic in the cities, noise and creation of ozone hole are manifest testimonies of the fulfillment of this prophecy.
Establishment of Israel And after him We said to the Children of Israel, „Dwell Ye in the promised land; and when the time of the promise of the Latter Days come, We shall bring you together out of various people.” (17:105) Creation of Israel and gathering of Sephardic, Ashkenazi and the Jews of many other different races in Israel proves the authenticity of this prophecy and hence Quran.
Genetic Engineering “They will alter Allah‟s creation.” (4:120) The holy Quran has prophesied the plastic surgery, genetic engineering and cloning in this short and concise sentence.
Roads in Mountains “And when the mountains are made to move.” (81:4) Centuries before the invention of dynamite, the holy Quran prophesied the blowing up and moving of the mountains.
New Transport Systems “And when the she-camels, ten months pregnant are abandoned.” (81:5)“And He has created horses and mules and asses that you may ride them, and as a source of beauty. And He will create what you do not yet know.” (16:9) As we know people, especially those living in deserts, have now abandoned camels and other animals for travelling. But this prophecy of invention and emergence of new transport systems is on-going as we witness new and faster modes of transportation emerging all the time.
Zoo “And when the wild beasts are gathered together.” (81:6) Nobody could ever imagine that one day wild beasts shall be captured, tamed and put together in closed and open parks. The establishment of zoo have fulfilled this prophecy.
Oceans Linked “And when the rivers are made to flow into each other.” (81:7) “He has made the two bodies of water flow. They will one day meet. Between them there is a barrier; they cannot encroach one upon the other.” (55:20-21) “And He it is Who shall merge the two seas together. This palatable and sweet, that saltish and bitter. And between them He has (presently) placed a barrier and a massive partition.” (25:54)
This phenomenal prophecy is an excellent proof of truthfulness of Quran. It was beyond imagination of any one living 1400 years ago to even think of linking of oceans which we see today in Panama and Suez canals.
Modern Communication Systems “And when various people are brought together.” (81:8) Fast transport systems, telephone, satellite systems and internet have brought so close to each other proving the truthfulness of the holy Quran.
Women‟s Rights “And when the female-infant buried alive is questioned about – For what crime was she killed.” (81:9-10) Modern-day women rights and liberation associations may be brain-child of freedom- loving and egalitarian humanist / feminist people but foretold by Quran centuries ago.
Books Published and Spread “And when books are spread abroad.” (81:11) The invention of printing press and publication houses and consequently spread of books everywhere is one of the marvelous prophecies of the Quran made in the dark ages of ignorance and illiteracy.
Extra-Terrestrial Life “And among His signs is the creation of the heavens and the earth, and of whatever living creatures He has spread forth in both. And He has the power to gather them together whenever He pleases.” (42:30) Having discourse with aliens is still an unrealized dream, but science is progressing in that direction. The presence of extra-terrestrial life has been proved by scientists. The next step is to see them and making a link with them. No religious scripture, except Quran, even hints about this great scientific discovery.
Air Traffic System “And by the heaven full of tracks” (51:8) While prophesying about modern transport systems, Quran also foretold the air-traffic system which is an essential part of aviation. A person living in desert 1400 years ago cannot talk about such advance technologies unless revealed to him by God Almighty.
Activity
All Nasirat of this age group can work on a poster board together about the prophecies of the Holy Quran, and present your work in front of all Nasirat.
What does Ocean linked means, and how did this prophecy of Qur‘an was fulfilled? Do an independent research and share it with the rest of the Nasirat. ______
In a religious knowledge class at school, your teacher calls Qur‘an as a book that mostly have a Bible‘s stories, and cannot be an authentic book. How can you raise your hands and deny her claim? Answer this question with the help of the above prophecies fulfilled, and criteria‘s to full fill prophecies. ______
Salat January, February, & March 2021
Homework: Memorize Dua-e-Qunoot with Translation
What does the word Vitr means and how many Raka‘at of prayers are in Vitr?
______
How is Vitr Prayer different from rest of the prayers? ______
Fill in the blanks using the key words provided.
Keywords: beseech, forgiveness, praise, chastisement, disbelievers, cast off,
disobeys, present, prostrate
1. O Allah! We ______Your help and ask Your ______and believe in You and trust in You and______You in the best manner; and we thank You and we are not ungrateful to You, and we ______and forsake him who ______You. O Allah! You alone do we worship and to You alone do we pray and we______ourselves; and we rush to You and ______ourselves, and we hope for Your mercy and we fear Your______, for surely Your chastisement overtakes the ______.
Qaseedah January, February, & March 2021
Memorize two couplets of Qaseedah with translation. Qaseedah can be found in the appendix.
Attribute of Allah January 2021
The Provider
How can this attribute be used in the prayers? 1) O Ar-Razzaaq! I need an iPhone, please help me get it. So I can read Qur‘an on it when Physical book of Qur‘an is not available. 2) O Ar-Razzaaq! Provide me with some cash so I can donate to mosque funds.
Come up with 3 more scenarios where you can use this attribute to call upon Allah for help 1) ______2) ______3) ______
Prayer February 2021
Prayer for Allah‟s Help
Rabbi innee maghloobun fanta-sir O my Lord, I am overcome (by the enemy), so come to my help. (Tadhkirah)
Homework: Memorize Prayer with Translation
Examples of when to read this prayer: - If you are being bullied at school. - When you are feeling helpless, an enemy doesn‘t have to be a physical person, it could be bad weather that is not letting you go to an event that you really wanted to be part of.
Write two examples of situations when you should read this prayer. 1) ______2) ______
Hadith March 2021
In every matter, moderation is best. (Chehl Ahadith)
Commentary
This hadith applies to every situation. The middle way is the best. Islam gives a singular solution to most of the problems in everyday life. Following moderation refrains us from getting obsessed. For example: If we eat too much of a certain type the delicious food that God Almighty has granted us with, we may become obese and suffer from numerous diseases. If we spend too much time on the phone, or computer, our eyes may become weak. If we love a game so much that we play it all the time and miss our Salat.
From these examples we can conclude that applying moderation in everyday life helps us stay healthy physically, mentally, and spiritually.
Activity
In this activity, give each Nasirat a sheet of paper and ask them how they would tackle the following situations. Once the Nasirat are done, have everyone come back together to hold a constructive conversation.
1. Anmol loves reading, whenever she finds a new books, she reads it whole day until it‘s finished. What is wrong with her behavior? Is she practicing moderation? 2. Nayaab is a very sweet girl, however she‘s uses her phone the entire day, instead of participating in conversations with family, she is always watching something on her phone. Should she be doing this?
HOLY QUR‟AN Al-Baqarah Chapter 2: (V. 14-17)
14. And when it is said to them, ‗Believe as other people have believed,‘ they say: ‗Shall we believe as the foolish have believed?‘ Beware! it is surely they that are foolish, but they do not know.
15. And when they meet those who believe, they say: ‗We believe;‘ but when they are alone with their ringleaders, they say: ‗We are certainly with you; we are only mocking.‘
16. Allah will punish their mockery and will let them continue in their transgression, wandering blindly.
17. These are they who have taken error in exchange for guidance; but their traffic has brought them no gain, nor are they rightly guided.
Introduction and Short Commentary The verses mention people who create disorder in the earth. The hypocrites regarded the Muslims as a pack of fools in that they suffered and offered sacrifice of life and property for a lost cause. God says that they themselves are fools, as the cause of Islam is destined to make progress and to prosper. Shayatin means, ring leaders: Ibn Abbas Ibn Masud The Holy Prophetsaw is reported to have said: ―A single rider is a Shaitan a pair of riders is also a pair of Shaitans, but three riders are a body of riders‖ (Dawud). This hadith supports the view that Shaitan does not necessarily mean devil but, it (Shaitan) means the ones who have given up guidance and taken error instead. God will punish hypocrites and will not let them increase in their transgressions.
Activity 1) According to the verses of Surah Al-Baqarah, who are the fools? ______
2) Who is Shaitan? ______
SALAT
Nasirat between ages 13-14 are expected to have the Salat memorized entirely with translation. It is expected that: They are implementing their knowledge of Salat by praying five times daily. They should be assisting younger Nasirat in learning the Salat. o Each month local secretaries are expected to assign a Nasirah of this age group to demonstrate the Salat out loud. o Nasirat secretary should also correct mistakes, if any.
Qaseedah April, May, and June 2019
Memorize two couplets of the Qaseedah with translation.
Prayers, Hadith, and Attributes of Allah Prayer April 2019
Memorize the following prayer with translation.
BismiLlah-issa-laatu wassalaamu `alaa rasool-iLlahi Allahummagh-fir-lee dhunoobee waftah-lee abwaaba rah-matika In the name of Allah (I enter). All blessings and peace be upon the Prophet of Allah. O Allah! Forgive me my sins and open the doors of Your mercy upon me.(Ibni Maja Abwaabul Masaajid wal Ijtimaa`aat)
Hadith May 2019
Importance of Good Conduct
Nothing is heavier in the scales (of Allah) than the excellence of conduct (Abu-Dawood)
Commentary In a large number of hadiths, the Holy Prophet saw laid much emphasis on the improvement of moral and social conduct. In this Hadith, he declares that nothing is heavier in the scales of Allah than the excellence of conduct. In another Hadith, the Holy Prophet saw reported to have said that, ―You can never enrich people with your money [alone] so, help them cheerfully and with good conduct‖ (Sahi Bukhari: 2050). Excellence of conduct is the root of all virtues and spirituality and is an advanced stage of good behavior. According to the Qur‘an, the Holy Prophet saw possessed sublime moral excellence (68:5), and he was an excellent model for mankind (33:22). In short, if we all follow this good advice, it will bring peace, love, and harmony to our society.
Activity
Discuss how we can implement this Hadith in our everyday life. ______
How can we eliminate class struggle from our society? ______
Attribute of God June 2019
Commentary
One of the Divine Attributes of Allah is Al-Waliyy: The Arabic word Waliyy has various meanings and can be used in many different ways. It means the helper, the best friend and the protector. The Holy Qur‘an states in Surah Al-Nisa (verse 46) that,
―And Allah knows your enemies full well. And sufficient is Allah as Friend, and sufficient is Allah as Helper‖
We can use this attribute in our daily prayers. An example is provided below:
O Al-Waliyy! All power is in Your hand. Be my best friend whenever I struggle with a trial. Indeed, You are the only One whom we trust.
In chapter 2 verse 257, The Holy Qur‘an says that,
―Allah is the friend of those believe. He brings them out of every kind of darkness into light. And those who disbelieve, their friends are the transgressors who bring them out of light into every kind of darkness. These are the inmates of the Fire; therein shall they abide. ―
He is the One who answers our sincere calls, and rewards us without expecting anything in return. He purifies all those who place trust in Him, and showers them with blessings both in this life, and the next. Allah is Al-Waliyy, the sole Protector and Supporter of believers both in this world and hereafter.
Activity Come up with 2 scenarios where you can use this attribute to call upon Allah for help. 1) ______2) ______
HOLY QUR‟AN Ayat-ul-Kursi Chapter 2 (verse: 256)
256. Allah—there is no god save Him, the Living, the Self-Subsisting and All- Sustaining. Slumber seizes Him not, nor sleep. To Him belongs whatsoever is in the heavens and whatsoever is in the earth. Who is he that dare intercede with Him save by His permission? He knows what is before them and what is behind them; and they encompass nothing of His knowledge except what He pleases. His knowledge extends over the heavens and the earth; and the care of them wearies Him not; and He is the High, the Great.
Introduction and Short Commentary
Ayat-ul-Kursi explains that Allah is Ever-Living, Self-Subsisting and Self Sustaining. He is eternally awake and alert, otherwise the Universe will cease to exist. Allah does not suffer from boredom, He takes great interest in His creation. Nor does He grow tired because His existence is not subject to change. He is the First Cause of everything and possesses infinite power. He owns everything and is the Master of the Day of Judgment. Thus, we should worship Allah and seek His assistance in all affairs. He is the Source of all knowledge. Pondering over the meaning of Ayatul Kursi opens subtle secrets and knowledge of the Universe in our hearts, which is imperative in a time when the forces of atheism are stronger than ever. Ayatul Kursi states that Allah is Ever-Living, Self-Subsisting and All-Sustaining, i.e., AlĤayyu Al-Qayyūm: Meaning thereby that He is alive on His own, without any support. The One who is living without any support cannot feel sleepy. Inability to sleep, amongst human beings is considered an ailment, not an asset. Sleep is needed to remove fatigue. But since God does not feel fatigue, he does not sleep. He alone being the Master has the power to forgive. All progress in the world of knowledge is subject to His Will. Whenever He desires, He opens a new door of knowledge for us. Kursi also means knowledge meaning His knowledge encompasses the whole universe. The importance of Ayatul Kursi is illustrated from these hadith. Hadhrat Ibn-Isqah ra relates that he heard the Holy Prophet saw saying that somebody asked him as to which is the greatest verse of the Holy Qur‘an. The Holy Prophet saw replied, Ayatul Kursi. Similarly, Abu Hurairah ra relates that the Holy Prophet saw said that everything has a top and the top of the Qur‘an is Surah Al-Baqarah. And in it there is the greatest verse which is the head of all verses of Qur‘an and that is the Ayatul Kursi or the Crown verse. Thus, Surah al-Baqarah comes at the top because Ayatul Kursi enjoys the highest rank in Qur‘an. Hadhrat Abi-Kaab ra relates that the Holy Prophet saw said, ―Oh Abu Manzar, ―Do you know which verse of the Qur‘an is the greatest in import?‖ Abu Manzar ra replied, ―Allah and His Messenger know better.‖ Holy Prophet saw further said, ―Which is the greatest ranked verse of the Qur‘an which you remember?‖ Abu Manzar ra spontaneously replied ―Allahu La 'Ilaha 'Illa Huwa Al-Hayyu Al-Qayyum. Undoubtedly, amongst the portions of the Qur‘an I remember, this is the greatest verse.‖ After this Holy Prophet saw patted his chest and said, ―O Abu Manzar, may knowledge be a blessing for you. This verse i.e. Ayatul Kursi is the fountainhead of knowledge.‖ Thus, the Holy Prophet saw indicated to Abu Manzar ra that he should keep pondering over this verse and God will thus bless him with abundant knowledge.
Activity
1) Write all the Attributes of Allah mentioned in Ayatul Kursi with translation. ______
2) Why has the verse been referred to as Ayatul Kursi? ______
3) Paraphrase the subject matter of Ayatul Kursi in your own words. Assume you are trying to explain its importance to your younger sister, brother or nasira. ______
SALAT Nasirat between ages 13-14 are expected to have the Salat memorized entirely with translation. It is expected that: They are implementing their knowledge of Salat by praying five times daily. They should be assisting younger Nasirat in learning the Salat. o Each month local secretaries are expected to assign a Nasirah of this age group to demonstrate the Salat out loud. o Nasirat secretary should also correct mistakes, if any.
Qaseedah July, August, and September 2019
Memorize two couplets of the Qaseedah with translation.
Prayers, Hadith, and Attributes of Allah Prayer July 2019
Memorize prayer leaving a mosque with translation
BismiLlah-issa-laatu wassalaamu `alaa rasool-iLlahi Allahummagh-fir-lee dhunoobee waftah-lee abwaaba fadlika
In the name of Allah (I leave). And all blessings and peace be upon the Prophet of Allah. O Allah! Forgive me my sins and open the doors of Your blessings upon me.(Masnad Ahmad Bin Hambal, Vol.6)
Hadith August 2019
Beware of the fire of jealousy for it
consumes good deeds just as fire consumes wood—or he said-straw (Abu Dawood)
Commentary Hasad (jealousy and envy) is such a dangerous characteristic that Allah revealed verses of the Qur‘an to be recited as a protection from it: ―Say: I seek refuge in the Lord of the dawn… from the evil of envious when he envies.‖ (113: 1-6) Hasad is among the most destructive feeling which a person may have towards his fellow human being. It causes him to wish evil for others and to be happy when misfortune befalls them. The Holy Prophet saw warned us against envy by comparing it to fire. Anas b. Malik ra reported Allah‘s Messenger saw as saying: ―Neither nurse mutual hatred, nor jealousy, nor enmity, and become as fellow. brothers and servants of Allah. It is not lawful for a Muslim that he should keep his relations estranged with his brother beyond three days.‖ (Muslim: Book 32: Hadith 6205) Allah, The Almighty, through His Absolute Wisdom has given some people more wealth, intelligence, beauty, strength, children, etc. than others. Therefore, a believing Muslim should be content with what Allah has destined for him.
Activity
1: How we can avoid jealousy and envy from poisoning our life? ______
2: Give 3 examples of jealousy in real life. ______
September 2019 Attribute
Commentary Al-Kareem is the one Who is the Noble and the Most Generous, continuously giving forth the most precious bounties to His creation. He is Al-Kareem in His essence. He is Noble in dealing with His creation, He repeatedly shows mercy, and His blessings exceed expectations. The Holy Qur‘an states in (82:7):
As Muslims, we must always remember that our Lord is the Source of blessings. It is not through our might, intellect, or ability that we have gathered wealth. It is through Allah‘s mercy and blessing that we are able to enjoy life and the pleasures it gives.
Activity 1: Explain the attribute Al-Karim in your own words. ______
2: How can this attribute be used in the prayers? ______
HOLY QUR‟AN Al-Asr Chapter 103
1. In the name of Allah, the Gracious, the Merciful.
2. By the Time,
3. Surely, man is ever in a state of loss,
4. Except those who believe and do righteous deeds, and exhort one another to preach Truth, and exhort one another to be steadfast.
Introduction and Short Commentary
Asr means, time, history, the afternoon, or the evening. In this Surah we are told that a purposeless life, having no good ideals to pursue goes to waste; and that material progress and prosperity cannot save a person if they do not possess faith and do not lead clean and pure lives. Al-Insan (man) here signifies man who opposes Divine messengers. In this Surah and at several other places in the Qur‘an, believers have been guided to adopt right and good principles and right ideals themselves but also to preach them to others and thus to help in the creation of healthy atmosphere around them. Thus, the Surah leads to a happy, contented, prosperous and progressive life.
Activity
1: Explain two important messages for the believers from this chapter. ______
SALAT October 2019 Nasirat between ages 13-14 are expected to have the Salat memorized entirely with translation. It is expected that: They are implementing their knowledge of Salat by praying five times daily. They should be assisting younger Nasirat in learning the Salat. o Each month local secretaries are expected to assign a Nasirah of this age group to demonstrate the Salat out loud. o Nasirat secretary should also correct mistakes, if any.
Qaseedah October, November, and December 2019
Memorize two couplets of the Qaseedah with translation.
Prayers, Hadith, and Attributes of Allah Prayer October 2019
Memorize prayer with translation on beginning the fast.
Hadith November 2019
Criteria of a True Believer
Commentary The Western golden rule, is an Islamic moral principle which was established fourteen centuries ago and it calls upon people to treat others the way they would like to be treated. In a narration, the Holy Prophet saw said: ―Love for the people what you love for yourself and you will be a believer; behave well with your neighbors and you will be a Muslim.‖ (Sunan Ibn Majah, Number 4217) At another occasion the Messenger of Allah saw said, “The best faith is to love for the sake of Allah, to hate for the sake of Allah, and to work your tongue in the remembrance of Allah.” A companion then asked, ―How is it, O Messenger of Allah?‖ The Prophet saw replied, ―That you love for the people what you love for yourself, and you hate for the people what you hate for yourself, and that you speak goodness or remain silent.‖ (Musnad Ahmad, Number 21627). The Qur‘an commands Muslims to treat others as they would like to be treated, even if they must suffer through negative treatment.
Activity Could this Hadith solve the problem of bullying at schools? Brain storm and debate. ______Attribute December 2019
Commentary
He is Complete and Self-sufficient. No defects occur to His Supreme Attributes and He does not need anyone in any way. On the contrary, we depend on Him for everything. Allah says in Surah Al-Zâriyât (58-59),
I desire no sustenance from them, nor do I desire that
they should feed Me.
Surely, It is Allah Himself Who is the Great Sustainer, the Powerful, the Strong
Therefore, in His Hands are the treasures of the Heavens and the earth, and the treasures of this world and the Hereafter. He enriches all of His creations.
Activity Paraphrase the attribute Al-Ghani in light of the Quranic verses mentioned above. ______
HOLY QUR‟AN Al-Ala Chapter 87
1. In the name of Allah, the Gracious, the Merciful.
2. Glorify the name of thy Lord, the Most High,
3. Who creates and perfects,
4. And Who designs and guides,
5. And Who brings forth the pasturage,
6. Then turns it black, rotten rubbish.
7. We shall teach thee the Qur‘an, and thou shalt forget it not,
8. Except as Allah wills. Surely, He knows what is open and what is hidden.
9. And We shall facilitate for thee every facility.
10. So go on reminding; surely, reminding is profitable. 11. He who fears will soon heed;
12. But the reprobate will turn aside from it,
13. He who is to enter the great Fire.
14. Then he will neither die therein nor live.
15. Verily, he truly prospers who purifies himself,
16. And remembers the name of his Lord and offers Prayers.
17. But you prefer the life of this world,
18. Whereas the Hereafter is better and more lasting.
19. This indeed is what is taught in the former Scriptures — 20. The Scriptures of Abraham and Moses.
Introduction and Short Commentary
Our beloved master the Holy Prophet saw used to recite Surah Al- Ala and Surah Al- Ghasiyah in Jummah and Eid prayers because these chapters deal with collective life of Muslim community in his time and also in the Latter days. In previous chapter (Al-Tariq), an objection has been raised that why this perfect book (Law) was not revealed in the beginning of creation? And why did God first reveal incomplete laws, suited only to the needs of the people and then towards at the end revealed the last and most perfect Shariah in the form of the Holy Qur‘an. This chapter (Surah Al-Ala) answers the question beautifully by stating that just like the physical development of human being, his spiritual development is also gradual. The Divine attribute Rabb (Lord Who makes things grow and develop by stages) disposes of the objection. The perfect Law should have been revealed when man‘s intellect and reason had attained their fullest development which could and did take place after a long and gradual process of evaluation. A high destiny awaits man. He can attain the highest spiritual stature and can reflect in his person Divine attributes so as to become the mirror of his Creator.
Activity
1: Which objection has been raised in the previous chapter? ______
2: How does this chapter answer the objection raised in the previous chapter? ______
SALAT Nasirat between ages 13-14 are expected to have the Salat memorized entirely with translation. It is expected that: They are implementing their knowledge of Salat by praying five times daily. They should be assisting younger Nasirat in learning the Salat. o Each month local secretaries are expected to assign a Nasirah of this age group to demonstrate the Salat out loud. o Nasirat secretary should also correct mistakes, if any.
Qaseedah January, February, and March 2020
Memorize two couplets of the Qaseedah with translation.
Prayers, Hadith, and Attributes of Allah Prayer January 2020
Memorize prayer on breaking fast with translation
Hadith February 2020
Keep Good Company
Commentary Humans have always been social creatures and in need of friends. A good part of our lives is spent in interaction with others. For Muslims, the issue of choosing the right company is essential for preserving their faith. Befriending righteous people is a necessary means for staying on the Sirate Mutaqeem (straight path). In chapter 25 verses (28-30) Allah, the Exalted says;
Remember the day when the wrongdoer will bite his hands; he will say, ‘O, would that I had taken the same way with the Messenger! ‘Ah, woe is me! Would that I had never taken such a one for a friend! ‘He led me astray from the Reminder after it had come to me.’ And Satan is man’s great deserter.
The wise person is the one who prepares himself for the Hereafter, not the one who neglects his faith and falls into the trap of Satan. If we truly believe that the best speech is the Speech of Allah and that the best guidance is the guidance of Holy Prophet Muhammad saw, we should act in accordance with them, lest we build a proof against ourselves. Activity Why is this important to be in the company of righteous people? Explain in reference of the Qur‘an and Hadith. ______
Attribute March 2020
Commentary Al-Hadee means The One who continually guides us to the right path. Allah, The Almighty say in Surah Al-Furqan (verse 32) that,
―Thus did We make for every Prophet an enemy from among the sinners; and sufficient is thy Lord as a Guide and a Helper‖
This attribute refers to the continuing guidance, leadership and direction that is kindly provided to reach the path until the goal is achieved.
Activity
1: What does it mean to go to God for guidance? ______
2: How could this attribute bring us closer to our Creator? ______
HOLY QURAN Al- Qariah Chapter 101
1. In the name of Allah, the Gracious, the Merciful.
2. The great Calamity!
3. What is the great Calamity?
4. And what should make thee know what the great Calamity is?
5. The day when mankind will be like scattered moths,
6. And the mountains will be like carded wool. 7. Then, as for him whose scales are heavy, 8. He will have a pleasant life.
9. But as for him whose scales are light,
10. Hell will be his nursing mother.
11. And what should make thee know what that is?
12. It is a burning Fire.
Introduction and Short Commentary This chapter talks about the calamity and its dreadfulness. Al-Qariah means a great or sudden calamity; The Day of Resurrection; an army marching forth ad striking the enemy suddenly. The calamity would be so destructive that it is impossible to conceive of its dreadfulness, much less to describe it in words. Because it is beyond human mind to conceive of the dreadfulness of that calamity, a few only of its horrible effects have been pointed out. The disaster happening will scatter the people like flakes of carded wool and they will find refuge nowhere. The connection of sinful people with Hell will be like that of a baby with its mother. Just as the embryo goes through various stages of development in the womb till it is born in the form of a full-fledged human being, so will the guilty people pass through different stages of spiritual torture, till their souls are completely cleansed of the taint of sin and they receive a new birth. Thus, the punishment of Hell is intended to make the wicked repent of their sins and to reform themselves. According to Islamic concept Hell is penitentiary (reformatory).
Activity 1: What does Al-Qariah mean? ______
2: What is the Islamic concept of Hell? How is this different than Christianity? ______
SALAT Nasirat between ages 13-14 are expected to have the Salat memorized entirely with translation. It is expected that: They are implementing their knowledge of Salat by praying five times daily. They should be assisting younger Nasirat in learning the Salat. o Each month local secretaries are expected to assign a Nasirah of this age group to demonstrate the Salat out loud. o Nasirat secretary should also correct mistakes, if any.
Qaseedah April, May, and June 2020
Memorize two couplets of the Qaseedah with translation.
Prayers, Hadith, and Attributes of Allah Prayer April 2020
Memorize prayer After Adhaan with Translation.
Hadith May 2020
Importance of Truth
Commentary
Islam is the only religion which guides its followers in every step of their lives. There are various good manners and excellent morals that Islam teaches us and truthfulness is one of them. Islam has declared it as one key element of a good character. Telling truth and avoiding lie are two basic characters of a true believer. In the Holy Qur‘an we are told of the importance of being counted among the Sadiqeen (the truthful). In chapter 5 (verse 120) Allah Taala says that;
Allah will say, ‗This is a day hen only the truthful shall profit by their truthfulness. For them are Gardens beneath which streams flow; therein shall they abide forever. Allah is well please with them, and they are well pleased with Him; that indeed is the great triumph
Truthfulness includes being truthful towards Allah by worshipping Him with sincerity; being truthful towards one‘s own self by making it adhere to the laws of Allah; and being truthful with other people and by keeping one's promises, and in dealings such as buying, selling and marriage, so there should be no deceiving, cheating, falsifying or withholding of information. Activity
1: What is the significance of truth in Islam?
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2: Which day has been mentioned in the Quranic verse above?
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Attribute of Allah June 2020
The One who creates from nothing. The One who creates with no model or similarity. The One who evolves and re-creates that which exists, both physically and spiritually. The One who sends new forms into existence. The One who manifests that which is in perfect harmony and proportion, without blemish or fault.
Activity
1: What is the meaning of Al- Bari? Write in your own words. ______
2: How can we use this attribute in daily prayers? ______
HOLY QURAN Al-Takathur Chapter 102
1. In the name of Allah, the Gracious, the Merciful.
2. Mutual rivalry in seeking increase in worldly possessions diverts you from God, 3. Till you reach the graves.
4. Nay! you will soon come to know the Truth.
5. Nay again! you will soon come to know.
6. Nay! if you only knew with certain knowledge;
7. You will, surely, see Hell in this very life.
8. Aye, you will, surely, see it with the eye of certainty Hereafter.
9. Then, on that day you shall be called to account for the favors bestowed upon you.
Introduction and Short Commentary
Mutual rivalry means man‘s desire to compete with others in wealth, position or honor. Mutual rivalry lies at the root of all human troubles. It is man‘s great misfortune that this passion for acquiring worldly things has no limits and can leave him with no time to think about God or the Hereafter. He remains engaged in these things till death comes upon him and then he finds that he had wasted his precious life in idle pursuits (objective).
The Surah gives a warning that this world and material goals are temporary so, man should try to set spiritual goals. Man did not use common sense otherwise, he would have seen hell in this very life. It means that he did not realize that engrossment (engagement) in material advantages are temporary and causes his total moral ruin (Hell in this world). The Hell of next life is hidden from the human eye, but can be recognized by those who reflect upon worldly desire and differentiate between good and evil. On the Day of Judgement, man will be accountable of his worldly deeds and the favors which he had in this world.
Activity
1: What is the meaning of mutual rivalry? Give few examples. ______
2: Who is warned in the Surah? ______
SALAT Nasirat between ages 13-14 are expected to have the Salat memorized entirely with translation. It is expected that: They are implementing their knowledge of Salat by praying five times daily. They should be assisting younger Nasirat in learning the Salat. o Each month local secretaries are expected to assign a Nasirah of this age group to demonstrate the Salat out loud. o Nasirat secretary should also correct mistakes, if any.
Qaseedah July, August, and September 2020
Memorize two couplets of the Qaseedah with translation.
Prayers, Hadith, and Attributes of Allah Prayer July 2020
Prayer for Steadfastness and Allah‘s Help
Commentary
Through patience and prayer, a believer will achieve success and blessings of Allah. There are different verses in the Holy Quran that have covered this topic and through which we get the real meaning of patience. Patience means that we remain steadfast through any sort of trial and tribulation that comes our way without objecting.
We have seen in the history of religion that all the Prophets and their followers have gone through hardships. No Prophet is dearer to Allah than the Holy Prophet Muhammad saw and he and his followers also went through these trials and tribulations, but they did not complain and remained steadfast in their faith. It is human nature that if we go through a prolong period of trials that we get tired and we say that when will that time come when we will be victorious and our enemies will be defeated. Allah reassures His believers that I am with those that remain patient and steadfast. To achieve this closeness to Allah, we must be vigilant in our prayers and remain steadfast. A true believer should always remember Allah in his heart and should always be punctual in his prayers and should not doubt his faith. Another meaning of patience is to stay away from all evil and follow all the commandments of Allah.
Activity
What is the meaning of patience and steadfastness?
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Hadith August 2020
A Word of Goodness
Commentary Small good deeds can have a tremendous positive effect on others in this life. For this reason, the Prophet saw told us never to belittle any good deed, even smiling at others, saying a kind word, or giving away half of a date fruit. Small good deeds such as these may be the reason Allah admits us into Paradise.
The Holy Qur‘an further expands on this concept by stating in verse (264) of Surah Al- Baqarah.
A kind word and forgiveness are better than charity followed by injury.
And Allah is Self-Sufficient, Forbearing
If you tell someone about an act of virtue and persuade him to do so, and then if he reforms himself and performs a good deed, you too will share in an equal reward. So, saying something virtuous to someone, and for him to act upon it, is like performing that virtuous act yourself.
Activity
List five good deeds which can have a positive effects in your surroundings (school or home).
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Attribute
Septemeber 2020
Commentary
Haleem comes from the root "hilm", which means to be forbearing, mild, to be forgiving, and gentle. Al-Haleem is the One Who keeps bestowing blessings, both visible and hidden, on His creation, even though they disobey Him and make many mistakes. So, He forgives and does not give the sinners the punishment they deserve; He encourages them to repent and gives them time to turn to Him.
Activity Debate about the statement given below. We should keep on committing sins since our Lord is Al-Haleem (the forgiving) ______
HOLY QURAN Al-Humazah Chapter 104
1. In the name of Allah, the Gracious, the Merciful.
2. Woe to every back-biter, slanderer,
3. Who amasses wealth and [c]counts it over and over.
4. He thinks that his wealth will make him immortal. 5. Nay! he shall, surely, be cast into the crushing torment.
6. And what should make thee know what the crushing torment is? 7. It is Allah‘s kindled fire,
8. Which rises over the hearts.
9. It will be closed in on them,
10. In outstretched columns.
Introduction and Short Commentary
In this Surah mention is made of the dreadful end of those disbelievers who, instead of spending their wealth in promoting good causes, indulge in finding fault with and in slandering righteous believers. Humuzah means, one who finds fault with others behind their backs and Lumuzah is he who finds fault with them behind their backs or before their eyes. Back biting and slander-mongering are the two main evils from which the so-called civilized society badly suffers today. It also mentions that ill-fated miser goes on earning wealth by all sorts of means, good or bad, and accumulating it, taking pride in it and refraining from spending it in on good causes, thinking falsely that this wealth will immortalize him. But they cannot rescue from the fire of the hell which will be enclosed on them.
Activity 1: Explain the difference between Humazah and Lumazah in your own words. ______
2: What is the significance of financial sacrifice in Islam? ______
SALAT Nasirat between ages 13-14 are expected to have the Salat memorized entirely with translation. It is expected that: They are implementing their knowledge of Salat by praying five times daily. They should be assisting younger Nasirat in learning the Salat. o Each month local secretaries are expected to assign a Nasirah of this age group to demonstrate the Salat out loud. o Nasirat secretary should also correct mistakes, if any.
Qaseedah October, November, and December 2020
Memorize two couplets of the Qaseedah with translation.
Prayers, Hadith, and Attributes of Allah
Prayer October 2020
Funeral Prayer
Activity
Memorize funeral prayer with translation.
Hadith November 2020
Spending in the way of Allah
Commentary
The financial sacrifice that Allah has described here specifically requires spending for the love of God for His creatures. The intention of spending is specified so it rules out any spending that one may do for the sake of getting favors, political gains or other ulterior motives. Allah says in the Holy Quran (Chapter 3 verse 93) that,
According to this verse, without spending in the cause of God, we cannot claim ourselves to be a good person, no matter how many other qualities we may have. This quality has been described as the essential part of a good person.
Activity
1: List Five characteristics of righteous people? ______
2: How do we know what we spend is from ―that which we love‖? ______
Attribute December 2020
Commentary Al- Qadir means:
The One who possesses the power and the ability to measure-out anything and everything, The One who has the capability to make any decree and to determine what will be, The One whose decree determines the measure and distribution of all things and The One who does as He wills, acting or not acting in accord with whatever He decides.
Hence, believing in Allah the most powerful creates tranquility, peace and stability; when someone believes everything is under God‘s hands, it does not make him sad or scared, instead having faith in Him makes him peaceful mentally and psychologically.
Activity
1: How can we use this attribute in daily prayers? ______
HOLY QURAN Dua Khatam ul Quran
Activity
Memorize prayer khatam ul Quran with translation
SALAT Nasirat between ages 13-14 are expected to have the Salat memorized entirely with translation. It is expected that: They are implementing their knowledge of Salat by praying five times daily. They should be assisting younger Nasirat in learning the Salat. o Each month local secretaries are expected to assign a Nasirah of this age group to demonstrate the Salat out loud. o Nasirat secretary should also correct mistakes, if any.
Qaseedah January, February, and March 2021
Memorize two couplets of the Qaseedah with translation.
Prayers, Hadith, and Attributes of Allah
Prayer January 2021
Prayers after Salat
O Allah! You are the Peace, and from You is peace; Blessed are You, O Lord of Majesty and Bounty (Muslim)
I seek forgiveness from Allah for all my sins and turn towards Him (in all sincerity)
There is no God but Allah, The Unique, with no Partner; His is the Kingdom and His is all Praise; and He possesses power over all things. (Bukhari)
O Allah! There is none to stop that which you bestow, and there is none to give that which You withhold, and of no benefit is the majesty of any noble against You. (Bukhari)
Activity
Memorize all the prayers after salat with translation.
Hadith February 2021 Repentance from Sins
A man who sincerely repents for his sins is like one who has never sinned (ibni Maja, Kitabuz Zuhd)
Commentary The Holy Qur‘an says (2:161) that if a sinner truly repents and takes active steps to make amends, and does righteous deeds (25:71) along with repentance, his repentance is mercifully accepted by Allah, and his sins are eliminated (25:72). However, the time for repentance is only during one‘s lifetime, and repentance shown at the time of one‘s death is not acceptable (4:19) Activity According to Holy Qur‘an, which repentance is accepted mercifully by Allah Taala? ______
Attribute of Allah March 2021
Commentary
Al-Musawwir means;
The One who is the fashioner and former of each and every thing in all of creation. The One who has given everything in creation a special inclination or desire. The One who has given everything a special form and a special manner whereby it is distinguished.
Activity
Write the meaning of Al-Mussawir in your own words.
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How would you differentiate between Al-Mussawwir and Al-Khaliq (The Creator)?
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Taleem Appendices
Salat Appendix
Niyyah- Intention (for Prayer)
We start our Salat (Prayer) by standing straight, facing towards the Ka`bah, in Mecca, and saying the following prayer:
Wajjahtu waj-hiya lilla-dhee fatarassamaawaati wal arda haneefan-wa maa ana minal Mushrikeen
Translation I have turned my full attention towards Him Who has created the heavens and the earth, being ever inclined to Him, and I am not one of those who associate partners with Allah
After the Niyah Raise hands to ear-level, call out Takbeer-e-Tahreema: Allahu-Akbar, „Allah is the Greatest‟, then fold hands on the chest. During Salat, while standing or sitting, the eyes are focused on the place of prostration.
Then the following glorification is made: Thanaa‟ – Glorification *Memorize with Translation
Subhaanak-Allahum-ma wa bihamdika wa tabaara-kasmu-ka wa ta- `aalaa jadduka, wa laa ilaaha ghairuk
Translation Holy are You, O Allah, the Praiseworthy, and blessed is Your name, and exalted is Your Majesty, and there is none to be worshipped besides You
After the glorification, the following is recited: At-ta`awwuz
A„oodhu biLlahi minash-shaitaanirrajeem I seek refuge with Allah from Satan the rejected
After Ta‘awwuz, Surat Al-Fatiha is recited.
Surah Al-Fathihah
BismiLlahir-Rahman-ir-Raheem
Al-hamdu liLlahi rabbil-‗aalameen
Ar-Rahmanir-Raheem
Maaliki yaumid-deen
Iyyaaka na`budu wa iyyaaka nasta`een
Ihdinas-siraatal-mustaqeem
Siraatalla-dheena an`amta `alaihim,
Ghairil-maghdoobi `alaihim wa laddaal-leen.
Translation All praise belongs to Allah, Lord of all the worlds. The Gracious, the Merciful. Master of the Day of Judgement. Thee alone do we worship and Thee alone do we implore for help. Guide us in the right path— The path of those on whom Thou hast bestowed Thy blessings, those who have not incurred Thy displeasure, and those who have not gone astray
Surah Al-Fatihah is recited in every raka`ah. After reciting Surah Al-Fatihah, a portion (preferably at least 3 verses or a short Surah) of the Holy Qur‘an is also recited in the first two raka`aat only. One of the commonly recited portions is the following Surah:
Surah Al-Ikhlaas
BismiLlahi-r-Rahmanir Raheem
Qul Huw-Allahu Ahad
Allah-us-Samad
Lam yalid wa lam yoolad
wa lam ya-kullahoo kufuwan ahad
Translation In the name of Allah, the Gracious, the Merciful Say, He is Allah, the One Allah, the Independent and Besought of all He begets not, nor is He begotten And there is none like unto Him
After reciting these verses or any other portion of the Holy Qur‘an, transition from the standing position to bowing (rukoo`) is made by calling out Allahu Akbar, “Allah is the Greatest.” Recite the following Tasbeeh (glorification and praise):
Rukoo
Transliteration: Subhaana Rabbi-yal
`Azeem While bowing, keep Translation:hands on the knees, Holy isback my horizontal, Lord, the and most eyes focused between the feet. This Tasbeeh is repeated 3Great times or more in odd numbers (silently).
After ruku straighten up and stand with arms by sides. While initiating this movement, recite Tasmee„. While in standing position, recite Tahmeed.
Tasmee
Transliteration: Sami`-Allaahu liman hamidah Translation: Allah hears him who praises Him
Tahmeed
Transliteration: Rabbanaa wa lakal hamd — hamdan katheeran tayyiban mubaarakan feeh Translation: Our Lord, Yours is the praise — praise that is abundant, pure and full of blessings
Recite Allahu Akbar again and start prostration position called Sajdah, knees on the ground, then the head.
Sajdah (Prostration)
Transliteration: Subhaana Rabbi yal a`laa Translation: Holy is my Lord, the most High
This glorification is to be repeated three times or more in odd numbers.
Say Allahu Akbar and sit up. We should sit down on our left foot while the toe of our right foot should be touching the ground — keeping the hands on the knees. In this position of Jilsah, we recite the following prayer:
Prayers between Two Sajdahs
Transliteration: Rabbigh-fir-lee warham-nee, wahdi-nee wa aafi-nee, wa-jbur-nee wa- rzuq-nee, wa-rfa`-nee
Translation: O my Lord, forgive me and have mercy on me, and guide me and grant me security and make good my shortcoming, and provide for me and raise me up (in status)
After Jilsah, do a second Prostration by saying Allahu Akbar and, again Subhana Rabbiyal A„la is done three times or, if more, in odd number. In every Rak„at of Prayer there are always two Prostrations. At the end of the second prostration, one Rak„at of Prayer is completed. After saying Allahu Akbar once again, stand up to commence the second Rak„at which is offered exactly as the first Rak„at. However, during the second Rak„at, Thana‟ (Glorification) and Ta„awwudh are not recited. Thana‟ and Ta„awwudh are recited only in the first Rak„at of every Prayer. Recite Surah Al-Fatihah and then some verses of the Holy Quran and complete the Rak„at in the same manner as the first. After the second Prostration, sits down in the same manner as in the position called Jilsah. This Sitting Position, at the end of the second Rak„at is called Qa„dah. During this position Tashahhud is recited, which is as follows:
At-Tashah-hud
at-tahiyyaatu liLlahi, was-salawaatu wat- tayyibaatu
as-salaamu `alaika ayyuhan-nabiyyu wa rahmat- Ullahi wa barakaatuhoo; as-salaamu `alainaa wa `alaa `ibaadi-
Llahissaaliheen;
Ash-hadu allaa ilaaha illAllahu wa ash-hadu anna
Muhammadan `abduhoo wa Translation All verbal worship is due to Allah — and all physical acts of worship and financial sacrifices. Peace be on you, O Prophet, and the Mercy of Allah and His Blessings. Peace be on us and the righteous servants of Allah. I bear witness that there is no god but Allah, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His Servant and Messenger
It should be noted that while reciting Tashahhud, when the worshipper reaches the phrase Ashhadu alla ilaha illallahu, he should raise the forefinger of his right hand and should drop it down as he has recited it.
After reciting Tashahhud, the invocation of blessings on the Holy Prophet(sa) called Durud (Assalatu-„alan-nabi) and some other prayers are recited .
Durood Shareef- Salat `alanNabee
Allah-umma salli ‗alaa Muhammadin -wa `alaa aali Muhammadin,
kamaa sallaita `alaa Ibraheema wa `alaa aali
Ibraheema, innaka Hameed-umMajeed
Allah-umma baarik `alaa Muhammadinwa `alaa aali
Muhammadin, kama baarakta `alaa Ibraheema, wa `alaa aali Ibraheema innaka Hameed-um- Majeed Translation Bless, O Allah, Muhammad and the people of Muhammad, as Thou didst bless Abraham and the people of Abraham. Thou art indeed the Praiseworthy, the Glorious. Prosper, O Allah, Muhammad and the people of Muhammad, as Thou didst prosper Abraham and the people of Abraham. Thou are the Praiseworthy, the Glorious.
Concluding Prayers
Prayer 1
Rabbanaa aatinaa fid-dunya hasanatanw-wa fil-`aakhirati hasanatanw-wa qinaa `azaabannaar
Translation Our Lord, grant us good in this world, as well as good in the world to come, and protect us from the torment of the Fire. (2:202)
Prayer 2
Rabbij-al-nee muqeem-as-salaati wa min dhurriyyatee; Rabbanaa wa taqabbal du`aa. Rabba-naghfir-lee wa li-waali-dayya wa lilmu‘mineena yauma yaqoo-m ulhisaab
Translation My Lord, make me observe Prayer, and make my children too. Our Lord! Bestow Your grace on me, and accept my prayer. Our Lord, grant forgiveness to me, and to my parents, and to the believers on the day when the reckoning will take place. (14: 41-42)
After reciting one or more of these prayers, turn your face towards the right and say Assalamu „Alaikum wa Rahmatullah, i.e. peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah, and then turn your face towards the left and repeat Assalamu „Alaikum wa Rahmatullah, to mark the end of the Prayer.
Salaam
Transliteration: Assalaamu-alaikum wa RahmatUllah Translation: Peace be on you and the blessings of Allah
Tasbeeh
At the end of the Prayer, one should say: Subhaan-Allah (Holy is Allah) 33 times, Alhamdu-Lillah (All praise belongs to Allah) 33 times, Allahu Akbar (Allah is the Greatest) 34 times.
Vitr Prayer It is essential to say three raka`aat of Vitr Prayer after Ishaa' and before dawn, preferably after midnight and following the Tahajjad prayers. If one knows that he cannot get up at that time, it can be said after the two Sunnah raka`aat of Ishaa' Prayer (Muslim). Vitr Prayer is said in the normal way except for the following: ♦ Qur'anic recitation after Surah Al-Fatihah is required in all three raka`aat ♦ It is the Sunnah of the Holy Prophet(saw) to recite Surah Al-A`laa, AlKaafiroon, and Al- Ikhlaas, respectively, in the raka`aat (Abu Dawood). ♦ All three raka`aat can be said together with At-Tashahhud after two (Tirmidhi), or the first two and the third can be said independently. (Bukhari) ♦ Standing up after Rukoo`, we recite Du`aa Qunoot in Arabic after Tahmeed
Dua - e- Qunoot
Translation O Allah! We beseech Your help and ask Your forgiveness and believe in You and trust in You and praise You in the best manner; and we thank You and we are not ungrateful to You, and we cast off and forsake him who disobeys You. O Allah! You alone do we worship and to You alone do we pray and we prostrate ourselves; and we rush to You and present ourselves, and we hope for Your mercy and we fear Your chastisement, for surely Your chastisement overtakes the disbelievers.
Qaseedah Appendix
Qaseedah Appendix
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Reference: The Commentary of Al-Qasidah by Jalal-ud-Din Shams
CONTENTS
QUARTER PART 1 PART 2 PART 3
QUARTER 1 A Living God Religion - The Word Science - The works (April,May,June of God of God 2019)
QUARTER 2 Wifi to Heaven Stages of Salat & Acceptance of (July,Aug,Sep through Salat Iqamatus Salah Prayer and 2019) Predetermination
QUARTER 3 Etiquettes of the Importance of Etiquettes and (Oct,Nov,Dec Mosque & Salat and Recitation of the Guidelines on 2019) Salat Tracker Holy Qur‘an Recitation Part 1
QUARTER 4 Etiquettes and Importance of Purification of (Jan,Feb,March Guidelines on Financial Sacrifice Wealth and Jama‘at 2020) Recitation Part 2 Chandas
QUARTER 5 Obedience to Essence of Taqwa Etiquettes of (April,May,June Parents and Dressing Modestly 2020) associated and Etiquettes of the Etiquettes Home
QUARTER 6 Developing Love of Purpose and Purpose and (July,Aug,Sep Khilafat Significance of Ba‘it; Significance of Ba‘it; 2020) Conditions 1-5 Conditions 6-10
QUARTER 7 Etiquettes Importance of Steps on Writing (Oct,Nov,Dec Gathering/Meeting Writing to Hudhuraba Letters to Hudhuraba 2020) Conversation, Story: Value of our Eating and Eating in Letters to Hudhuraba gathering
QUARTER 8 Importance of Zikr- Rights of Neighbors Etiquettes of (Jan,Feb,March e-Ilahi Etiquette of Seeking knowledge 2021) Pathways and of school & learning
April 2019 Quarter 1 - Part 1
Objectives: 1. Understand the meaning of Allah‘s attribute Al-Hayy, The Living. 2. Understand that Allah listens and guides us today as He did during the time of Quranic Prophets. 3. Understand how to establish a relationship with our Living God.
A Living God As Ahmadi Muslims, we are incredibly blessed to be part of a community that presents a Living God in an undoubtable way for an honest logical person. Unfortunately, some Non-Ahmadi Muslims have the following false beliefs: ● God does not send revelation anymore, since the perfect book has already been given to man. ● God does not even answer prayers since things are predetermined.
However, God Himself explains in the Holy Qur‘an that He still communicates with mankind as He did in the time of the prophets, and continues to sustain living things. The writings of the Promised Messiahas and Khilafat-ul-Ahmadiyya reinforce these teachings.
Holy Qur‟an Verses In the Holy Qur‘an, Allah calls Himself ―The Living,‖ and reminds believers that He continues to sustain our universe and world today. The following are just a selection of a few verses that show Allah‘s reminders to us:
● ―Allah – there is no God but he, the Living, the Self-Subsisting and All-Sustaining. Slumber seizes Him not, nor sleep. To Him belongs whatsoever is in the heavens and whatsoever is in the earth.‖ (2:256)
● ―Have they not looked at the sky above them, how We have made it and adorned it, and there are no flaws in it? And the earth — We have spread it out, and placed therein firm mountains; and We have made to grow therein every kind of beautiful species. As a means of enlightenment and as a reminder to every servant that turns to God.‖ (50:5-7)
● ―Verily, in the creation of the heavens and the earth and in the alternation of night and day, and in the ships which sail in the sea with that which profits men, and in the water which Allah sends down from the sky and quickens therewith the earth after its death and scatters therein all kinds of beasts, and in the change of the winds, and the clouds pressed into service between the heaven and the earth — are indeed Signs for the people who understand.‖ (2:165)
In these verses Allah explains His physical bounties. We experience Him in both physical and spiritual signs. In order to begin our journey in developing a relationship with Allah, we must have complete faith that He is active in our lives today.
How God Shows Himself Our Living God shows Himself to us through His word (religion) and His works (creation/science). They both go hand in hand, working together to help strengthen our faith. Only when we study both, can we truly understand God.
Writings of Promised Messiahas and Khulafara
The Promised Messiahas ―Come, I‘ll tell you about where the Living God is and which nation He is with; He is with Islam. Right now, Islam is like the Tur of Moses (Mountain of Moses) where God Almighty is speaking. That God who used to speak to prophets and then became silent; today He speaks in the hearts of Muslims.‖1
Hadhrat Khalifatul Masihra II ―Islam claims that the Creator of this universe is a living God and that He reveals Himself to His creatures in this age in the same manner in which He used to reveal Himself in the ages past. This claim can be tested in two ways. God may either manifest His signs direct for a seeker after Him, or the seeker may come to believe in God by studying the life of a person to whom God has revealed Himself.‖2
Hadhrat Khalifatul Masihaba V ―May God enable us to spread the message of the Living God to the world and may we make them realize that there is a Living God who exists; He still listens and shows signs; return to Him; come to Him; may we also develop a living relationship with God and act upon His teachings and worship Him as is His due right. May we become the recipients of His blessings and may we and our generations always remain protected from associating partners with God Almighty in every regard.‖3 Establishing a Relationship with our Living God Now that we know there is a Living God, we need to understand how to develop a relationship with Him?
Promised Messiahas has mentioned eight ways in which we can establish a meaningful relationship with Allah in his book, Philosophy of the Teachings of Islam.
1. Recognize and believe in the One True God. 2. Know the perfect beauty of God Almighty. 3. Know He is the Creator with beneficent powers. 4. Constantly pray for help and guidance, trusting He listens and responds. 5. Strive in His cause, and help His creation. 6. Be steadfast and firm in adversity and prosperity, trusting He knows what is best. 7. Keep company with the righteous.
1 ―Our God, A Living God‖, www.alislam.org/library/articles/our-god-a-living-god/ 2 ―Why I believe in Islam‖, 3 Friday Sermon 18th April 2014 8. After continuing these efforts and making a relationship, believers are rewarded with true dreams, visions, and revelation, strengthening their bond with Allah.
Quarter 1, Part 1 Activity Divide into groups and answer the following questions on a separate sheet of paper. Present your findings to the class.
Ages 7-9
1. What do you understand about the term ―Living God‖? 2. When you look at the world around you, does it remind you of Allah? 3. What are the two things we learn about God from? 4. What is your understanding of why did Allah created us? 5. List some of Allah‘s creations that you are very grateful for?
Recommended Homework
● Read the book My Book About God by Rashid Ahmad Chaudhry. ● Have a discussion with a grown up relative about a time when their prayers were answered and how it strengthened their faith in a ―Living God‖.
Ages 10-12 and 13-14
1. Why do you think it‘s important to have a personal relationship with God? 2. If a non-Ahmadi told you there is no Living God, how could you reply? 3. How can you strengthen your bond with Allah? 4. Share any personal experience(s) that had an impact on your faith and/or belief in a Living God. This can be a dream, a prayer that was accepted, something you read, something you witnessed or something that was shared with you.
Recommended Homework
● Read the book Our God by Hadhrat Bashir Ahmad. ● Reflect on how you can achieve the eight ways for establishing a relationship with Allah and carry out those.
Reflections: “What did I learn from this Lesson?”
May 2019 Quarter 1 - Part 2
Objectives: 1. Understand how monotheistic religions are connected. 2. Understand that religion is not a product of human imagination. 3. Understand God granted us religion in order to teach us rights of God and rights of mankind.
Religion - The Word of God
As we studied in Part 1, our Living God shows Himself to us through His words (religion) and His works (science). Many questions arise if we consider that the words and works are universal under one God.
Dilemma of Many Religions
Hadhrat Khalifatul Masihra II posed the questions a logical person would ask: ―But if God is one, why should we have so many different religions? Were they the product of the human brain? Was it because of this that every nation and every people worshipped its own God? If these religions were not a human product, why and how came this division between religion and religion? If ever there was reason for this division, was it proper 4 that the division should continue?‖
To discover the answers, we must first accept that all religions were brought by a Messenger of God. What‘s interesting is that all these Messengers had the same features in common as can be seen in the following diagram5:
4 Introduction to the Study of the Holy Quran, p.7 5 Based Introduction to the Study of the Holy Quran, p.7-11
Looking at the diagram, do you think it is a coincidence that all the prophets of the different religions, at different times and in different parts of the world, could had the same exact features in common? Clearly, it is not a coincidence.
Hadhrat Musleh Maudra then brings forth the next set of logical questions, ―If these Teachers were all from God, why did their teachings differ so much from one another? Would God teach different things at different times? The answer to these questions is that when conditions remain the same, it would be absurd to issue different directions. But when conditions change, variation of teaching is 6 of the essence of wisdom.‖
Need for a Universal Religion
In times when communication between different nations was limited, messengers were restricted to the countries they lived in. It was only appropriate for Allah to send a messenger to individualized countries ensuring no one was deprived of guidance. This explains the divisions between religions.
6 Introduction to the Study of the Holy Qur‟an, p.11 As the human race became more advanced, communication improved and distances became a lesser hindrance. This allowed humanity to unite and therefore be in a position to receive a universal teaching. It was necessary for the one true God, to now unite humanity under one belief - Islam.
Now that we have this one belief, what is its purpose? Looking at the diagram below we see that the purpose of religion is twofold.
These rights, ―Haqooq-ullah‖ (Rights of God) and ―Haqooq-ul-Ibad‖ (Rights of Man), are taught in every religion. We touched on the rights of God when discussing building a relationship with Him in Part 1. As far as rights of man goes, religion has provided us with guidance for every possible human interaction and relationship possible such as:
Mother to Child Employee to Employer Teacher to Student
Husband and Wife King to Servant Friend to Enemy
Sibling to Sibling Oppressed to Oppressor Youth to Elderly
Neighbor to Neighbor Man to Woman Man to Animal
In-law to In-law Government to Citizen Businessman to Customer
Remember, the Rights of man are dearer to Allah so we have to be extra mindful to live our lives with good deeds in service to humanity and fulfill all our duties to man as God expects of His righteous servants.
Friday Sermon Faith and Good Deeds - September 19, 2014
● The Promised Messiahas explained that faith is like the root of a tree ○ Just like the best of trees still need to be taken care of and attended to, our faith also needs to be cared for and can only be perfected through good deeds. ○ Without deeds or action, man is like a tree... ■ whose beautiful green branches have been cut making it disfigured ■ whose fruits have been discarded and left to rot ■ from whose shade giving branches, the creatures of God are deprived ○ No matter how strong the roots of a tree may be, without nutrients from fertilizer, the tree will die. ○ Even if it remains alive for some time, a barren tree has no benefit and attracts no one. ○ Empty declarations of faith serve no purpose until and unless the green and lush branches of good virtuous conduct and the fruit with its beauty and splendor benefit people. ● Faith and good, virtuous deeds are made conditional upon each other. Belief without action is of no benefit. ● Every Ahmadi should have strong faith and aim to become beautiful trees with green leaves and branches with flowers and fruit that benefit others. ● Every good and virtuous deed brings us closer and closer to Allah and Allah blesses those hearts with comfort and satisfaction because they did those good deeds to win the pleasure of God.
Quarter 1, Part 2 Activity Divide into groups and answer the following questions on a separate sheet of paper. Present your findings to the class.
Ages 7-9
1. What do you understand about the purpose of religion? 2. Why do you think religion is important? 3. Do you understand why there are so many religions? 4. Share some good deeds your religion teaches you to do. 5. List some things that are seen as bad/sins in all religions.
Recommended Homework
● Read the book My Book About God by Rashid Ahmad Chaudhry. ● Have a discussion with a grown up relative about a time when their prayers were answered and how it strengthened their faith in a Living God.
Ages 10-12 and 13-14
1. Discuss some of disadvantages of not having faith or following a Religion? 2. Referring to the diagram, what is your understanding about good deeds and evil deeds? How does belief in one God liberate us? 3. How would you explain to a friend, why there was even a need for Islam and a new book with so many religions out there? 4. What things can we do make our faith more firm? List a few good/virtuous deeds we can do to reflect our faith and become beautiful green trees to the world? 5. Share any personal experience (s) or thought that made you certain that Islam is in fact the true final word of God.
Recommended Homework
● Read the book Our God by Hadhrat Bashir Ahmad Sahib. ● Write an article (max one page) on the similarities and differences between Islam and Judaism and submit to Al-Hilal magazine.
Reflections: “What did I learn from this Lesson?”
June 2019 Quarter 1 - Part 3
Objectives: 1. Understand how Islam and science support each other. 2. Learn how even the brightest scientific minds viewed the existence of God.
Science - The Works of God
Earlier we discussed the relationship between science and religion. Both subjects complement and support each other. There is no fact in the Quran that will go against science. A proven scientific fact will never counter the Holy Quran. Time and time again, we see modern scientists make new discoveries that were already confirmed 1400 years ago. The more believers studies science, the more their faith in God strengthens. The following are only a few of the scientific subjects that are discussed in the Holy Qur‘an:
Embryology Fertilization, Implantation and Stages of Embryo
Biology Evolution, Botany, Physiology, and Physical Healing
Cosmology Expansion of the Universe, Orbits, Sun, Stars, and Moon
Physics Law of Attraction, and The Big Bang
Geology Water cycles, Tectonic plates, and Mountains, Oceanic Barrier
Chemistry Atomic weight, and Elements
Views of Scientists on Existence of God
Below you will find some statements from esteemed scientists themselves on the existence of God. The following statements have been taken from the book Views of Scientists on the Existence of God:
Law of Gravity - One Example from the Qur‟an Sir Isaac Newton discovered the Law of Gravity in which a body in orbit pushes away from the center, but gravity causes it to return to the center. Both forces are in perfect balance, creating an orbit. Notice however, 1000 years before this discovery, the Holy Qur‘an stated: “God is He Who raised the heaven without any pillars that you can see; is firmly established on the throne. He has subjected the sun and the moon (to His Law)! Each one runs (its course) for a term appointed. He regulates all affairs, explaining the sign in detail that you may believe with certainty in the meeting with your Lord.” (13:3) It is clear here that this invisible gravitational pull controls the orbits of our solar system with a continuous and predictable cycle. Allah graciously granted us the ability to understand this, so we trust His creation. Again, this is only one example from the incredible amount of proofs, that science and Islam are compatible. Quarter 1, Part 3 Activity Divide into groups and answer the following questions on a separate piece paper. Present your findings to the class.
Ages 7-9
1. Did you know that the Qur‘an talks about science? If so, name one thing you have been told or read yourself about creation. 2. Share one thing you were surprised to learn about in this section. 3. Why do you think God talks about creation and science in the Qur‘an? 4. Explain why you think science and religion work together.
Recommended Homework
● Read the book My Book About God by Rashid Ahmad Chaudhry ● Have a discussion with a grown up relative about a scientific topic in the Qur‘an that you would like to know about.
Ages 10-12 and 13-14 1. Someone in your science class asked you, ―How can you study science and still believe in God‖? How would you reply? 2. Refer to the statements of the various scientists. What idea do all of them have in common? 3. Find the verse, and discuss at least two scientific facts that were already described in the Holy Qur‘an before modern science discovered them. You may use examples from table on page 16. 4. How does God use science to prove His existence as Living God?
Recommended Homework
● Read the book Our God by Hadhrat Bashir Ahmad Sahib. ● Write an article (max one page) on a scientific discovery found in the Qur‘an that interests you and submit to Al-Hilal magazine.
Reflections: “What did I learn from this Lesson?”
July 2019 Quarter 2 - Part 1
Objectives: 1. Understand Salat as a method of communication with Allah. 2. Understand the importance of Salat and its Benefits. 3. Understand that Salat is the oxygen for our soul.
Wifi To Heaven
Salat is the second of the Five Pillars of Islam offered five times a day in set form. It is so important that it is mentioned 700 times in the Holy Qur‘an. This is because Salat is the entire purpose of our existence. Allah says in the Holy Qur‘an,
―And I have not created the jinn and the men but that they may worship Me." (51:57)
Since Salat is an obligation on every Muslim, we must try our best to gain a better understanding of it. To make things easier, let‘s look at Salat in terms of Wifi. Do you know what the purpose of WiFi is? Communication! WiFi is the easiest and fastest way to communicate.
Well, what about the most convenient, easiest and fastest way to communicate with Allah? Allah has provided us a universal free WiFi network that has absolutely no range. This WiFi network is Salat! We use WiFi to stay connected throughout the day whenever we get a chance, and are always on the lookout for hotspots. However, do we ever look forward to the time when we get to use the most valuable hotspot available on this planet - our Jainamaz (prayer mat)?
Salat is the foundation of our relationship with our Creator. It has been made obligatory on Muslims for a reason, and it is the precise way in which Allah has instructed us to worship Him. Allah says in the Holy Qur'an,
“Verily, I am Allah; there is no God beside Me. So serve Me and observe Salat for My remembrance.” (20:15)
Benefits of Salat
The importance of Salat is understood when we reflect on how it benefits us. Allah says in the Holy Qur‘an, ―Salat restrains one from indecency and evil, and remembrance of Allah is indeed is the greatest virtue.‖ (29:46)
On one occasion, The Holy Prophetsaw asked his companions, ―If one of you had a stream flowing by his door and he takes a bath in it five times a day, would any dirt be left on him?‖ They replied, ―No dirt would be left on him.‖ The Holy Prophetsaw said, ―This is the case with Salat. Allah makes Salat wipe away sins.” (Sahih-Al-Bukhari)
Sins not only harm us in this life, but also deprive us from a blessed hereafter. Salat purifies us, it helps our sins to be forgiven, and helps protect us from further sins.
The importance of Salat cannot be understated. The Holy Prophetsaw said, ―Surely the first action that a believer will be brought to account for on the Day of Judgment will be Salat.‖ (Al-Nisa‘i)
The Promised Messiahas said, ―Surely our Lord is recognized only through prayers.‖7 This statement refers back to our section on a ―Living God,‖ and shows that we can only truly know Allah when we pray to Him, and He answers our prayers.
In summary, the benefits of prayers are as follow: ● Protects us from sin, and allows forgiveness for sins committed. ● Provides an avenue to beg for guidance and help. ● Purifies the heart and soul. ● Provides a direct and deep relationship with Allah, allowing us to communication. ● Reminds us of the hereafter and Day of Judgment. ● Helps improve our character and attain righteousness. ● Makes us mindful of everything we do because we know we will be standing before Allah throughout the day. ● Provides a sense of inner peace and comfort. ● Provides a constant reminder of the essence of our creation. ● It‘s a complete prayer. ● Provides an opportunity to express gratitude to Allah.
7 Malfoozat Vol 3 Pg. 201 – 1984 Edition London Our Oxygen Supply and Medicine
What is the one thing that our bodies absolutely need in order to live? Oxygen! Just like our physical bodies need oxygen to live, our spiritual bodies need Salat to live. Salat is the oxygen for our soul. Without it, we will be dead spiritually.
Imagine someone was dying and the doctor prescribed the only medicine that could keep them alive. The doctor also said it has to be taken five times a day at specific times. Do you think that person would dare miss a single dose? This is the case with Salat. We should aim not to miss any dose of our medicine that keeps our soul alive and well.8
Quarter 2 - Part 1 Activity Divide into groups and answer the following questions on a separate piece of paper. Present your findings to the class.
Ages 7-9
1. Discuss some of the benefits of Salat. 2. Why do you think people find it hard to offer Salat even after they know about the benefits? 3. Do you understand how Salat is like oxygen for our spiritual body? 4. Do you understand how Salat is like WiFi.
Recommended Homework
● Read pages 1-7 from chapter one of the book Salat, The Muslim Prayer book. Ask a parent to read with you and ask them questions. ● Read pages 174-179 of Basics of Religious Education.
Ages 10-12 and 13-14
1. Discuss the benefits of Salat at a deeper level. Which ones were you most familiar with? 2. Upon reflection, how do you think Salat gives life and how not offering it leads to a spiritual death? 3. How is Salat a complete prayer?
8 Inspired by lectures from Yasmin Mogahed 4. How can Salat improve our character and behavior?
Recommended Homework
● Read the book ―Salat, The Muslim Prayer Book‖
Reflections: “What did I learn from this Lesson?”
August 2019 Quarter 2 - Part 2
Objectives: 1. Understand the stages of perfecting Salat. 2. Understand the deeper meanings of ―Iqamatus Salah‖.
Allah says in the Holy Qur‘an, ―Verily, I am Allah, there is no God beside Me. So serve Me, and Observe prayer for My remembrance‖ (20:15).
The Promised Messiahas expanded this for us and wrote in Al-Hakam, ―Salat is very important and it is the apex of the spiritual exaltation of the true believer.‖
Well, how do we achieve this apex? Hadhrat Khalifatul Masihra II, has identified seven stages to the observance of prayer. If we strive to get to the 7th stage, we will get closer to Allah and have a deep personal relationship with Him.
Seven Stages in the Spiritual Journey of the Observance of Prayer:9
● First Stage: One offers the five daily prayers. This is the lowest level of faith. ● Second Stage: One offers the five daily prayers at the correct times. ● Third Stage: One offers prayers in congregation. ● Fourth Stage: One observes prayer with the understanding of its meanings ● Fifth Stage: One becomes fully engrossed in the prayer (like plunging in water). One should do this until he/she acquires one of the two ranks: ○ 1. He/she sees God ○ 2. He/she firmly believes that God is seeing him ● Sixth Stage: One offers Nawafil (voluntary prayer). When a person is not satisfied with just the obligatory prayers. ● Seventh Stage: One not only offers five daily prayers and Nawafil, but also prays Tahajudd (late night/pre-dawn prayer) during the night.
9 Review of Religions, April 2010;Tafsir-e-Kabir vol 1, p.135-136
Iqamatus Salah
We know that Salat is mentioned 700 times in the Holy Qur‘an, but there is also a very important phrase, “Iqamatus Salah”, which is repeated in the Holy Qur‘an 47 times. Our Second Khalifara, has also explained the various meanings of this phrase:10
Various Meanings Brief Explanation
Regular Observance of Prayer Do not miss any prayer
Fulfillment of all Requirements for Prayer Do wudhu, do Salat on time, use correct postures, recite correct prayers at the proper posture
To Erect a Falling Prayer Stay firm in offering prayer correctly, beautify your prayer, and remain attentive
Try to Encourage and Motivate Others Remind and encourage others and help
10 Review of Religions, April 2010;Tafsir-e-Kabir vol 1, p.106 them become prompt and vigilant
Pray in Congregation It is considered a sin if you can pray in congregation but choose not to
To Offer Prayer with Complete Attention, Offer prayer in a lively manner with focus Togetherness and Vigilance and attention without getting distracted
Hadhrat Khalifatul Masihra IV said, ―Salat is the minimum standard of remembrance of God, without which one cannot maintain spiritual life.‖11
Therefore, let‘s try our best to carry out this obligation and try to keep improving our spiritual journey.
Quarter 2 - Part 2 Activity Divide into groups and answer the following questions on a separate piece of paper. Present your findings to the class.
Ages 7-9
1. How does Salat help you fulfill your purpose in life? 2. Talk about some of the incorrect ways children perform Salat? 3. How can you make sure that you do not miss any of your prayers? 4. What stage do you think children of your age group should definitely be at out of the seven stages discussed? 5. If a friend of yours is always late for Salat, what advice would you give her to help her always read it on time? 6. Discuss what the following statement of the Promised Messiahas means? ―Pray a great deal. Salat is the key to solving problems. Besides the traditional prayers and words, supplicate in your mother tongue as it carries heartfelt emotions. As long as the deep emotions are not there, keep praying. This purifies the self and attains everything.‖12
11 Friday Sermon, July 22, 1988 12 Malfoozat, vol 3, p.589 Recommended Homework
● Read pages 1-7 from chapter one of the book Salat, The Muslim Prayer book. Ask a parent to read with you and ask them questions. ● Read pages 174-179 of Basics of Religious Education
Ages 10-12 and 13-14
1. In what ways does offering Salat help us to fulfill our purpose of life? 2. How can you improve on the following situations: a. Inconsistency in offering Salat b. Pray late or at the last minute c. Cannot get up for Fajr d. Have trouble focusing in Salat e. Always combine Zuhr/Asr and Maghrib/Isha 3. According to Holy Qur‘an, the following worshipers are beloved and accepted in the sight of Allah. How can we achieve each one? ● Those who are constant in their prayers (70:24) ● Those who are humble in their prayers (9:23) ● Those who are strict in the observance of prayer (70:3) 4. Explain two meanings of ―Iqamatus Salah‖? 5. Match the following stages of Salat: Stage 1 Offer Nafl Prayers Stage 2 Fully engrossed in prayer Stage 3 Offer five daily prayers Stage 4 Offer Tahajudd prayers Stage 5 Pray at correct times Stage 6 Pray in congregation Stage 7 Pray with understanding
Recommended Homework
● Read the book Salat, The Muslim Prayer Book ● Read the following article from Review of Religions, ―Iqamatus Salat - The Observance of Prayer in Islam‖ from April 10, 2010.13
13 www.reviewofreligions.org
Reflections: “What did I learn from this Lesson?”
September 2019 Quarter 2 - Part 3
Objectives: 1. Understand that certain conditions should be met for acceptance of prayers. 2. Understand that predetermination does not prevent prayers from being answered. 3. Resolve the dilemma of prayers that seem to have gone unanswered.
Acceptance of Prayers
The Promised Messiahas has spoken in many of his writings about creating the correct conditions in order for prayers to be accepted. You might wonder why would there be conditions? Well, it‘s very simple. Imagine there is a family of four. The two children are very different. One child is very obedient to parents. She is always looking for ways to please them. Her sister however, is the exact opposite. She never listens to her parents and does not care about pleasing them. When these children ask their parents for something, who do you think will get what she has asked for?
This is what we must do in our relationship with God. When we worship Him, live by His commandments, and remember Him throughout the day, we develop a close relationship with Allah. We are trying to create the conditions in which He will want to accept our prayers. So what exactly are the conditions we should be living by? Well, Hudhuraba has outlined all the conditions for us in the Friday Sermon below.
Conditions Necessary for the Acceptance of Prayers14 First Have complete, unshakeable certainty and faith in the existence of God, Condition Lord of all the worlds Who provides for all living things.
Second Desire to seek Him and union with Him inculcating Taqwa condition (righteousness) and purifying oneself to for this union.
Third Have complete faith in the Holy Prophetsaw and Promised Messiahas condition
Fourth Supplication to Allah should be to seek His pleasure, not for worldly Condition reasons.
14 Friday Sermon - September 28, 2007: ―Acceptance of Prayer and Attaining Nearness to God‖ Fifth Avoid all sins. Condition
Sixth Give precedence to faith over worldly matters. If one suffers worldly loss Condition for the honor of faith, one should be willing to endure it.
Seventh Continuously try to improve oneself in spiritual and practical terms. Condition Increasing in spirituality increases acceptance of prayer.
Eighth Prayers must remain within the Laws of Allah. Fulfill the rights of others. Condition A true believer cannot hurt anyone or usurp the rights of others, but seek Allah‘s mercy for himself.
Ninth Pray in good prosperous times, not just in times of trouble and hardship. Condition
Tenth Never rush prayer or get tired of praying. Allah always listens to sincere Condition prayers made over a period of time. Steadfastness and patience are necessary for acceptance.
Eleventh Have tenderness (softness in heart), fear and sadness in ones Condition supplications in order to seek high standard of prayers.
Predetermination and Prayers
Many Muslims believe, that the verse in the Holy Qur‘an which says “Pray unto Me; I will answer your prayer” (40:61), doesn‘t apply to all prayers. They believe that only those prayers will be answered that already fulfill what has been predetermined.
In his book, The Blessings of Prayer, the Promised Messiahas addresses this misconception of predetermination and prayers. He explains that prayer can be compared to the use of medicine. He asks the misguided Muslims, if one believes everything is predetermined and cannot be changed, why take medicine? Whether you take it or not, it will make no difference to whatever has been predetermined. To use or not to use medicine would be the same as praying or not praying. If a person has this wrong belief, then taking any steps (like taking medicine) to improve any situation would be completely pointless, because it will make no difference to what is destined.
We as Ahmadi Muslims have been blessed to have correct teaching in this matter. The Promised Messiahas and Khulafara constantly remind us that we must create the right conditions and then it is up to Allah whether he grants us what we have asked for or not. ―God Almighty has never promised to accept all prayers, but has said clearly that He will accept or reject prayers as He desires.15‖
He further explains, ―A destiny, which is not fixed, can be changed with prayer and giving charity. God changes this destiny with His mercy.‖16 Therefore, we need to make sure that we fulfill all the conditions for the acceptance of prayer and then leave it to Allah‘s will.
Some Reasons Why Prayers go Unanswered ● Conditions required for the acceptance of prayer are not fulfilled. ○ ―Some people are not familiar with the etiquettes of requesting the prayer. As long as the person requesting prayer does not have the quality of obedience in him, the prayer is not accepted.‖17 ● The prayer of a worshiper may not actually be good for them so Allah is protecting them from harm. ○ ―...if a dear child of a mother should cry and beg her to hand it a burning brand or a snake, or to feed it a poison which seems agreeable, the mother would never fulfil such a wish.‖ ● Allah may have something even better planned. ● Allah wants the worshiper to learn patience and steadfastness.
Quarter 2 - Part 3 Activity Divide into groups and answer the following questions on a separate piece of paper. Present your findings to the class.
Ages 7-9
1. What is the first condition we must meet if we want our prayers to be accepted? 2. If we pray, does Allah have to give us whatever we ask for? Why or why not? 3. What has the Promised Messiahas taught us about the acceptance of prayer? 4. Discuss what the following statement of the Promised Messiahas means?
15 Blessings of Prayer, p.20 16 Malfoozat, vol 3, p.24 17 Malfoozat, vol 1, p.536
―As long as the heart is not pure, prayers are not accepted. If there is rancour in the heart for a single person due to worldly matters, your prayers will not be accepted.‖
Recommended Homework
● Read pages 1-7 from chapter one of the book Salat, The Muslim Prayer book. Ask a parent to read with you and ask them questions. ● Read pages 174-179 of Basics of Religious Education.
Ages 10-12 and 13-14
1. What do you understand about the word predetermination? 2. What is the incorrect belief that Non-Ahmadi Muslims have about predetermination and prayer? 3. Solve the dilemma in following situation: Ten people go for an interview, all praying to get the job. Only one can get it. Does that mean God listened to only one person‘s prayer? 4. Discuss what the following statement of the Promised Messiahas means? ―The first and foremost prayer is for the purification from sins. The key and essential part of praying is this supplication. Because when this prayer is accepted and the person is purified from all impurities, he becomes attractive to God. Then he does not even need to supplicate for other needs as these are bestowed upon him automatically. The most rigorous and laborious prayers is to be purified of sins and be accepted as a pious and God fearing person in the estimation of God.‖ (Malfoozat, vol.3, p.617)
Recommended Homework
● Read the book Salat, The Muslim Prayer Book ● Read the following article from Review of Religions, ―Iqamstus Salat - The Observance of Prayer in Islam.‖ ● Read pages 157-161 (―Etiquettes of Prayer‖) of the book Treasure House of Prayers by Hafiz Muzaffer Ahmad.
Reflections: “What did I learn from this Lesson?”
October 2019 Quarter 3 - Part 1
Objectives: 1. Understand the correct etiquettes of the Mosque. 2. Understand the correct etiquettes of Salat and the actions that invalidate it. 3. Understand the Salat tracker and how to use it.
Etiquettes of the Mosque
● Avoid eating strong smelling foods before going to the Mosque. ● Step into the Mosque with the right foot. ● Recite the prayer for entering the Mosque. ● Place shoes neatly in the appropriate place. ● Greet everyone with Assalamu Alaikum. ● Offer two Nawafil prayers, if possible. ● Keep mosque clean and fragrant. ● Sit quietly in the remembrance of Allah. ● If late, do not try to get to the front and disturb others who are already seated. ● Step out of the mosque with your left foot first. ● Recite the prayer for leaving the Mosque at departure.
Etiquettes of Salat
Before Salat
● Offer Salat at its appointed time. ● Use the bathroom before offering the prayer so you can be fully attentive. ● Avoid performing Salat on an empty stomach as hunger can be a distraction. ● Perform wudhu (ablution) correctly. ● Do not run to join the Salat, even if you are late. ● Sit in the prayer lines between Adhan and Iqamat and spend that time in the remembrance of Allah. ● While preparing for Salat, reflect on your acts of goodness and piety, that you will present to God, as well as the sins for which you will seek His forgiveness. ● As soon as Adhan is heard, stop any and all activities and form lines in silence. ● Prayer lines start in the middle. ● Align rows properly in congregation, standing shoulder to shoulder with no gaps in between worshipers. ● Always fill empty spaces found in front rows first. ● Do not stand alone in congregational prayer. ● At least two people are needed to create a new line. ● Recite Niyyat (Intention) of Salat before you start Salat.
Dress Code
● Dress appropriately in clean clothes for Salat. ● Cover hair with a scarf. ● Tuck long hair inside scarf. ● Cover arms to at least the elbows. ● If sleeves are short, cover with a large scarf or keep a coat on during Salat. ● Legs should be covered to the ankles. ● Shirts over pants should be long enough to cover your backside, even when in sajdah (prostration).
Behavior
● Offer prayers with poise, dignity and composure. ● Avoid rushing or hurrying through your prayer. ● Recite the prescribed prayers carefully with attention to the meanings in order to help the mind from wandering to other thoughts. ● Stay focused by not looking around. ● Keep your eyes fixed on the spot that will be touched by the forehead during prostration. ● Avoid causing any disturbance or talk loudly near someone who is offering Salat. ● Avoid leaning against a support during Salat or shifting your weight on one leg. ● During congregational prayers, do not move before the Imam. ● Avoid getting up to leave as soon as Salat is finished. Remain seated and spend time in the remembrance of Allah. ● Avoid walking in front of someone who is praying. ● Avoid praying facing pictures of people. ● Avoid facing a mirror (will be a distraction). ● Do not pray facing shoes (disrespectful).
Jummah Prayers
● Listen to the Khutba (Friday Sermon) attentively. It is part of Salat! ● Since Friday sermon is part of Salat, all etiquettes of Salat apply, as if you are offering Salat. ● You MUST not speak during the Sermon. ● If someone else is talking, they should be silenced with a polite gesture and without speaking. ● Do not play with anything (games, keychains, bags etc.) ● Phones should be silenced and not used in any way during the sermon.
Actions that Invalidate Prayer
● Breaking your ablution (sleeping, passing wind, using the bathroom, vomiting). ● Eating or drinking while offering prayer. ● Speaking or responding to anyone during prayer. ● Laughing during prayer. ● Turning your head to the left or right while praying.
Salat Tracker
In this section you will find a tracker which will serve to be a great tool for you in your journey of self-improvement. The most successful people in the world, who want to grow as individuals and achieve goals, journal or keep some kind of a record of what they are doing. How else can you know if you are in fact improving unless you know where you started and where you are headed?
Using this Tracker
Each Nasirah should use this tracker to keep a record of how well she is fulfilling her daily obligations according to the teachings of Islam.
Each Nasirah should be performing her five daily prayers, reciting the Holy Qur‘an, and listening to MTA regularly, especially Hudhur‘saba Friday Sermon.
We understand that life can be very busy, but as Ahmadis we MUST make sure that we set our priorities right. Our Religious obligations must come before any worldly activity.
Always assess yourself and see where you improve. Self-reflection and self- improvement is a part of life and should be made into a regular practice by every Nasirah.
How to self-reflect and improve using this tracker
Once you start recording in this tracker, you will learn things about your personal routine and priorities. So if for example, you are used to always combining your prayers doing them three times a day, try your best to gradually increase to four and then five. Sometimes it‘s not possible to separate Zuhr and Asr due to school, but the other four should be done separately and at the correct times.
The same concept can be applied to the recitation of the Holy Qur‘an. Record on your tracker whenever you recite the Holy Qur‘an. Check if it is acceptable or does it need improvement. If you never recite, simply begin. Pick a day and time that best suits you (and your mother if you are still learning) and begin reciting. If you recite 3 times a week, add in another day. Even if you recite daily, you can improve on that too. For example, if you recite after school or in the evening, you can now try to recite after Fajr in the morning. Also, you can recite for longer or study the translation and commentary.
You should know that no matter where you are in your spiritual journey, there is always room for improvement! This tracker is just a TOOL to start reflecting on where we are and what we need to do to improve. It will also be a reference point to complete your monthly survey at the end of the month. The next section includes a copy of the tracker tool followed by a copy of the Survey so you know what to expect.
Nasirat Survey
At the end of every month, you will receive a survey form to complete. Your tracker will make this task easy for you as everything will have already been recorded. The following are the questions you will be asked:
1. Do you offer Salat regularly? 5 times a day, 3 times a day, all except Fajr rarely, never 2. Do you watch MTA regularly? Yes or No 3. How many sermons did you listen to this month? 1, 2, 3, 4, I only read the summary, None 4. How often do you recite the Holy Qur‘an? Daily, 2-3 times a week, once a week once a month, rarely 5. Have you paid your Nasirat Chanda? Yes, No, Some of it 6. Did you complete your Nasirat or Tahir Academy homework? Yes or No 7. Did you write a letter to Hudhuraba this month?
Friday Sermon - Important Points Worship, Anger Management and Forgiveness - October 10, 2014:
● The sign of true believers is that they worship God and also avoid idle and trivial matters. ● God has made Salat obligatory, but has also provided practical accommodations for it. For example, ○ If someone cannot offer it standing up, they may sit down. ○ If someone cannot offer it sitting down, they may lay down. ○ If travelling, the Salat is shortened and may be combined. ○ If your job is such that your clothes remain dirty, you may perform Salat in those clothes. ○ If there is no water, you may perform tayyammum (dry ablution). ● Therefore, a sensible person will not make excuses for not offering Salat. ● Regular observance of Salat in children must be instilled. ● Youth is a time of good health and worship can be offered with its due requisite/specification. ● Promised Messiahas drew attention to the fact that only worship during youth and while in good health can be offered with its due requisites/specifications. ● Much effort should be made in this regard as faith is not complete without Salat!
Quarter 3- Part 1 Activity Divide into groups and answer the following questions on a separate piece of paper. Present your findings to the class.
Ages 7-9
1. What should be covered during Salat? 2. List the things you remember that you should not do in the mosque? 3. Are there any actions that invalidate prayer which you did not know about? 4. What should you do if a friend of yours is talking during the Friday sermon?
Recommended Homework
● Read pages 1-7 from chapter one of the book Salat, The Muslim Prayer book. Ask a parent to read with you and ask them questions. ● Read pages 174-179 of Basics of Religious Education. ● Make a copy of the tracker tool at the beginning of each week and put on your fridge or somewhere on the wall in your room so it‘s a visible. ● Ask your mom to buy stickers and put them in the boxes you complete.
Ages 10-15
1. How does Allah make offering Salat easier for us? Provide examples. 2. What is tayammum? Demonstrate how to perform it. 3. What is the simplest way to explain to someone the etiquettes during the Friday sermon? 4. What etiquettes did you not know about before studying this section? 5. List all the actions that invalidate Salat without looking at your notes?
Recommended Homework
● Read the book Salat, The Muslim Prayer Book ● Make a copy of the tracker tool at the beginning of each week and put on your fridge or somewhere on the wall in your room so it‘s a visible. ● Simply tick the boxes as you complete.
Reflections: “What did I learn from this Lesson?”
November 2019 Quarter 3 - Part 2
Objectives: 1. Understand the blessings of reciting, listening and following the Holy Qur‘an. 2. Understand how the Holy Qur‘an is meant to guide and help its followers. 3. Understand the various ways we can honor the Holy Qur‘an.
The Holy Qur‟an - Allah‟s Letter to Us
Dear Nasirat, we should get into the habit of viewing the Qur‘an as a letter from our beloved Allah. In this letter, He shares with us the truths of the past, stories and prayers of the prophets, and amazing information about the world around us, the future and the hereafter! But most importantly, He is teaching and guiding us on how to best live our lives. It is literally our study guide for passing this test we call Life.
The very first Quranic revelation to The Holy Prophetsaw was to ―Read.‖ This means that the very first commandment given to Muslims is to read and understand the Holy Qur‘an.
As Ahmadi Muslims, we must develop an incredible love, and obedience for this blessed book which gives us perfect guidance. Remember, the Holy Qur‘an is not an ordinary book. It is the most ―perfect book‖, as it contains only Allah‘s words which we must hold dear to our hearts. The Holy Prophetsaw said, ―Verily, one who does not hold in his heart anything from the Qur‘an is like a ruined house‖ (Tirmidhi).
Blessings of the Holy Qur‟an
The Holy Qur‘an provides us with blessings not just in this life, but also the next! The following are some benefits regarding the recitation, listening and following of the Holy Qur‘an:
● Knowledge of the Holy Qur‟an leads to high status in paradise ○ "Such a person as recites the Qur‘an and masters it by heart, will be with the noble righteous scribes in Heaven. And such a person exerts himself to learn the Qur‘an by heart, and recites it with great difficulty, will have a double reward." (Bukhari)
● There are ten rewards for every letter recited from the Holy Qur‟an ○ ―Whoever reads a letter from the Book of Allah, he will have a reward, and this reward will be multiplied by ten.‖ (Tirmidhi)
● The Holy Qur‟an will intercede for us on the Day of Judgement ○ ―Read the Qur‘an, for indeed it will come on the Day of Standing (Judgement) as an intercessor for its companions.‖ (Muslim) ○ ―...And the Qur‘an is a proof for you or against you.‖ (Muslim)
● Studying the Holy Qur‟an makes you among the best of people ○ ―The best of you are those who learn the Qur‘an and teach it to others.‖ (Al-Bukhari) ○ ● The Holy Qur‟an will be a source of mercy for us ○ ―And when the Qur'an is recited, give ear to it and keep silent that you may be shown mercy.‖ (7:205)
● Following the commandments of the Holy Qur‟an leads to a great reward ○ ―Surely this Qur‘an guides to what is most right; and gives to the believers who do good deeds, the glad tidings that they shall have a great reward.‖ (Qur‘an: 17:9)
Honoring the Holy Qur‟an to Receive its Blessings
In order to receive the blessings of the Holy Qur‘an, we must love it and honor it! There are various ways in which we can show our love, respect and devotion to it. The diagram below illustrates some the ways we can achieve this:
Friday Sermon - Important Points Ramadhan and the Holy Qur‟an: The source of Guidance and Salvation- July 11, 2014
● The Holy Qur‘an is a guidance for those who wish to seek guidance from it. ● We must read, ponder over, and understand it, otherwise we will not be guided. ● Those who practice Qur‘anic teachings will appear different from the rest, having a distinctly higher status than others. ● No other book or religion can stand up to the Holy Qur‘an and its superior teachings, historic facts and reasoning. ● The Holy Qur‘an is wholly from God and safeguarded in its original form. ● Make its teachings a part of your life ○ The Promised Messiahas explains that the Holy Qur‘an has 3 qualities: 1. Gives knowledge of faith 2. Gives details of such knowledge 3. Sets forth the decisive word with no discrepancies ○ The Promised Messiahas said, read the book of Allah day and night for extremely faithless is the person who does not show regard to the Holy Qur‘an and is inclined to other books all the time. ● Holy Qur‘an gives the cure for every disease. It tells how to remove every evil. ● On the Day of Judgment, the Qur‘an will confirm or deny your faith. ● A person who reads but does not practice, is cursed by the Holy Qur‘an. ● The Promised Messiahas said that the recitation of the Word of God creates Divine Love: ○ ―The root of worship is in the recitation of the Holy Qur‘an because if the words of the Beloved are read or listened to, they certainly stir love in a true lover and exhilarate ardour‖ ● The Holy Qur‘an is perfect and final and no other Book is needed after the Holy Qur‘an because it is nothing beyond perfection.
Quarter 3 - Part 2 Activity Divide into groups and answer the following questions on a separate piece of paper. Present your findings to the class.
Ages 7-9
1. Why should we recite the Holy Qur‘an? 2. Is reciting it in a beautiful tone enough? What else must we do? 3. What steps can you take today to make sure you live up to the teachings within the Holy Qur‘an? 4. What advice can you give to a friend who has no time to recite the Qur‘an? To a friend who is embarrassed that she cannot read Arabic properly?
Recommended Homework
● Read pages 36-38, ―Etiquette of Recitation‖ from the book, Basics of Religious Education.
Ages 10-12 and 13-14
1. Discuss some of the benefits associated with the Holy Qur‘an. 2. How can reciting the Holy Qur‘an bring us closer to Allah? 3. What are some examples of ―superior teachings‖ the Holy Qur‘an provides? 4. From Huzoor‘sra sermon, what do you think ―the Qur‘an will confirm or deny your faith‖ means? Recommended Homework
● Read pages 35-40, ―Etiquette of Recitation‖ from the book, Basics of Religious Education. ● Read the book ―Introduction to the Study of the Holy Qur‘an‖ by Khalifatul Masihra II. You can choose sections that interest you.
Reflections: “What did I learn from this Lesson?”
December 2019 Quarter 3- Part 3
Objective: 1. Understand the etiquettes associated with the Holy Qur‘an.
When we take the time out to sit with our Qur‘an and dedicate some time to its recitation, it can be a spiritual experience in which we find comfort. If we then dedicate some more time to read the translation and commentary of what we recited, we will get the added benefit of knowledge.
Etiquettes associated with the Holy Qur‟an - Part 1
Spiritual Cleanliness: ● Make pure intentions with a spiritually clean heart before reciting. ● Recite the Qur‘an to fulfill Allah‘s command and to win His Pleasure, not to show off or win some worldly gain. ● “Istaghfar” is the best way to keep hearts clean and pure. Make this a regular habit. Clean hearts receive the light of the Holy Qur‘an with all of its benefits.
Physical Cleanliness: ● Our bodies, and clothes must be clean. ● Perform ablution (wudhu) before recitation (encouraged). ● The area around us while reciting should be clean. ● The Holy Qur‘an says, “That this is indeed a noble Qur’an, In a well preserved book, Which none shall touch except those who are purified.” (56:78-80)
Placement of the Holy Qur‟an & Other Behaviors: ● The Qur‘an should be held with clean hands or put in an elevated position such as a Qur‘an stand or a pillow. ● NEVER put Holy Qur‘an on the floor. ● If the Qur‘an is in a bag, do not put the bag on the floor. ● Keep Holy Qur‘an away from feet. ● Avoid using saliva to turn the pages. ● Do not stretch your legs out towards Holy Qur‘an. ● Do not turn your back to the Holy Qur‘an. ● Do not lean on it, toss it, or hold in left hand only. ● Do not put something on top of it (ie. another book). ● Papers or workbooks that have verses of the Qur‘an should be treated with the same respect and correct etiquettes. ● During the week of menstruation, you ARE allowed to recite the Qur‘an but you should not hold the Qur‘an directly. You should hold it with a cloth in between.18
Prayers before Reciting: First recite Ta‘awwuz,
“I seek refuge with Allah from Satan the rejected.”
Note: We are asking Allah to protect us from Satan while reciting the Qur‘an so that we do not miss any teaching, or fail to understand the correct meaning. If we do understand the correct meaning, we want Allah to give us the strength to act on it, and never forget or ignore the teaching.
Then recite,
“In the Name of Allah, the Gracious, the Merciful.”
Quarter 3 - Part 3 Activity Divide into groups and answer the following questions on a separate piece of paper. Present your findings to the class.
18 Question and Answer session with Khalifatul Masih IV: www.askislam.org/mp3/MEI_19860622_09.mp3 Ages 7-9
1. Can we put this workbook on the floor? Why or why not? 2. What is the best way to keep out hearts pure? 3. Why is it important to have a clean pure, heart before we recite the Qur‘an? 4. Discuss any etiquette (s) you were not aware of.
Recommended Homework
Read pages 36-38, ―Etiquette of Recitation‖ from the book, Basics of Religious Education.
Ages 10-12 and 13-14
1. Discuss the ways we can be spiritually and physically clean. 2. What is the purpose of Istaghfar, and what are its effects. 3. What three behaviors are absolutely prohibited when dealing with Holy Qur‘an? 4. What is the purpose of asking for protection with Ta‘awwuz before reciting Holy Qur‘an?
Recommended Homework
● Read pages 35-40, ―Etiquette of Recitation‖ from the book, Basics of Religious Education. ● Read the book Introduction to the Study of the Holy Qur‟an by Khalifatul Masihra II. You can choose sections that interest you.
Reflections: “What did I learn from this Lesson?”
January 2020 Quarter 4- Part 1
Objective: 1. Understand the etiquettes associated with the Holy Qur‘an.
Etiquettes associated with the Holy Qur‟an - Part 2
How much to Recite: The recitation of the Holy Qur‘an should be an enjoyable experience. There is no hard or fast rule as to how much or how little you need to recite. The Holy Qur‘an says,
َف ۡقا َف ُا ۡق َف َف َف َّس َف ِم َف ۡقا ُا ۡق ٰا ِم “...Recite, then, as much as the Qur’an as is easy for you…” (73:21)
We should try to recite at least one ruku a day. Hadhuraba has said that no Ahmadi should leave their home in the morning without reciting the Qur‘an, even if its a couple of verses.
When to Recite: We may recite the Qur‘an at any time that is convenient. The best time however to recite the Qur‘an is at dawn, after Fajr prayers as it says in the Holy Qur‘an:
ِم َّس اُا ۡق ٰا َف ۡقا َفف ۡقج ِم َفک َف َف ۡقش ُاہ ۡق ًد ﴿۷۹﴾
“...Verily, the recitation of the Qur’an at dawn is specially acceptable to God.” (17:79)
Proper Recitation: The Qur‘an should be recited slowly and with complete attention as it says in the Holy Qur‘an:
َف َف ِم ِمل ۡقا ُا ۡق ٰا َف َف ۡق ِمۡق ًًل ؕ﴿۵﴾
“...And recite the Qur’an slowly and thoughtfully.” (73:5)
The rules of tajweed (correct pronunciation) and tarteel should be observed. The Arabic language is very complex and a slight variation or mistake can completely change the meaning of what is being recited. We should try to recite the Holy Qur‘an with a beautiful melodious tone. The Holy Prophetsaw said, ―One who does not recite the Qur‘an in a pleasant voice is not from among us.‖(Bukhari) We must NOT violate the rules of Tajweed while trying to beautify our recitation. Nasirat are encouraged to join Al-Furqan so they can correct their recitation. There are many resources available so please visit http://www.alfurqan.us/
Listening to the Recitation: It is disrespectful to talk or play while the Qur‘an is being recited. We should listen in silence and with devotion. The Holy Qur‘an says, ۡق ٰا َف ِم َفذ اُا ِم َٴی ا ُا ۡق ُا َف ۡق َف ِم عُا ۡق َفا ٗہ َف َفۡقن ِمص ُاۡق َفاعَف َّسل ُاک ۡقم ُا ۡق َفح ُا ۡق َف ﴿۲۰۵﴾
“And when the Qur’an is recited, give ear to it and keep silent that you may be shown mercy.” (Ch.7, vs. 205)
Prostration during Recitation: During the recitation of the Qur‘an, you may come across a verse that says ―Sajdah‖ next to it. There are 15 places in the Qur‘an where this occurs. When you come across one of those verses, you should perform prostration (sajdah) and recite the following prayer,
“Allahumma sajadah laka roohee wa jasadee wa janaanee”
―O Allah, my spirit, my body and my heart prostrate before You.‖ (Tirmizi-Fee Sujoodul Qur‟an)
Prayer after Recitation: It is a good habit to read the prayer at the of the Qur‘an (recited on completion of the Holy Qur‘an) after any recitation (even a few verses). All Nasirat should aim to memorize this prayer:
―O Allah, have mercy on me with (the blessings) of the Great Qur‘an. Make it for me a Model, Light, Guidance and Mercy. O my Allah, remind me whatever I have forgotten of it and teach me what I do not know of it. Grant me its recitation in the watches of the night and in the hours of the day. O Lord of the worlds, make it an Authority for me for my benefit. Ameen.‖
Quarter 4 - Part 1 Activity Divide into groups and answer the following questions on a separate piece of paper. Present your findings to the class.
Ages 7-9
1. Complete the puzzle on Recitation of the Holy Qur‘an.
Recommended Homework
Read pages 36-38, ―Etiquette of Recitation‖ from the book, Basics of Religious Education.
Ages 10-12 and 13-14
1. Complete the puzzle on Recitation of the Holy Qur‘an.
Recommended Homework
● Read pages 35-40, ―Etiquette of Recitation‖ from the book, Basics of Religious Education. ● Read the book Introduction to the Study of the Holy Qur‟an by Khalifatul Masih II. You can choose sections that interest you.
Reflections: “What did I learn from this Lesson?”
February 2020 Quarter 4 - Part 2
Objectives: 1. Understand the importance of financial sacrifice in Islam. 2. Understand the concept of purifying wealth. 3. Understand Allah‘s love for those who sacrifice and some of the benefits of financial sacrifice.
The Sacrifice of this Age
By now we should have already heard the term ―financial sacrifice‖. We may also understand what it means but do we understand the immense value of it? In the time of the Holy Prophetsaw, people were asked to sacrifice their lives for the sake of Islam! When God instructed them to go into battle, they listened and obeyed. This is the spirit of love and obedience to Allah that every Nasirat should be striving for.
Any relationship that is dear to us requires sacrifice. The same holds true for developing a relationship with Allah. We are so lucky to live in the time of the Promised Messiahas where the sacrifice of life is not necessary. The Promised Messiahas said,
―What a blessed time this is! No one is asked to lay down his life. This is not the time for offering the ultimate sacrifice; rather it is the time to spend out of one‘s possessions, according to one‘s means.‖ (Al-Hakam)
Can we even begin to compare the sacrifice of money to the sacrifice of a life? Of course not. Why then are people are so hesitant to offer this sacrifice? The answer is simple. Because wealth is very dear to people. The funny thing is, that it is precisely this love which makes it a great sacrifice! Allah says in the Holy Qur‘an,
―Never shall you attain to righteousness unless you spend out of that which you love; and whatever you spend, Allah surely knows it well.‖ (3:93)
Benefits of Financial Sacrifice
Financial Sacrifice not only benefits the recipient or cause to which it was given, but it also benefits the person making the sacrifice. It says in the Holy Qur‘an,
―The similitude of those who spend their wealth for the cause of Allah is like the similitude of a grain of corn which grows seven ears, in each ear a hundred grains. And Allah multiplies it further for whomsoever He pleases; and Allah is Bountiful, All- Knowing.‖(2:262)
What this verse means is that whatever you spend in the cause of Allah, will be multiplied 700 times? Khalifatul Masihra II explains that this is the LEAST amount of reward given, but there is no limit to what God can bestow.19
The following is a lovely story that the Holy Prophetsaw shared to show how Allah Himself miraculously helps those who give charity:
Story on the Reward of giving Charity
"A man was walking through a waterless piece of land. The sky was clouded and he heard a voice coming from the cloud saying: ‗O cloud, irrigate the garden of so and so.‘ Upon this, the cloud moved to a certain direction and rained upon a rocky plateau. The water ran through small rivulets.
The man followed a rivulet until it entered a garden and he saw the owner of the garden working with a shovel and distributing the water to his plants. He asked the owner of the garden: ‗O servant of Allah! What is your name?‘ He told him his name, which was the same that he has heard from the cloud.
The owner of the garden then asked him, ‗O servant of Allah! Why did you ask my name?‘ He replied, I heard a voice from the cloud, saying, ‗Irrigate the garden of so and so‘; May I know what you do to your garden to become worthy of such favour.‘ He said; ‗Since you have asked me, I will tell you. When the produce of this garden is ready, I give one third of the produce away in charity, keep one third for myself and my family, and use the remaining third in sowing and raising another crop in the garden." (Sahih Muslim)
The Promised Messiahas explains further about financial sacrifice in this age. He states,
"It is now time for all those who count themselves among my followers, that they should help this Movement with their money. If someone can only afford one paisa, he should pay one paisa each month for the requirements of the movement; he who can afford a rupee should offer a rupee each month….Everyone who has accepted the Bai'at should help according to his means, so that Allah too should help them. If the assistance is received regularly every month, even if it is minor, it is better than that which is made upon impulse after a long time of negligence. Every person's sincerity can only be
19 The Holy Quran with English translation and Commentary vol 1, pg.332 judged by the service he offers. O my dear ones! This is the time for helping the faith and fulfilling its requirements. Make use of it, for this time will never return."20
Purification of Wealth
Allah tells us that the Holy Qur‘an is a guidance for the righteous, ―Who believe in the unseen and observe prayer and spend out of what We have provided for them.‖ (2:4)
If we are to become righteous, we must follow the teachings of the Holy Qur‘an. The Holy Qur‘an is filled from the beginning to the end with verses pertaining to financial sacrifice.
Allah reminds us over and over again to spend from our wealth. The question we need to answer is why? Well, the whole purpose of the Qur‘an is to guide us on how we can become righteous and win Allah‘s pleasure. And guess what? This in itself is the reason! The Quranic verse mentioned before said, ―Never shall you attain to righteousness unless you spend out of that which you love.‖
It's no wonder that financial sacrifice is one of the five pillars of Islam. In Arabic, the third pillar of Zakat literally means ―purification‖. This means that our possessions are actually purified when we sacrifice from our wealth.
As Muslims, we believe that everything belongs to Allah, and wealth is held by man as a trust. A portion of our wealth actually belongs to other people and should be given to them. If we don‘t share our wealth and hoard it, it is considered impure and unclean.
Benefits of Purifying our Wealth through Sacrifice
Giving from what Allah has given us is certainly a test for all of us, but it comes with profound benefits:
● We win the pleasure of Allah therefore opening the doors to many blessings and rewards. ● It purifies our heart from selfishness and greed of wealth, and develops sympathy for the poor and needy.
20 Kashti-e-Nuh, Ruhani Khazain, vol. 19, p. 83
● For those who receive the Zakat, it purifies their heart from envy and hatred of the rich. ● Allah The Almighty promises us that if we train ourselves to give in times of ease and hardship, our sustenance will actually increase. ● We are guaranteeing protection for ourselves from tragedy and misfortune. ○ The Holy Prophetsaw said: ―Give charity without delay, for it stands in the way of calamity.‖ (Al-Tirmidhi). ● Our sacrifice in this life will be a protection for us on the Day of Judgment ○ The Holy Prophetsaw also said: ―The believer‘s shade on the Day of Resurrection will be his charity.‖ (Al-Tirmidhi). Meaning, Allah will shade and shelter those who gave charity and cared for the poor.
Friday Sermon - Important Points Essence of Financial Sacrifice, Tahrike Jadid, 83rd Year - November 11, 2016
● Promised Messiahas said that the acceptance from God Almighty cannot be attained unless temporary sufferings are tolerated. ○ He also said that blessed are those who for the approval of God Almighty do not care for temporary sufferings because the faithful get continual comfort after bearing temporary sufferings. ● Instead of spending on the lust and luxuries, we should be spending on the betterment of the creation of God Almighty. ○ Instead of buying lavish foods and clothing, we should be moderate ● As believers who proclaim to give priority to religion over the worldly affairs, it is our duty to sacrifice financially. ● We must realize the immense responsibility that is placed on our shoulders. ○ Our goal and responsibility is to spread Ahmadiyyat to the corners of the world. ● God Almighty promised the Promised Messiahas that He will give him a respectable reputation to the corners of earth. For this, a loyal and sacrificing Jama‘at is required. ● Today we see how God Almighty fulfills His promises. There is a worldwide Jama'at of sincere members who are attached to the Khalifa and are sacrificing their time, wealth, and honor.
Quarter 4 - Part 2 Activity Divide into groups and answer the following questions on a separate piece of paper. Present your findings to the class.
Ages 7-9
1. Why are we so lucky to be born in the age of the Promised Messiahas? 2. Why do people find it hard to make financial sacrifice? 3. If a person makes a sacrifice, how many more times will he/she be rewarded according to the Holy Qur‘an? 4. What does giving charity protect us from? 5. Discuss two of the benefits of purifying your wealth.
Recommended Homework
Read pages 1-10 of the book An Introduction to Financial Sacrifice
Ages 10-12 and 13-14
1. What is the difference between the sacrifices from the Holy Prophetsaw time and Promised Messiah‘sas time? 2. Why do we need to do financial sacrifice? 3. Discuss what purification of wealth means. 4. What are some of the benefits of purifying our wealth? 5. What do you think ―secretly and openly‖ means in the following verse from the Holy Qur‘an? "Those who spend their wealth by night and day, secretly and openly, have their reward with their Lords; on them shall come no fear, nor shall they grieve." (2:275)
Recommended Homework
● Read An Introduction to Financial Sacrifice. You may read selected sections to learn about the various chandas in our Jama‘at.
Reflections: “What did I learn from this Lesson?”
March 2020 Quarter 4 - Part 3
Objectives: 1. Understand the reason behind Jama‘at Chandas. 2. Understand the different categories of Chanda. 3. Understand the Chandas Naisrat are responsible for.
Why Jama‟at Chandas?
If we study the Holy Qur‘an and ponder over the numerous verses on financial sacrifice, we may wonder why the Holy Qur‘an doesn‘t mention anything about our chandas. Why then do we have chandas and why do we need to pay them if they are not mentioned in the Holy Qur‘an?
Well to put it simply, because the Promised Messiahas, a prophet, started them! Why did he start them? To fulfill the commandments of Allah found in the Holy Qur‘an. Under the blessed guidance of the Promised Messiahas and his successors, Jamaat has
graciously provided us with so many opportunities to fulfill our obligation of financial sacrifice to spread the true message Islam and help humanity while purifying our wealth at the same time.
After the demise of the Promised Messiahas, the Jama‘at grew, and his successors started new projects and schemes to carry on the mission, which require financial contributions.
As Ahmadis, we are so blessed that we have a Khilafara who ensures that our money is spent in the best manner and guides us on how it should be spent. We can make our donations and feel joy knowing that it will be used in the most beneficial, honest and wise way possible.
Chanda Categories Below is a copy of page 76 of An Introduction to Financial Sacrifice. As you can see, the Chandas are divided into two categories:
1. Obligatory – A Chanda you must pay as a member of the Ahmadiyya Community 2. Supererogatory – A Chanda that is not obligatory (optional) but highly encouraged to make donations to. As Nasirat, you will not be responsible for the majority of these as they are for earning members only, but it‘s good to be aware of them.
Nasirat Chandas
Below you will find a table that includes the Chandas that are Obligatory on Nasirat and some of the Supererogatory Chandas that Nasirat may contribute to if they desire. Nasirat must however fulfill their Obligatory Chandas before they contribute to other optional Chandas.
Obligatory Amount Description
Chanda Nasirat $7.00 Helps cover the cost for anything associated with Nasirat-ul-Ahmadiyya
Chanda Ijtema $7.00 Helps cover the cost of Nasirat Ijtema
Supererogatory Amount Description
Tahrik-e-Jadid Min-$5.00 This scheme was started in 1934 by Khalifatul suggestion Masihra II. It was introduced to train and pay the missionaries for their local duties and focus on Tabligh (propagation). The funds are used for all foreign missions (outside Pakistan) including the U.K. It also helps to establish new missions and construct Mosques. The suggested rate is 1/5th of one‘s monthly income and it is recommended to increase your donation every year even if its by a cent. The year is from 1st November to 31st October.
"The purpose of launching Tahrik-e-Jadid is to acquire such a fund with which Allah’s message can be delivered as far as the corners of the earth with ease and facility." (Khalifatul Masih II Friday Sermon November 27, 1942.
Waqf-e- Jadid Min-$5.00 This scheme was started in 1957 by Khalifatul suggestion Masihra II in order to provide education and training to rural Jama‗ats. It looks after all the missions in the Indian subcontinent and now has been extended to Africa and Russia. The year is from 1st January to 31st December.
Waqf-e-Jadid $50.00 Any child that pays a minimum of $50 towards this Nuna Mujahid scheme is classified as a ―Nuna Mujahid‖ and his/her name is sent to Hudhurra for special prayer.
"Today I appeal to all Ahmadi Children (boys and girls) to come forward and fill the gaps which have been left by your elders due to their laxity, and get rid of the weaknesses which have found their way into the work of Waqf-e-Jadid." (Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih III, Al-Fadl, October 7, 1966)
Sadqa This is a voluntary donation for the poor and needy (charity) which God Himself has commanded us to do. Allah opens the paths of abundance for those who help needy people. We offer this to please Allah and gain His blessings. For example, if you need Allah‘s help and guidance for some matter, or if you already received a blessing, you should give sadqa as thanks. It also wards off and protects us from evil and misfortune/harm.
Humanity First Charitable organization started by Khalifatul Masihra IV in 1994 in the U.K. It was established in the USA in 2004. Its mission is to serve disaster struck and socially disadvantaged individuals and families in the poorer communities in the world. Giving to this charity is sadqa.
Orphan Fund As a welcome for the second century of Ahmadiyyat, Hadhrat Khalifatul Masihra IV (ra) started this fund and announced that the Jama‘at would take care of one hundred orphans. It still carries on today taking care of orphan especially in Africa, Bangladesh and India.
Local Mosque As the number of Ahmadis increase, so does the Fund need for more mosques. The construction costs for this is a lot of money and so this fund is used towards the building of Mosques.
Lajna Hall Fund This fund started so that Lajna could have their own hall for offices and events. The Lajna hall at headquarters will serve the entire lajna USA community. This fund can also be used Lajna halls at a local level.
Maryam Fund This fund was started by Hadhrat Khalifatul Masihra IV (ra) in February 2003. It is used to help poor parents who do have the means to marry off their daughters with the basic requirements. The recipients will be able to send their daughters to their homes in a befitting manner.
Friday Sermon - Important Points
Inspirational Stories
● The National President of Lajna Ima‘illah Canada writes that during a meeting, one woman said that her 12-year old daughter had won an $80 prize from her school. She originally wanted to buy something with it, but after having been encouraged by the Waqf-e-Jadid Secretary, she decided to donate the entire amount for Waqf-e-Jadid. The National President relates that God also blessed her in return the following day when she obtained first position in the Abdus Salam Science Fair and received a $300 reward. In this way, God Almighty reinforced her faith and belief.21
● Ameer Sahib Burkina Faso writes that an elderly person is the only Ahmadi in his family. He was not very regular in his Salat due to old age and many illnesses and was sad about it. This year after he took his Bai‘at, he paid 70,000 in local currency in chanda. No sooner had he made the contribution then his prolonged illness improved and not only did he start saying Salat regularly, he even offers Tahajjud. He believes all this is with the blessing of financial giving.22
● Huzoor (may Allah be his Helper) said that a woman from Gambia accepted Ahmadiyyat and when she was told about Tehrik-e-Jadid she said that she had only one hundred Dalasi to buy rice. She further said that her only son had disappeared for the past two years, and there is no news about him. With that she offered that money for the Tehrik-e-Jadid and said that God Almighty will arrange for her. After three days, her son came back and brought with him ten bags of rice and a large amount of money. On this she herself said that it was due to my sacrifice and from now on I will always do so.
21 Friday Sermon: Financial Sacrifice - Waqfe Jadid 2019 22 Friday Sermon: Blessings of Financial Sacrifice by Ahmadiyya Muslim Community November 4th, 2011
Quarter 4 - Part 3 Activity Divide into groups and answer the following questions on a separate piece of paper. Present your findings to the class.
Ages 7-9
1. Why doesn‘t the Holy Qur‘an mention ―Nasirat Chanda‖? 2. What was the purpose of the Promised Messiah‘sas coming? Refer to the diagram. 3. What are the Chandas that you MUST pay as a Nasirat? Give examples of what they might be used for. 4. What are Tahrik-e-Jadid and Waqf-e-Jadid funds used for? 5. Complete the puzzle on Chandas.
Recommended Homework
Read pages 1-10 of the book An Introduction to Financial Sacrifice
Ages 10-12 and 13-14
1. What was the purpose of the Promised Messiahas in starting to collect Chanda from his followers? 2. How do you see the command to spend in the way of Allah fulfilled in this age? 3. A fellow Nasirat said to you, ―I‘m not going to pay Nasirat Chanda because its not in the Holy Quran‖, what would you say to her? 4. Discuss the following statement of the Promised Messiahas:
“Hundreds of people pledge allegiance to me each day, but, when you inquire of them, there are few indeed who pay their Chanda regularly on a monthly basis. What more can we expect from one who doesn‟t help this movement with a little money according to his capacity? What good is such a person to this movement? Even when a common man goes to town, however destitute he may be, he always brings back something, according to his capacity, for himself and his children; then is this movement, which Allah has established for such great purposes, not worthy enough that he should sacrifice a little money for it…” 5. Complete the puzzle on Chandas.
Recommended Homework
● Read An Introduction to Financial Sacrifice. You may read selected sections to learn about the various Chandas in our Jama‘at.
Reflections: “What did I learn from this Lesson?”
April 2020 Quarter 5 - Part 1
Objectives: 1. Understand the Islamic treatment of parents. 2. Understand how not fulfilling our obligations to our parents displeases Allah.
Treatment of Parents
When we observe the world today, we find a sad situation where children have completely lost the concept of how to treat their parents. They moan and groan to their parents over the silliest things. Think about how many times our parents call us and we groan because we don‘t want to do a chore or listen to their so-called ―lectures‖. This is really unacceptable in the eyes of Allah.
As Ahmadi Muslims, we must strive to understand what is required of us in our relationship to our parents. Let us take a look at what the Holy Qur‘an says:
● ―And We have enjoined on man to be good to his parents.‖ (46:15) ● ―Worship none but Him, and show kindness to parents. If one of them or both of them attain old age with thee, never say unto them any word expressive of disgust nor reproach them, but address them with excellent speech. (17:24) ● ―And lower to them the wing of humility out of tenderness. And say, ‗My Lord, have mercy on them even as they nourished me in my childhood.‖ (17:25)
The essence of these verses have been summarized below23: ● Our parents come directly after Unity of God. ● Parents should get priority before anything else, especially if they‘re old. ● Never say to them that they are a burden when they reach old age. ● Recite the prayer for parents that Allah has given us regularly. ● We must never be rude to them. ● ―Word of disgust‖ means we can‘t even say ―uff‖ to your parents! ● We should address them with the utmost respect. ● Service of parents and obedience to them is our duty. ● Parents should be shown great love, affection, kindness, gentleness and compassion. ● We must make every effort to collect as many prayers of our parents as possible because these prayers can improve their future.
23 Based on various Sermons and Waqf-e-Nau Syllabus p.80-81 Interestingly, the only time we are allowed to disobey our parents is if they ask us to associate partners with Allah (Shirk). Allah says In the Holy Qur‘an, ―But if they (both) strive with you to make you join in worship with me others of which you have no knowledge, then obey them not; but behave with them in the world kindly…‖ (31:15)
Hadith About Parents There are numerous sayings of the Holy Prophetsaw regarding parents and our treatment of them. The following are just a selected few:
● Once a companion, may Allah be pleased with him, asked the Prophetsaw as to whom he should show more kindness. The Prophetsaw replied: "Your mother." He asked who comes next and the Prophetsaw again replied: "Your mother." He, asked the Prophetsaw yet again who comes next. The Prophetsaw replied: ―Your mother." When the companion, asked for the fourth time, only then did the Prophetsaw reply: "Your father." (Muslim)
● ―Paradise lies under the feet of your mother.‖ (Ahmad)
● Promised Messiahas writes, ―it is reported in Hadith that two types of people are the most unfortunate: one who lived through Ramadhan and failed to have his sins forgiven; the other who had his parents and they passed and he was unable to have his sin remitted.‖ (Majmooa Fatawa Ahmadiyya, Vol. I, p. 182)
● Abdullaah Ibn Mas‘ood (ra) said: ―I asked the Prophet (sa) which deed is most liked by Allah? He said: ‗Prayer offered on time.‘ I asked him: ‗Then what? Holy Prophetsaw said: ‗Kindness and respect towards parents‘…‖ (Al-Bukhari)
● Hadhrat Abu Umamah narrated that once a man asked the Holy Prophetsaw about the rights of parents upon their children. He replied that: ―The parents are the Heaven or Hell for their children.‖(Ibn Majah)
● Hadhrat Abdullah Bin Amr narrates that the Holy Prophetsaw said: ―The pleasure of Allah lies in the pleasure of a father and displeasure of Allah lies in the displeasure of father.‖ (Tirmidhi)
● Once a person came to Holy Prophetsaw and sought his advice about taking part in Jihad with him. The Holy Prophetsaw asked him whether his mother was alive? He answered `yes‘. The Holy Prophetsaw then told him `Go back home and serve her as Heaven is under her feet‘. (Muslim)
● Once Hadhrat Abdullah-Bin-Masood asked the Holy Prophetsaw to tell him the deed liked by Almighty Allah. The Holy Prophetsaw replied. ―To offer prayers in time.‖ He asked him to tell the second best. He was told ―to behave nicely with parents‖. 22
Promised Messiah‟sas Writings About Parents
● ―The Promised Messiahas instilled in his children great respect for their mother, recalling the saying of Holy Prophetsaw that ―paradise lies under the feet of mother‖. Once when his wife and her (wife‘s) mother had a disagreement and were both in tears, he took his wife and led her in front of her mother where she bowed her head, her mother immediately raised her daughter‘s head and embraced her. All annoyance was gone.‖24
● ―A man comes to know the value of his parents when he himself becomes responsible for his own affairs. In the Holy Quran, God has given a degree of preference to a mother, for a mother bears the hardship for her child. How •ever infectious a disease a child may catch, maybe smallpox, cholera or plague, a mother never leaves her child. Once my daughter had cholera and her mother used to handle her vomissions and other secretions with her own hands. A mother partakes of all her child‘s afflictions. This is out of natural love of which there is no parallel.‖25 Friday Sermon - Important Points Benevolence towards Parents - January 16, 2004
● Hudhuraba stressed that parents deserve obedience and respect for the selfless hard work they put in with young children, and the sacrifices and physical hardship they endure. ● Hudhuraba was not happy with suggestions made by some people that the Jama‘at should organize centers for the elderly because they are unable to look after their elderly due to work commitments etc. ○ No Ahmadi should entertain this concept. ● Hudhuraba shared some hadith:
24 ―Treatment of Parents - Islamic Teachings‖, Review of Religions, Aug 1995 25 Majmooa Fatawa Ahmadiyya, Vol.I, p.182
○ The Holy Prophetsaw enjoined to show kindness and to maintain all ties of kinship with one‘s mother even if she is involved in shirk (associate partners with Allah) ○ The way to exercise benevolence towards parents even after they have passed away is by praying for them, by seeking forgiveness for them, by fulfilling their promises and by practicing benevolence towards their relations and friends. ● The Holy Prophetsaw showed extraordinary esteem and goodwill to his foster parents. ○ The Holy Prophetsaw would stand up and lay out his cloak for them to sit on. Hudhuraba said this is so different from today‘s situation where mentioned where regrettably some young children remain seated regardless of elders having nowhere to sit! Even worse is that the parents don‘t even ask their kids to give up their sets for the elders. ● The Promised Messiahas taught us that the reference to the word miskeen (poor, needy) in 17:27 is also to be inferred to parents because in old age they are infirm and therefore deserving of our benevolence. ○ But Hudhuraba clarified that benevolence to parents is not charity, but an obligation. ● Hudhuraba mentioned the case of Owais Qerni, who was one of the only two people that the Holy Prophetsaw sent his salaam to (the other being the Messiah). Owais Qerni of course would be so engrossed and engaged in looking after his mother that he could not visit the Holy Prophetsaw. ○ Owais Qerni was a unique instance in that he did not even care for his worldly matters and looked after his mother in a most devoted manner. ● The Promised Messiahas enjoined that if God had permitted any other being to be worshipped other than Himself, it would have been parents.
Quarter 5 - Part 1 Activity Divide into groups and answer the following questions on a separate piece of paper. Present your findings to the class.
Ages 7-9
1. Why are our parents deserving of our respect? 2. Why do you think children disobey their parents? 3. Is taking care of parents in old age considered a form of charity? 4. Think of simple examples in everyday life where children find it hard to listen to their parents? What advice would you give them?
Recommended Homework
● Read pages 103-107 on Care of the Aged from the Book Islam‟s Response to Contemporary Issues. ● Read pages 248-250 on Treatment of Relatives from the Book, Introduction to the Study of the Holy Qur‟an.
Ages 10-12 and 13-14
1. When is the only time we can disobey our parents? 2. Who are the two most unfortunate types of people? 3. How can we show our love for parents after they have passed on? 4. Discuss what you think the Hadith ―The parents are the Heaven or Hell for their children‖ means.
Recommended Homework
● Read pages 103 - 107 on Care of the Aged from the Book, Islam‟s Response to Contemporary Issues. ● Read pages 248-250 on Treatment of Relatives from the Book, Introduction to the Study of the Holy Qur‟an.
Reflections: “What did I learn from this Lesson?”
May 2020 Quarter 5- Part 2
Objectives: 1. Understand the meaning of Taqwa. 2. Understand what the Quran has to say about Taqwa. 3. Understand how to practice and increase Taqwa.
Definition of Taqwa
The word ―Taqwa‖ is hard to define but is usually defined as ―Fear of Allah‖ which comes from always being ―God Conscious‖. However, that does not mean that one should live in the dread of The Almighty Living God. When we become God conscious, we develop the fear of displeasing Allah or the fear of the loss of Allah‘s love which may lead to the loss of His protection. Taqwa comes from the word ―waqa‖ which means to protect and from ―waqaaya‖ meaning protection or a shield.
Taqwa in The Holy Qur‟an
Allah says in the Holy Qur‘an: ● ―This is a perfect book; there is no doubt in it. It is a guidance for the righteous.‖ (2:3) ● ―O ye who believe! fear Allah, and let every soul look to what it sends forth for the morrow. And fear Allah; verily Allah is Well-Aware of what you do. And be not like those who forgot Allah, and whom He consequently caused to forget their own souls. It is they who are the rebellious.‖ (59:19-20) ● ―Only those of His servants who possess knowledge fear Allah. Verily Allah is Mighty, Most Forgiving.‖ (35:29) ● ―Verily, the most honorable among you in the sight of Allah is he who is the most righteous among you.‖ (49:14)
The main ideas we can conclude from the above verses are as follow: 1. ―Muttaqin‖ is the word for the righteous and it is the righteous who fear Allah. Taqwa is required to gain guidance from this perfect book. 2. If you truly believe in Allah, do not forget Him and Fear Him. 3. Knowledge of the Holy Qur‘an is necessary in order to know what is right and wrong. a. There are over 700 commandments in the Holy Qur‘an!26 We can‘t follow them if we don‘t know about them. 4. Piety and righteousness are necessary to put into practice what we have learned.
Ways to Increase Taqwa
Allah‘s love for His creatures has no bounds, but Nasirat should be aware that if we disobey His commandments, we may lose Allah‘s Protection and Bounty. We cannot become truly righteous until Taqwa has entered every part of our daily life. Therefore, we need to understand the different ways we can increase our Taqwa. The following diagram shows some of the ways:
26 Friday Sermon – ―Self Reformation: Breaking bad habits‖, 12/20/2013
Basically, it is our job to remember that Allah sees and hears everything we say and do. All kinds of problems can be avoided or resolved if every action we take is based on Taqwa. Taqwa can be demonstrated in even the simplest values of our daily life such as showing respect, compassion, tolerance, humility, kind speech, gentleness, patience and truthfulness.
Hadith on Taqwa
● One time, The Holy Prophetsaw was asked which type of people are admitted into Paradise the most. He said: ―Taqwa of Allah and good character.‖ (Tirmidhi) ● ―The best provision for the journey (to the Hereafter) is Taqwa (Fear of God).‖27
Saying of the Promised Messiahas on Taqwa
―The Promised Messiahas said that one should never claim to be pure and clean. Allah states ‗do not call yourself purified‘, He alone knows who is the righteous. Purification is
27 Basics of Religious Education, p.124 conditional to Taqwa and Taqwa is to avoid all kind of evils for the pleasure of God, to abide by all His commandments and to avoid all that He has forbidden.‖ 28
Friday Sermon - Important Points Taqwa (Righteousness) - March 6, 2015
● Generally speaking the root cause of every badness or sin lies in not making any effort to avoid it. Because of this: ○ Man gradually forgets virtues and the standards that are expected of a believer. ○ Fear of God diminishes and one's belief in the Hereafter also weakens. ○ In practice one becomes distant from the requisites of faith. ● We should not just be concerned with the interests, comforts and connections of this world. ● Our main concerns should be the afterlife, our level of faith and adopting righteousness. ● In order to prepare for the Hereafter, we have to start here and now. ● Good practices lead to a paradise-like family life in this very world. ● A believer should first think of the consequences of any task that he is going to take. ● We need to instill the belief that God watches every act of ours. ● If we do something with good intention and do it to seek the pleasure of God, then we have the promise of multiple rewards from God. ● If our intention behind doing something is not so good, we should be aware that we may be punished for it. ● We have to live our lives according to the commandments of Allah to achieve Righteousness. ○ This includes looking at the consequence of everything and having firm belief that God is watching over everything one does.
Quarter 5 - Part 2 Whole Class Activity
We continuously talk about Taqwa and about protection, but against what? Ask all the nasirat to stand in two single-file lines facing each other. (Equally, divide them into these two lines)
28 Friday sermon – ―Taqwa – Righteousness‖, May 22,2009
Ask them to raise their arms up as if they are reaching for each other. Ask some to raise their hands lower and some to raise their hands higher. Keep about a 2-foot gap in between their hands. Ask one of the girls to carefully walk through the middle of the two lines without being touched by any of the hands. It should be difficult for her to reach the other side, if not impossible.
In this exercise, your hands represent the thorns mentioned in the following incident: When Hadhrat Ubbay bin Kab was asked what Taqwa is, he answered, ―If you are walking on a path full of thorns and bushes and you are wearing a long flowing robe, how would you walk through this thorny path?‖ The man who initially asked the question said that he would bundle up the robe and grab it in his hands while walking very carefully through the thorns. Hadhrat Ubbay bin Kab said that this is Taqwa. Taqwa is to protect ourselves from falling into something that is from the disobedience of Allah. We must hold Allah close to us, for only He can protect us.29
Quarter 5 - Part 2 Activity Divide into groups and answer the following questions on a separate piece of paper. Present your findings to the class.
Ages 7-9
1. What does Taqwa mean? 2. Discuss three ways to increase Taqwa?
29 Pathway to Paradise, Chapter 4 3. Do you understand how the world is like thorns and why we need to hold on to Allah? 4. Which type of people are admitted into Paradise?
Recommended Homework
● Memorize the prayer for increasing Taqwa.
Ages 10-12 and 13-14
1. Discuss the essence of what Taqwa means. 2. Why do you think we need to be ―Muttaqin‖ to understand Holy Qur‘an? 3. What are some of the ways we can increase Taqwa? 4. How is Taqwa the best provision for the journey to the hereafter?
Recommended Homework
● Memorize the prayer for increasing Taqwa. ● Go through the powerpoint presentation on the Friday Sermon ―Taqwa and our Relationship with Allah‖ from April 18, 2018. (How to find it: go to alislam.org, select Friday Sermon archive, scroll down to 2018, scroll down to the April sermon, select ―Text Formats‖, select ―English Powerpoint‖)
Prayer to increase Taqwa
َأ لّٰل ُه َّم ٰا ِت َأ ْف ِت ْف َأ ْف َأ َأا َأ َأ ِتِّك َأ َأ ْف َأ َأ ْف ُه َأ ْف َأ َّم َأا َأ ْف َأ َأ ِت ُّ َأ َأ َأ ْف َأَل َأا
O, Allah! Instill Your fear in my soul and purify it, You are the Best of the ones to purify it; You are its Guardian and Master. (Sahih Muslim)
Reflections: “What did I learn from this Lesson?”
June 2020 Quarter 5 - Part 3
Objectives: 1. Understand the concept and importance of modesty in Islam. 2. Understand the etiquettes of dressing modestly. 3. Understand the etiquettes of the Home.
Modesty in Islam
―Every religion has a distinctive quality, and the distinctive quality of Islam is Modesty!‖ (Ibne-Maja).This Hadith shows that in every faith or religious law, some particular aspect of moral behavior receives paramount attention and an extraordinary emphasis is laid on it. In Islam, modesty is of fundamental significance.
Let us first understand what modesty means. Modesty comes from the Latin root ―modestus‖ which means "keeping within measure". The following are two definitions of modesty:
However, modesty can mean different things to different people because it is dependent on: ● Culture (where one lives) ● Context (a situation one is in or where one is going; i.e. Church, Mosque, park) ● Personal belief or opinion
This means what may be considered modest in the west may not be considered modest in the east. Therefore, as Muslims, our concern should be with what modesty is in Islam.
Well, Islam‘s code of modesty extends to all aspects of one‘s life, including how we dress. Modesty in Islam is known as „Haya‟, a word which describes both shyness and a deeper modesty that is based on faith. A sense of Haya should affect a Muslim‘s conduct before God, before others, and even when one is alone.
Since modesty is based on faith, let us see what the Quran tells us on how to maintain modesty:
―Say to the believing men that they restrain their eyes and guard their private parts, That is purer for them. Surely Allah is well aware of what they do. And say to the believing women that they restrain their eyes and guard their private parts, and that they disclose not their natural and artificial beauty except that which is apparent thereof, and that they draw their head coverings over their bosoms and that they disclose not their beauty save to their husbands.‖ (24:31-32)
What do we learn from the above verse? ● Men should control where they look (lower their eyes, not stare at women, not watch inappropriate things). ● Men should guard (protect/shield) their private parts. ● Women should also control where they look (lower their eyes, not stare at men, not watch inappropriate things). ● Women should also guard their private parts. ● Women should not show off their beauty (both natural and fake). ● Women should cover their heads and their chest with a covering. ● Women should save their beauty for their husbands.
Allah tells us very clearly how we should dress and behave in order to maintain modesty. Remember, modesty is not just about how we dress but also how we act!
We cannot go out covering ourselves and at the same time be loud, rude and obnoxious. Or be flirtatious with the opposite sex while walking around in a manner that attracts them. Our behavior plays a large part in maintaining modesty and our modesty is reflected in our speech and conduct just as much as our dress.
―Interestingly, Islamic scholars consider modesty to be a quality that distinguishes human beings from animals. Animals follow their instincts without feeling any shame or a sense of right or wrong.
Hence, the less modesty a person has, the more he resembles animals. The more modesty a person has, the closer he is to being human.‖ (https://www.islamreligion.com/articles/21/modesty-part-1/)
Remember, the key to modesty is knowing that God is aware of what we do and we should shy away from the things that He forbids. True modesty can only be attained through faith and the modesty of believers comes from being submissive to Allah. Therefore, a Nasirah should always be mindful of her dress, speech and conduct and always behave in a way that is pleasing to Allah.
Hadith on Haya - Modesty
The following Hadith remind us that we should not take the concept of modesty lightly as it is the distinctive quality of Islam and thus distinctive to us as Ahmadis.
● "Haya does not bring anything except good." (Bukhari)
● "Faith consists of more than sixty branches. And Haya is a part of faith." (Bukhari)
● ―Modesty and faith are companions, if one of them is removed the other is removed‖ (Al-hakim)
● ―When lewdness is a part of anything, it becomes defective; and when haya is a part of anything it becomes beautiful.‖ (Tirmidhi)
● "Every Deen or religion has an innate character. The character of Islam is modesty (haya)." (Abu Dawood)
● ―Allah, the Mighty and Sublime, is forbearing, modest and concealing, and He loves modesty and concealment..." (Sunan an-Nasa'i)
● ―When a woman reaches the age of adolescence, it is not correct that she displays any part of her body except this and this – and he pointed to his face and hands.‖ (Abu Dawood)
The Idea of Fitting In
There should be no confusion amongst Nasirat about how an Ahmadi girl should be dressing. We are so blessed to have our Khalifara who is our spiritual guide for today. He guides us on all matters in light of the age and society we live in. Nasirat should never make an issue about our dress code. There is nothing wrong with wearing nice clothes, but it must be appropriate in the eyes of Allah. Our job is to please Him in every way possible.
Some Nasirat have expressed concern that they don‘t want to look different and want to fit in with their peers. The question is why? What do they have that is so great and wonderful? Are we afraid of losing friends for dressing modestly and according to our beliefs? If so, then we should be more selective of our friends in the first place. Do not let others influence you. You should influence them! Keep good company.
We as Ahmadi girls should be dressed in a way that when someone sees us, they know we are different. They should know this is a practicing Muslim girl who is striving for a good cause! No Nasirat should ever be ashamed of her identity! We should wear our identity proudly and with confidence!
Etiquettes of Dressing and Behaving Modestly
The following are some etiquettes of modest dress and behavior that Nasirat should be aware of and follow30:
● Nasirat should wear modest clothes even in front of fathers and brothers. ● Legs should be covered up to the ankle. ● Arms should be covered. ● Once a Nasirat reaches adolescence, she should make it a habit to wear a scarf when going outside. ● If a Nasirat has a school uniform dress: ○ She should get permission to wear pants (if that option is available) ○ If a dress is mandatory, the dress should go below the knees and she should wear loose leggings. ○ If wearing a scarf in class is not allowed, Nasirat should wear it straight after school is dismissed. ● If clothes are tight, an outer covering (sweater or coat) should be worn. ● If a coat is needed, it should be at least knee length and loose with full sleeves. ● The scarf should cover all the hair (put in a ponytail or tuck into the coat) and should not be transparent. ● Immodest clothes should be avoided: ○ Sleeveless shirts and dresses ○ Skinny jeans with short tops ○ Capris ○ Tight pants ○ Leggings worn with dresses with high slits ○ Shorts with tights
30 Taleem/Tarbiyyat Workbook 2017-2019 Lajna Ima‟illah and Paradise Under Your Feet
● Nasirat should start practicing modesty very early on so when you graduate to Lajna, the transition to fulfilling all the guidelines of purdah will not be difficult. ● Do not watch inappropriate shows or movies. ● Do not listen to inappropriate music that uses bad language. ● Do not try to attract boys with either looks or conversation. ● Try to keep a bit of a distance from boys and do not exchange contact information to stay in touch, ● Nasirat should not be wearing makeup.
Etiquettes of the Home31
Islam provides us guidance on every aspect of life and one aspect is the home and family life. Every Muslim home can be a picture of paradise if certain etiquettes are met. The following are some ways our homes can be a place of peace and comfort:
● Make a bond of love between all members of the family with kindness and consideration. ● Avoid fighting as it destroys the peace of the house. ● Pay special attention to our attitude and behavior towards parents. ● Respect all elders, and treat the young with affection. ● Develop a mutual trust between all family members. ● Be considerate and courteous of friends and relatives who visit the home. ● One should try to go to bed on time and wake up early to start the day. ● Keep your house and its surroundings neat and tidy. ● Recite the Holy Qur‘an regularly especially in the morning. ● Offer congregational prayers at the correct time. ● Perform ablution before going to bed at night, as is Sunnah. ● Try to designate a room or area that is solely dedicated to the worship of Allah. ● Swipe the bedding clean before lying down. ● Dress decently and modestly. ● Be hospitable to guests. ● Respect the privacy of others ● Take out trash regularly. ● Try to be a contented and cheerful person and not grumpy. ● Refrain from such jokes or pranks that hurt others.
31 Syllabus Waqf-e-Nau, p.70-73 ● Do not peek inside other‘s rooms or houses. ● Do not knock loudly, nor ring the doorbell continuously non-stop. ● Do not talk when going to the bathroom. ● Do not discuss private household matters with outsiders. ● Do not disturb the neighbors through noise or cause inconvenience to them in any way. ● Children and Parents should watch TV together and should comment on the positives and negatives of the programs. ● Recite the prayers for entering or leaving the house. ● The following phrases should be used regularly in any Muslim household:
Phrase Meaning
Assalamo Alaikum Peace be on you
Jazakumullah May Allah reward you
MashaAllah That which Allah wills
Bismillah In the name of Allah
Alhumdulillah All praise belongs to Allah
Insha‘Allah God willing
Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam May peace and blessings of Allah be on him
Quarter 5 - Part 3 Activity Divide into groups and answer the following questions on a separate piece of paper. Present your findings to the class.
Ages 7-9
1. What is the definition of Modesty? 2. What is the Arabic word for modesty and what does translate to? 3. How should a Nasirat dress when going outside (school, mall, Mosque)? 4. What etiquettes of the home do you feel need the most attention today?
Recommended Homework
● Read Pages 75-94 on The Elementary Years from the book Paradise Under Your Feet. If you need help reading it, ask a parent or older sibling.
Ages 10-12 and 13-14
1. Discuss at deeper level what you think Haya and modesty is in Islam? 2. What happens the less modest a person becomes? 3. What would you say to a Nasirat friend who says she‘s going to the mall with some friends, but wants to fit in so she‘ll take off her scarf once her mom drops her off? 4. Discuss what you think this Hadith means: ―Modesty and faith are companions, if one of them is removed the other is removed‖.
Recommended Homework: ● Group 10-12: Read Pages, 95-112 on The Middle School Years from the book Paradise Under Your Feet ● Group 13-14: Read Pages 115-132 on The High School Years from the book Paradise Under Your Feet ● Visit www.askislam.org , select ―society‖, then select ―women‖ from the top categories. Listen to at least three questions that interest you.
Reflections: “What did I learn from this Lesson?”
July 2020 Quarter 6- Part 1
Objectives: 1. Understand the significance and blessings of Khilafat. 2. Understand the importance of holding fast to the rope of Allah. 3. Understand the various ways we can develop a love for Khilafat.
Significance and Blessings of Khilafat
Before we discuss the significance of Khilafat, we need to know what it means. Allah manifests two types of His Power32. 1. First He manifests His Power directly through His Prophets. 2. Secondly, after the death of a prophet through Khilafat. ○ This is to give peace and hope to the Prophet‘s community and to protect them from going off the right path.
Khilafat ―Succession‖
Khalifa ―Successor to a Prophet of Allah‖
The goal of Khilafat is to carry on the tasks of the Prophet (reformation, moral training, spreading the truth). ―Allah has established the system of Khilafat after the system of Prophethood. The Khalifa continues and carries on the task of the Prophet. The seed sown by the Prophet is protected and nurtured by the Khalifa till it becomes a strong and sturdy tree. It shows that in fact Khilafat is an offshoot or branch of the system of Prophethood, that is why the Holy Prophetsaw says that after every Prophet, the system of Khilafat is established.‖ 33 Allah says in the Holy Qur‘an: ―Allah had promised to those among you who believe and do good works that He will surely make them Successors in the earth, as He made Successors from among those who were before them; and that He will surely establish for them their religion which He has chosen for them; and that He will surely give them in exchange security and peace after their fear: They will worship Me, and they will not associate anything with Me. Then whoso is ungrateful after that, they will be the rebellious.‖ (24:56)
The following are some of the key points we get from the above verse:34
32 ―Khilafat-e-Ahmadiyya Newsletter‖, May 2007, vol 1, no. 2, p.7: www.alislam.org/topics/khilafat/downloads/khilafat-newsletterMay.07.pdf 33 ―Khilafat-e-Ahmadiyya Newsletter‖, May 2007, vol 1, no.2 34 Basics of Religious Education, p.260-261 ● The meaning of the phrase ―Khalifa being appointed by Allah‖, is that the hearts of the believers automatically turn towards the person who Allah has chosen to be Khalifa. ● The Khalifa continues and carries on the mission of the Prophet to firmly establish the religion of Allah. ● The Khalifa unites mankind. ● The blessings of Khilafat are conditional and are given to those who are true believers and do good works. ○ Allah changes the believers‘ state of fear and anxiety to that of peace and security. ○ Believers enjoy the fruits of Khilafat by worshipping Allah alone and not associating any partners with Him. ● If Muslims become ungrateful to Allah, they risk displeasing Allah and losing His blessings.
Prophecy of the Holy Prophetsaw Prophethood shall remain among you as long as Allah shall will.
He will bring about its end and follow it with Khilafat on the precepts of prophethood for as long as He shall will and then bring about its end.
A tyrannical monarchy will then follow and will remain as long as Allah shall will and then come to an end.
There will follow thereafter monarchical despotism to last as long as Allah shall will and come to an end upon His decree.
There will then emerge Khilafat on precept of Prophethood.‖ (Ahmad)
If you study the history of Muslim monarchs, you will indeed get shivers down your spine! Think about how profound this actually is. History shows the fulfillment of this prophecy exactly as The Holy Prophetsaw stated.
Just this prophecy in itself proves the truthfulness of our beloved Holy Prophetsaw and the Promised Messiahas. Therefore, we need to really reflect on how lucky we are to witness Allah‘s plan in action today and try our best to play our part in helping our Khalifa with his tasks.
The Rope of Allah
Allah says in the Holy Qur‘an, ―And hold fast, all together, by the rope of Allah and be not divided...‖(3:104)
The Arabic word used for rope of Allah is ―Hublullah‖. Our beloved Hudhurra has taught us that ―Hublullah‖ or the ―Rope of Allah‖, is the person of the Promised Messiahas himself. Only if we follow his teachings and adhere to his Khilafat can we maintain strength.‖35
What does this mean for us? ● As Ahmadis, we need to hold on firmly to this rope if we want to be saved. ○ Follow the teachings of the Promised Messiahas. ○ Follow the teachings of his Khulafara (successors). ● Obedience to Khilafat should be our foremost concern! ○ It says in the Holy Qur‘an, ―O ye who believe! Obey Allah, and obey His Messenger and those who are in authority among you (4:60). ○ ―Whoever will obey my leader he will accept me and whoever rejects my leader will reject me.‖36 ○ Obedience to our Khalifa is a reflection of our Submission to the Will of Allah as he is God‘s representative. ○ It is the key to our success as individuals and a Jama‘at (community)
Developing Love of Khilafat
Today, we Ahmadi Muslims are the only people in the world who are enjoying the blessings of the true system of Khilafat in Islam, which is in actual fact a mercy on mankind.
Do we ever reflect on the heavy burden our Khalifa has on his shoulders? Do we have any idea how much he loves us? It is only our Hudhurra who wakes up in the middle of the night praying for US!! Hadhrat Khalifatul Masiahra II said:
―You have someone who has true sympathy for you; who truly loves you; who considers your pain and sufferings to be his own; and who is always praying to
35 Friday Sermon – ―Hablullah‖, August 26, 2005 36 ―Khilafat-e-Ahmadiyya Newsletter‖, May 2007, vol 1, no.2 Allah for you. The group opposed to us have no one to do this on their behalf. You have someone who is always anxious for your well-being, who puts himself into trouble for your sake, and who prays restlessly before his Lord for the sake of your comfort and peace.‖37
So, if our Khalifa is doing this for us, what can we do to show our love to him? It is the duty of every Nasirat to show her loyalty to the institution of Khilafat by developing and keeping a close relationship with Hadhuraba. By doing this, we will also strengthen our relationship with The Living God.
Take a look at the diagram below to see some of the practical steps we can take to achieve this:
Quarter 6 - Part 1 Activity Divide into groups and answer the following questions on a separate piece of paper. Present your findings to the class.
Ages 7-9
1. What do the terms Khilafat and Khalifa mean?
37 Blessings of Khilafat, p.6 2. What is the goal of Khilafat? 3. What is the most important way we can show our loyalty to Hudhuraba? 4. What two steps can you take to develop a personal relationship with Hudhuraba?
Recommended Homework
● Offer special prayers for Hudhuraba and his family.
Ages 10-12 and 13-14
1. What knowledge do we attain from Chapter 24, verse 56 of the Holy Qur‘an? 2. Do you understand the significance of the prophecy of the Holy Prophetsaw about what would happen after him? 3. Explain what the phrase ―Hold fast to the Rope of Allah‖ means? 4. What can you do to show your loyalty to Khilafat?
Recommended Homework
● Offer special prayers for Hudhurra and his family. ● Read the article, ―The Khalifa is appointed by God‖ - www.alislam.org/library/articles/khalifa-appointed-god/
Reflections: “What did I learn from this Lesson?”
August Quarter 6- Part 2
Objectives: 1. Understand the meaning and purpose of Bai‘at. 2. Understand that though Bai‘at is unique to Ahmadiyyat, it was practiced by the Holy Prophetsaw and his companions. 3. Understand the first five conditions of Bai‘at (1-5).
Meaning and Purpose of Ba‟it
Bai‘at is a very unique feature of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community. It signifies that we have accepted the Promised Messiahas as the Reformer and Imam of this age, whose coming was prophesized by the Holy Prophetsaw. It also signifies that we will hold on firmly to Khilafat and show complete and utter obedience to the Khalifa of the time. The Promised Messiahas says: ―To take Bai‘at means handing over your life to Almighty Allah. It means, Today we have sold our life to Almighty Allah.‖38 Hudhuraba says that it is quite clear what Bai‘at actually is. We need to recognize that “My person does not now belong to me; I now have to abide by all injunctions of Almighty Allah under all circumstances and have to follow them faithfully, and make all acts of mine subservient to the pleasure of Allah,‟ that would be a summary of the ten conditions of Bai‟at.”39 When we study the Conditions of Bai‘at, we find that the Promised Messiahas was trying to create a community that would ―enjoin good and forbid evil.‖40 Nasirat living in the West will face many challenges leading us away from our faith and thus Allah. The Ten Conditions of Bai‘at protect us by giving us guidance on how to live our lives. But we are only protected if we follow the conditions.
38 Conditions of Bai‟at & Responsibilities of an Ahmadi, p.4 39 Conditions of Bai‟at & Responsibilities of an Ahmadi, p.5 40 ―Bai‘at - The Guardian of our Identity in the West‖ by Rashid Reno, https://www.alislam.org/library/articles/baiat-guardian-identity-west/
Bai‟at During the Time of the Holy Prophetsaw Nasirat should not be confused in thinking that Bai‘at is something new that did not exist in early Islam. Here is just one example showing that taking a pledge of Bai‘at was practiced by the Holy Prophetsaw : ―The Holy Prophetsaw said at the time when a group of his Companionsra were around him: Come and take a Bai‘at upon the condition: that you will not associate anything with Allah, nor will you steal, nor will you commit adultery, nor will you kill your children, nor will you slander, nor will you disobey me in anything good I ask you to do. So anyone of you who will prove true to this pledge of Bai‘at, his reward is with Almighty Allah.‖41 Bai‘at is unique to our community only because Allah Almighty Himself told the Promised Messiahas to take pledge from his followers. ―And when you made up your mind, then trust Allah. And, make an ark before Our eyes and according to Our revelation. Those who take a pledge at your hand take a pledge with Allah. Allah‘s hand is above their hands.‖42
Conditions of Bait - Part 1
1. The initiate shall solemnly promise that he/she shall abstain from shirk (associating any partner with God) right up to the day of his/her death. Nasirat need to understand that Shirk does not only mean worshiping an idol made of stone. It means worshipping anything other than Allah. People make gods out of an array of things yet claim to believe in Allah. The Promised Messiahas said, ● ―Tauhid [Unity of God] does not simply mean that you say ―lailahaillAllah‖ with your tongue, but then hide hundreds of idols in your heart.‖43 ● ―Every object, word or deed, which is given the same grandeur as is the due right of God the Exalted, is an idol in the sight of God.‖44 Hudhuraba gave an example of an employee who tries to always praise and please his employer because that employer sustains him. This is shirk because Allah is the one Who sustains! People make gods out of their sons, spouses, money, career, fame, nature, or even superstars. You just have to see how crazy people get at a Beyonce concert to understand the true essence of shirk.
41 Conditions of Bai‟at & Responsibilities of an Ahmadi, p.5-6 42 Conditions of Bai‟at & Responsibilities of an Ahmadi, p.9 43 Conditions of Bai‟at & Responsibilities of an Ahmadi, p.17 44 ―Bai‘at - The Guardian of our Identity in the West‖ by Rashid Reno, https://www.alislam.org/library/articles/baiat-guardian-identity-west/
2. That he/she shall keep away from falsehood, fornication/adultery, trespasses of the eye, debauchery, dissipation, cruelty, dishonesty, mischief and rebellion; and that he/she will not permit himself/ herself to be carried away by passions, however strong they might be. This condition mentions nine sins that Nasirat should never be a part of. Some of these may be hard for young Nasirat to understand but they have been detailed below with a brief description. 1. Falsehood - Telling a lie. ―Falsehood is the greatest of all evils.‖ It is considered an idol according to the Holy Qur‘an.45 Every Nasirat should speak the truth without hesitation, even if we think we will get in trouble. Our Living God sees everything we say and do. 2. Fornication/Adultery - These two are together because they are similar in nature. a. Fornication is having an intimate relationship (a very close relationship both emotionally and physically) with someone a person is not married to. This is why we are not supposed to have boyfriends and girlfriends because that may lead to disobeying Allah‘s command and thus breaking this condition. b. Adultery is when a person has an intimate relationship with someone who they are not married to while being married to someone else. This destroys families and societies and is a major sin in Islam. 3. Trespasses of the eye – Not taking care of where we look. We should not stare at opposite gender or look at or watch inappropriate things. 4. Debauchery - Behavior is the exact opposite of modesty and is immoral by nature. It is using the body for indecent and impure acts. 5. Dissipation - Very similar to debauchery. It is being very lax in morals. Includes excessive drinking. It‘s a dissolute way of living. 6. Cruelty - Basically hurting others – if someone is being mean, behaving very badly to someone, and being abusive. This act is the opposite of doing good to others. 7. Dishonesty - Not doing things with integrity such as borrowing something and not returning or not taking care of something someone has trusted us with (money, a possession or even confidential information) 8. Mischief/Rebellion – When one disobeys the Imam and creates disorder. When a person rebels against their government or a group of people. 9. Get carried away by passions - Letting our animal side take over our spiritual side. Its giving into natural desires that go against our teachings.
45 Conditions of Bai‟at & Responsibilities of an Ahmadi, p.25
3. That he/she shall regularly offer the five daily Prayers in accordance with the commandments of God and the Holy Prophetsaw and shall try his/ her best to be regular in offering the tahajjud and invoking “durud” on the Holy Prophetsaw .That he/she shall make it his/her daily routine to ask forgiveness for his/her sins, to remember the bounties of God and to praise and glorify Him. According to this condition, every Nasirat should be offering her five daily prayers as a basic requirement. In addition, she should try her best to sometimes offer Tahajjud prayers and should continuously say ―durud‖ to send blessings onto the Holy Prophetsaw. A Nasirat should always ask Allah‘s forgiveness for her mistakes and sins she may have committed by reciting ―Istighfar‖. She should remember to be grateful to Allah for everything He has given her and she should praise Him throughout the day. 4. That under the impulse of any passions, he/she shall cause no harm whatsoever to the creatures of God in general and Muslims in particular, neither by his/her tongue, hands, nor any other means. This condition goes in line with our motto, ―Love for All, Hatred for None.‖ Every Nasirat is expected to be kind to all of Allah‘s creatures. Even if we have a problem with someone, especially a fellow Muslim, we are not supposed to respond with hate or anger. Nasirat should stay calm and rational and show patience when dealing with difficult people. The Promised Messiahas said, “Hold fast to this rule: deal with all people with kindness. Kindness increases intelligence, and forbearance promotes deeper thinking. Anyone who does not adopt this way is not of us...”46 Forgiveness is also a part of this condition according to the Promised Messiahas. Forgiveness is the first moral quality47 and should be adopted by all Nasirat. In addition, to this, Nasirat should learn to be tolerant of others. 5. That he/she shall remain faithful to God in all circumstances of life, in sorrow and in happiness, in adversity and in prosperity, in felicity and in trial; and that he/she shall in all conditions remain resigned to the decree of God and keep himself/herself ready to face all kinds of indignities and sufferings in His way and shall never turn away from Him at the onslaught of any misfortune; on the contrary, he/she shall march forward We all know that life has its ups and downs. As Ahmadis, we are taught to be grateful when everything is going great, but more importantly, we must be patient when things are not going so well. Allah tells us in the Holy Qur‘an that everyone will be tested one way or another: “And we will try you with something of fear and hunger, and loss of wealth and
46 ―Bai‘at - The Guardian of our Identity in the West‖ by Rashid Reno, https://www.alislam.org/library/articles/baiat-guardian-identity-west/ 47 Conditions of Bai‟at & Responsibilities of an Ahmadi, p.79 lives and fruits, but give glad tidings to those who patiently persevere. Who, when a misfortune overtakes them, say, Surely, to Allah we belong and to him shall we return. It is these on whom descend blessings from their Lord and mercy, and it is these who are rightly guided.” (2:156-158) When we are tested, we must remember that Allah has given us the tools to get through that test: ● Prayer - we have to simply turn to Allah for help. ○ Sometimes things happen to remind us to turn back to Allah. ● Gratitude - remember that no matter what happens in life, we will not complain but always be grateful. ○ There‘s an English saying, ―When the heart wants to complain, give thanks!‖ ○ As Nasirat, when your heart wants to complain, say ―Alhamdulillah.‖ ○ When we are faced with any hardship, our attention should immediately go towards Allah. ● “Istaghfar” - we should ask for forgiveness continuously because the hardship may have come due to our own mistakes. Plus, Allah loves those who try to purify their heart and He answers their prayers. ● Patience - we must never react in a bad way but remain calm and patient. We should have firm faith that the hardship is temporary and that Allah will indeed help us. The Promised Messiahas wrote: “It is inevitable that you be persecuted and suffer many disappointments, but do not lose heart, for it is Allah who tests you whether you are steadfast in His cause or not. If you desire that angels should praise you in heaven, then endure beating and be joyful, hear abuse and be grateful, experience failure and do not cut your relationship with Allah” (Kashti Nuh).48
Quarter 6 - Part 2 Activity Divide into groups and answer the following questions on a separate piece of paper. Present your findings to the class.
Ages 7-9
1. What does Bai‘at mean? 2. Is this a concept that the Promised Messiahas created by himself? 3. What should we do when something bad happens in our life?
48 ―Bai‘at - The Guardian of our Identity in the West‖ by Rashid Reno, https://www.alislam.org/library/articles/baiat-guardian-identity-west/
4. What should we say when we want to complain? 5. Complete the puzzle on the Ten Conditions of Bai‘at - First Five.
Recommended Homework
● Offer special prayers for Hudhuraba and his family.
Ages 10-12 and 13-14
1. Explain why the Bai‘at in Ahmadiyyat is unique? 2. Think of some more things today that people turn into gods? 3. Why do you think falsehood is considered the greatest evil? You can refer to pages. 21-27 from the book ―Conditions of Bai‘at and Responsibilities of Ahmadis. 4. What are some of the things we can do when we are faced with a struggle or hardship (which could be a test or a punishment for something)? 5. Complete the puzzle on the Ten Conditions of Bai‘at - First Five.
Recommended Homework
● Offer special prayers for Hudhuraba and his family. ● Read pages 3-102 of the book Conditions of Bai‟at & Responsibilities of an Ahmadi. These pages cover the first five conditions of Bai‘at.
Reflections: “What did I learn from this Lesson?”
September 2020 Quarter 6- Part 3
Objective: 1. Understand the last five conditions of Bai‘at (6-10).
Conditions of Bai‟at - Part 2
6. That he/she shall refrain from following un-Islamic customs and lustful inclinations and shall completely submit himself/herself to the authority of the Holy Qur’an; and that he/she shall make the Word of God and the sayings of the Holy Prophetsaw his/ her guiding principles in every walk of his/her life.
Nasirat just have to look around in school to see all the different un-Islamic customs. Whether we witness them ourselves or hear about them, they are everywhere. Children from a very young age start smoking, doing drugs and drinking. Kids have boyfriends and girlfriends starting from kindergarten and it is encouraged by society. In addition, even Muslims have taken on practices that have nothing to do with Islam. For example, Valentine's day is celebrated in the Muslim country of Pakistan! How ridiculous is that? They have started all sorts of un-Islamic practices in their wedding ceremonies, gatherings and even religious holidays like having music concerts on Eid. They even go to fortune tellers! Nasirat should remember that as Ahmadis, we need to be aware of what is considered un-Islamic and stay away from those practices all together. It is for our own benefit! If you are unsure about something, don‘t stay quiet but inquire about it. 7. That he/she shall entirely give up pride and vanity and shall pass all his/her life in humbleness, cheerfulness, forbearance and meekness.
This condition brings our attention to a verse of the Holy Qur‘an: ―And do not puff up your cheeks before men in pride nor walk in the earth haughtily; surely, Allah loves not any arrogant boaster. (31:19) The Holy Qur‘an also talks about Satan and some of his most significant qualities are pride, vanity and arrogance. Hudhuraba explains that: ● ―After exhibiting his pride, Satan had decided from the very beginning that he would try his utmost to hinder men from becoming true servants of Allah.‖ ● ―Satan would make him self conceited, and thus through his personal vanity and egotism, he could be led to be proud and arrogant.‖49 This means that if a person develops these qualities, they actually end up resembling satan. The Promised Messiahas said, ―Arrogance is a most dangerous disease. Whoever develops this meets spiritual death. I know most certainly that this disease is worse than murder. An arrogant person turns into Satan‘s brother because it was arrogance alone that disgraced Satan.‖50 The Promised Messiahas came to reform us and turn us into good, righteous people. If we recognize this weakness within ourselves, we must try hard to get rid of it. The Promised Messiahas even told us how to get rid of it. He said, ―If we try to break away from the habit of arrogance, but do not fill in the emptiness with humility and meekness, then arrogance would attack us again. Therefore, adopt humbleness! Allah the Almighty loves the way of humility.‖51 Therefore we must make sure we are humble. Arrogance is destructive and can create jealousy and envy and can also fuel the racism and prejudices.52
8. That he/she shall hold faith, the honour of faith and the cause of Islam dearer than his/her life, wealth, honour, children, and all loved ones.
This condition basically reminds us of the essence of the Islamic teachings. The Holy Qur‘an says, ―Nay, whoever submits himself completely to Allah, and is the doer of good, shall have his reward with his Lord. No fear shall come upon such, neither shall they grieve.‖ (2:113) The Promised Messiahas said, ―To take Bai‘at means handing over your life to Almighty Allah.‖53 This means, as Ahmadis, we need make sure that we give our Living God priority over all worldly things. And the simplest way to this is follow the ―Ten Conditions of Bai‘at‖!
9. That he/she shall keep himself/herself occupied in the service of God’s creatures for His sake only and shall endeavour towards the beneficence of mankind to the best of his/her God-given abilities and powers.
49 Conditions of Bai‘at & Responsibilities of an Ahmadi, p.121 50 Conditions of Bai‟at & Responsibilities of an Ahmadi, p.131 51 Conditions of Bai‟at & Responsibilities of an Ahmadi, p.122 52 ―Bai‘at - The Guardian of our Identity in the West‖ by Rashid Reno, https://www.alislam.org/library/articles/baiat-guardian-identity-west/ 53 ―Bai‘at - The Guardian of our Identity in the West‖ by Rashid Reno In the fourth condition of Bai‘at, we were told not to harm any of God‘s creations. Condition nine takes that a step further and teaches us that not causing harm alone is not enough. We must go out and actually do good deeds and serve the creation of Allah. So now our pledge has become a twofold: 1. We promise not to harm any creation of Allah. 2. We promise to strive and do good works in serving the creation of Allah. The Holy Qur‘an says, ―And worship Allah and associate naught with Him, and show kindness to parents, and to kindred, and orphans, and the needy, and to the neighbor that is a kinsman and the neighbor that is a stranger, and the companion by your side, and the wayfarer, and those whom your right hands possess. Surely, Allah loves not the proud and the boastful.‖ (4:37) We will discuss this verse a bit more in another section but the main point here is that we must show kindness to everyone! Hudhuraba emphasizes developing compassion as this will make us want to help others. The Promised Messiahas says, ―Remember that there are two commandments of Allah the Almighty. First, associate no partner with Him, neither in His being and attributes, nor in His worship. Second, be compassionate to the others. Benevolence does not imply that it should only be for your brothers and relations, but it should be for anyone, any human, and any of God‘s creation.‖54 The help we can give through compassion may also require financial sacrifice. Our Humanity First Charity offers help through so many projects to people all over the world, but that requires funds. So as Ahmadis, even by giving donations to such a cause, we are fulfilling this condition. 10. That he/she shall enter into a bond of brotherhood with this humble servant of God, pledging obedience to me in everything good for the sake of God, and remain faithful to it until the day of his/ her death. That he/she shall exert such a high devotion in the observance of this bond as is not to be found in any other worldly relationship and connection that demand devoted dutifulness.
The first nine conditions tell us how we are expected to live our lives. It is a complete code of life that details everything we should do and not do. In the last condition of Bai‘at, everything is tied together under the Imam of the Age. We acknowledge the Promised Messiahas and the Khulafara as Allah‘s representatives. Within this condition we:
54 ―Bai‘at - The Guardian of our Identity in the West‖ by Rashid Reno, https://www.alislam.org/library/articles/baiat-guardian-identity-west/ ● Testify that Allah is the one who created this Jama‘at. ● Promise to hold on tight to ―The Rope of Allah‖ which is the Promised Messiahas ● Promise to OBEY and SERVE the Khalifa of the time. In the end, by acknowledging and promising this high level of obedience to Khilafat, we Ahmadis promise to try our best to follow each and every one of the Ten Conditions of Ba‘ait.
Important points from Friday Sermon Strive to Fulfill the Conditions of Bai‟at - October 11, 2013 ● We must strengthen our faith and self-analyze as to how much are we fulfilling our pledge, while trusting Allah. ● We cannot call ourselves Ahmadis if we prioritize worldly matters and forget our Bai‘at ● We must change and spiritually progress after taking Bai‘at as it signifies selling ourselves to the Will of Allah. ● The Promised Messiahas said: ―The reality of Bai‘at should be fully understood ... to knowingly disobey after making a covenant is extremely hazardous.‖ ● One cannot pick and choose what they desire to be obedient to. In Bai‘at you must have perfect obedience in all matters. ● ―Therein is a lesson for our young women/girls that God‘s blessings come your way if faith is given precedence over worldly matters. It is not essential to adopt everything of here [the West]. Adopt their good points but avoid their bad points.‖
Quarter 6 - Part 3 Activity Divide into groups and answer the following questions on a separate piece of paper. Present your findings to the class.
Ages 7-9
1. Discuss some things that non-Muslims do which are un-Islamic and that break the sixth condition of Bai‘at. 2. What is arrogance? Give examples of how a child could show arrogance? 3. How can we stop ourselves from being arrogant? 4. What is the main teaching of Islam? Check condition eight. 5. Complete the puzzle on the Ten Conditions of Bai‘at - Last Five.
Recommended Homework
● Offer special prayers for Hudhuraba and his family
Ages 10-12 and 13-14
1. In Condition six, what does it mean to submit to the authority of the Holy Qur‘an? 2. How can we live up to Condition Eight in our daily lives? 3. Which Condition does Condition Nine build on and how? 4. What are we actually promising to do in the last Condition? 5. Complete the puzzle on the Ten Conditions of Bai‘at - Last Five.
Recommended Homework
● Offer special prayers for Hudhuraba and his family ● Read pages 103-195 of the book Conditions of Bai‟at & Responsibilities of an Ahmadi.
Reflections: “What did I learn from this Lesson?”
October 2020 Quarter 7- Part 1
Objectives: 1. Understand the etiquettes of a Gathering/ Meeting. 2. Understand the etiquettes of Conversation. 3. Understand the etiquettes of eating and eating in the company of others.
Etiquettes of a Gathering/Meeting55
● Greet everyone with Assalamu ‗Alaikum at a gathering both entering and leaving. ● Make room for others if there is not enough space. ● Give up your seat to the elderly. ● Do not disturb others trying to find suitable space. ● Dress modestly. ● Avoid eating string smelling food before going to a gathering. ● Thank the host for hospitality. ● Do not interrupt, talk or whisper during a gathering. ● While a gathering is being addressed, listen attentively and do not interrupt. ● Do not embarrass others by pointing to their shortcomings and weaknesses. ● Similarly, do not expose your own faults in public. ● NEVER backbite or slander. ● Do not embarrass someone by pointing out their weaknesses or shortcomings. ● Do not expose your own faults. ● Try to discuss Allah and His commandments in a meeting. ● Avoid making inappropriate jokes. ● Resolve and conclude one issue before another is raised. ● Distribute anything beginning from the right side. ● Abstain from belching, yawning, dozing off or flatulating. ● Do not make fun of someone who does. ● Try to be in the company of righteous people by going to such meetings. ● Leave a meeting in which signs of Allah or Jamaat are being ridiculed, at least until the subject changes. ● If you must leave a gathering, first obtain permission from the chairman. ● If you are leaving temporarily, leave something on the chair to let others know you will be back. ● If someone leaves and then returns, they have a right to their old seat. (―If one of you gets up from his spot and then comes back to it, he has more right to it.‖(Muslim))
55 Syllabus Waf-e-Nau, p.75-76
Etiquettes of Conversation
● Allah says: ―And speak to men kindly.‖ (2:84) ● Holy Prophetsaw said ―Virtuous talk is charity and a means to protect oneself from the Fire‖ ● Speak the truthfully and straightforward ● Think before you speak ● Do not exaggerate. ● Refrain from indecent talk. ● Conversation should be righteous, avoiding backbiting. ● Be kind and courteous, avoiding hurting someone ● Do not lose your temper. ● Do not promote hearsay. ● Do not swear or take oaths. ● Try to adopt Islamic phrases in your conversation, such as: ○ Jazkumullah, ○ Mash‘Allah ○ Bismillah ○ Alhumdulillah ○ Insh‘Allah
Etiquettes of Eating56
● Wash your hands before taking meals. ● If a napkin is available, put it on your lap so that your clothes are not spoiled in case of accidental spillage of food. ● Recite the following prayer before starting a meal: ―In the name of Allah and the blessings of Allah‖. ● Always eat with your right hand. ● Take small morsels of food. ● Chew properly and noiselessly. ● Keep your mouth closed while chewing. ● Do not open your mouth widely when taking a bite. ● While serving yourself, help yourself from the part of the dish which is in front of you. ● Do not fish around for the best helping. ● Do not attempt to fill your plate in the first helping.
56 Syllabus Waf-e-Nau, p.73-74 ● If the need arises and there is more food available you can always go for seconds. ● Only serve yourself the amount which you can easily consume. There should be no leftovers on your plate. ● If the quantity of the food is insufficient, be considerate to others and serve yourself a smaller portion. ● Do not take a serving that is more than your needs. ● Eat so that there is room left to breathe. ● Do not bend over excessively while eating. ● If you are using cutlery such as forks and spoons, keep them from clanging together or with the plate, so as to minimize noise. ● Do not attempt to gulp down large quantities of water. Allow a few breathing pauses. Do not go ―Haaa‖ after you have finished drinking. ● Should you forget to recite the prayer before starting the meal, then recite: I begin with the name of Allah and I end with the name of Allah. ● When done, recite the following prayer: All praise belongs to Allah who provided us with food and drink and enabled us to be Muslims (submissive to God). ● If you have a napkin in your lap, then at the end of the meal use it to clean your hands and mouth. ● Wash your hands and rinse your mouth. ● Foods with excess of sugar, salt or spices should be avoided. ● Do not eat extremely hot food, nor drink excessively hot beverages. ● Do not drink excessively cold water.
Etiquettes of Eating In the Company Of Others57
● When you arrive at the table, greet those already seated with Assalaamo Alaikum. ● After taking a helping from a dish or a pitcher, make sure to put it back at its appropriate place so that others are not inconvenienced in any way. ● If you wish to serve yourself from a dish which is out of reach, do not stand up and try to reach across the table to get to it. Politely request someone else to pass it to you. ● Try to keep conversation to a minimum during the meal. ● If you must speak, do not talk with your mouth full. ● If there are elders accompanying you at the table, wait to serve yourself after they have been served. ● Once you have finished, wait for them at the table before getting up. ● If you need to leave, excuse yourself before leaving the table.
57 Syllabus Waf-e-Nau, p.74-75 ● If you are sitting at a dining table, place your chair without dragging it and seat yourself comfortably. ● After finishing the meal, place the chair back under the table ● Do not stare at someone who is eating. ● When invited do not bring along uninvited guests.
Quarter 7 - Part 1 Activity Divide into groups and answer the following questions on a separate piece of paper. Present your findings to the class.
Ages 7-9
1. Complete the Crossword puzzle
Recommended Homework
● No Homework
Ages 10-12 and 13-14
1. Complete the Crossword puzzle
Recommended Homework
● No Homework
Reflections: “What did I learn from this Lesson?”
November 2020 Quarter 7- Part 2
Objectives: 1. Understand the importance and reasons for writing to Hudhuraba. 2. Learn what Hudhuraba himself has taught us on how to write to him. 3. Understand how much Hudhuraba values our letters through a true story.
Importance of Writing to Hudhuraba
In a question answer session with Atfal and Khudaam from Nagoya Japan (2013), Hudhuraba was asked how many letters a day he receives. Hudhuraba replied, sometimes 1500 - 2000 letters!
Stop for a minute and think, why are so many people writing to Hudhuraba regularly from all over the globe? The answer is quite simple. They want to develop a strong relationship with their beloved Khalifa.
People write to Hudhuraba for many reasons: ● Introduce themselves and their family. ● To share some important news. ● To request prayers in general or for something specific. ● To ask for advice or guidance on a personal matter. ● To ask a question about an Islamic teaching. ● To share dreams they feel are important for Hudhuraba to be aware of. ● To simply keep a personal relationship with their beloved Hudhuraba.
Hudhuraba Question Answer Session - Canada Tour 201658
Question: What are Hudhur‘saba thoughts on the fact that ―some people do not write to you regularly because they feel that you have such a busy schedule and they think they‘ll be wasting your time‖.
Answer: Hudhuraba replied, ―This is an EXCUSE that time is being wasted! If that was true then such a person should actually be praying for me, meaning that the person would be offering at least 2 nawafil (voluntary prayer). But if that person is neither praying for me nor writing letters to me, then a relationship cannot be formed.‖
58 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i2cVCEkRKJE
Hudhuraba then shared some points on how to write letters to him which are summarized below: ● There is no need to write long drawn out letters ● Just 1-2 pages, once or twice a month is enough to develop a relationship with Hudhuraba ● Instead of writing long stories, write brief letters that are to the point, even if it is a very important matter. ● Hudhuraba said that when he used to write letters to the Third and Fourth Khalifara, he used to first think about the topic and then write 4-5 sentences regarding that topic. This way all the main points would be right there and such letters get a reply. ● If you write a 300 line letter, then the letter team will just summarize it into 1 sentence and give it to Hudhuraba. ● Hudhuraba said, the letter team may highlight something that wasn‘t even what you wanted to highlight and your important matter doesn‘t get to me. ● So try your best to keep your letters brief.
Story on Hudhur‟saba Relationship with our Letters Narrated by Maulana Syed Kamal Yusuf Sahib at the Norway Jalsa Salana 201659
In his address, Maulana Sahib concluded with a heartwarming story to show the value of our letters to Hudhuraba. Maulana Sahib said on a visit to Germany, he spoke with Jalal Ahmad Sahib who shared the following story:
When Hudhuraba had his gall bladder operation, he was expected to stay in the hospital for a few more days, but Hudhuraba insisted on being able to go back home as soon as possible. When he got home, the table next to his bed had an enormous pile of letters waiting for him.
When Hudhuraba lifted his arm to pick the first letter, he made a loud sound due to the great deal of pain he was in following the surgery. Hudhuraba still opened the letter, read it, and made a note.
Hudhuraba then lifted his arm to pick the next letter and again made a sound out of pain. Hudhuraba carried on like this till about the fifth letter. When he went for that letter, it slipped out of his hand. Hudhuraba tried picking it again and it slipped again. He tried a third time and it slipped again.
59 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JjohQAXM2Nk At this point, Abdullah Sahib (someone who Hudhuraba always takes with him on journeys) who was there in the room, came forward to pick the letter and hand it to Hudhuraba but Hudhuraba immediately stopped him! Hudhuraba said firmly,
―Abdullah, what are you doing! Stop Immediately! Do not touch that letter! Do you think this is just an ordinary paper? Whoever wrote this letter, poured his/her heart out to me. Go and wash your hands first, then say Bismillah before you touch it, and do not pick it with one hand. Pick it with two hands and then give it to me‖.
Abdullah Sahib went on to say that the letter was actually from a child and had no writing on it, only lines. He said, Hudhuraba still read across each line from beginning to end as if he was reading a real letter. He even turned it over to make sure there was nothing on the back!
This incident shows the value Hudhuraba puts on our letters. They are not just pieces of paper to him. He knows he is holding our thoughts and our hearts in his hands. Maulana Sahib asked the audience, Do you even know of any mother who would do this? A mother who would wash her hands, say Bismillah and hold her child‘s letter with both hands just to show respect and honor to it?
This is Hudhur‘saba relationship with us. Now it is up to us to develop our relationship with Hudhuraba. InshaAllah in the next class we will learn how to write a letter to Hudhuraba correctly and we will write our own letters to send collectively as a class.
Quarter 7 - Part 1 Activity Divide into groups and answer the following questions on a separate piece of paper. Present your findings to the class.
Ages 7-9
1. How many letters can Hudhuraba get in a day? 2. Why do so many people write to Hudhuraba daily? 3. How did Hudhuraba write his own letters to the previous Khulafara? 4. What surprised you the most about the story above?
Recommended Homework
● Watch the Documentary ―Correspondence with Hudhuraba‖. It can be found on MTA archives or on youtube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5jMZLx_s3FM
Ages 10-12 and 13-14
1. What is the main reason we should be writing to Hudhuraba regularly? 2. What were the two things Hudhuraba said in the Question & Answer session that we should be doing to maintain a relationship with Hudhuraba? 3. Discuss the points that Hudhuraba made on how to write to him. 4. How did the story make you feel? What did you learn from it?
Recommended Homework
● Watch the Documentary ―Correspondence with Hudhuraba‖. It can be found on MTA archives or on youtube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5jMZLx_s3FM
Reflections: “What did I learn from this Lesson?”
December 2020 Quarter 7- Part 3
Objectives: 1. Understand step by step how to write a letter to Hudhuraba. 2. Write a personal letter to Hudhuraba.
Steps in Writing a letter to Hudhuraba:
1. Start with Bismillah at the top center of the page (practice writing it in Arabic). 2. Write the date at the top right corner. 3. Start with ―Dearest Hudhuraba‖, ―Beloved Hudhuraba‖, or ―Pyare Hudhuraba‖. 4. Then write the salutation ―Assalaamo Alaikum‖. 5. It is a good habit to first ask about Hudhur‘saba health and well-being and pray for his health. 6. Introduce yourself starting with your family (parents, grandparents) then talk about yourself (age, school, grade, your goals and ambitions) and mention your activities within the Jama‘at 7. Request prayers for your own heath, success and happiness and request special prayers for something or someone important. 8. You can also share your thoughts or emotions about a specific matter or ask for advice/guidance on a something. 9. End your letter with ―Wasalaam‖ 10. Write your signature, full name, your father‘s full name, your address and Chapter
When you are finished, you can either fax or mail your letter to Hudhuraba: Fax: 011-44-203-988-3922 Mailing Address: Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih V Mubarak Mosque Sheephatch Lane Tilford Surrey GU10 2AQ United Kingdom
Reference Tool for Writing to Hudhuraba
Sample Letter
ِم ۡق ِمم ِہّٰللا ِم ا َّس ۡقح ٰا ِم ا َّس ِمحۡق ِمم
February 1, 2019
Dear Beloved Hudhur,
Assalaamo Alaikum wa Rehmatullah.
I pray you and your family are well. May Allah grant you a long and healthy life, Ameen.
My name is Sarah Chaudhary. I am the daughter of ______, and granddaughter of ______. I am 10 years old and am in the 5th grade. My favorite subjects are math and science. I am currently preparing for our local Ijtema and will InshaAllah plan to take part in all of the competitions.
I wanted to share the good news that I came in first place in the science fair at my school and will be going to the regional competition. I humbly request your prayers for my success. Please also pray for the health and well-being of all my loved ones. JazakAllah.
Wasalaam, Signature Name Daughter of (Father‘s name) Majlis (Name of your Majlis) Your address
Quarter 7 - Part 2 Activity Divide into groups and answer the following questions on a separate piece of paper. Present your findings to the class.
Ages 7-14
1. Make sure you understand the guidelines on writing to Hudhuraba. 2. Write your own letter to Hudhuraba. You may refer to the sample letter provided.
Recommended Homework
● Watch the Documentary ―Correspondence with Hudhuraba‖. It can be found on MTA archives or on youtube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5jMZLx_s3FM
Reflections: “What did I learn from this Lesson?”
January 2021 Quarter 8 - Part 1
Objectives: 1. Understand the meaning of Zikr-e-Ilahi. 2. Understand the importance of Zikr-e-Ilahi. 3. Understand the four kinds of Zikr-e-Ilahi.
Meaning of Zikr-e-Ilahi
“Zikr-e-Ilahi” is an Arabic phrase which means “Remembrance of Allah”. It refers the different ways a person can remember Allah60:
Importance of Zikr-e-Ilahi
Allah Himself emphasizes the importance of Zikr-e-Ilahi several times in the Holy Qur‘an:
● ―(And) when you have finished the Prayer, remember Allah while standing, and sitting, and lying, on your sides…‖ (4:104)
● ―…and remembrance of Allah indeed is the greatest virtue…‖ (29:46)
● ―And remember the name of thy Lord during the morning as well as the evening.‖ (76:26)
60 Remembrance of Allah, p.1 ● ―O ye who believe let not your wealth and your children divert you from the remembrance of Allah…‖ (63:10)
There are also many hadith on Zikr-e-Ilahi. Holy Prophetsaw said,
● ―When people gather together for the remembrance of Allah they are surrounded by angels and are covered by mercy from their Lord. The more time he spends in the remembrance of Allah, the more will he attract the company of angels and they will constantly remind him to perform good deeds.‖ (Muslim)
● ―The comparison between a person who remembers his Lord and the one who doesn't do so, is like that of the living and the dead.‖61
● ―Shall I tell you about your best action and the noblest deed which raises your status, is better for you than spending gold and silver, and better for you than that you meet your enemy and cut off their necks, or that you yourselves attain martyrdom?‖ The Companions said, ―Certainly, please tell us.‖ The Holy Prophetsaw said, ―It is the remembrance of Allah.‖(Tirmidhi)
● A Companion asked, ―O Prophet of Allah, is it higher in reward than striving in the cause of Allah?‖ He said, ―Yes, because it is the remembrance of Allah which encourages you to undertake the striving.‖62
Four Kinds of Zikr-e-Ilahi
Now that we understand what Zikr-e-Ilahi is and its importance, we can look into the different types of Zikr-e-Ilahi. In past lessons we learned about the importance of Salat and recitation of the Holy Qur‘an to remember Allah throughout our day.
Of course, our five daily prayers are the fundamental and most important ways to remember Allah. However, Hadhrat Khalifatul Masihra II explains that there are actually four types of Zikr-e-Ilahi described in the Holy Qur‘an. He states,
―All of these should be observed diligently; missing any of them will deprive one of a great blessing.‖63
61 Remembrance of Allah p.4 62 Remembrance of Allah p.5 63 Remembrance of Allah p.18 The four types of Zikr-e-Ilahi are detailed in the diagram below:
To uphold ―Reciting the Attributes‖ and ―Proclaiming them‖, we need to first study the attributes of Allah with their deeper meanings and use them in our prayers. We need to use them by calling to Allah with them and by trying to develop that attribute within ourselves and practicing it. The following table shows a few examples:
Attribute Calling to Allah
Al-Mujeeb (Answerer of ―Al-Mujeeb, please answer my prayer‖ Prayers)
Al-Ghafoor (The Most ―Al-Ghafoor, I made a mistake. Please forgive me!‖ Forgiving)
Ash-Shaafee (The Healer) ―Ash-Shaafee, please heal me and make this cold go away.‖
Al-Haadee (The Guide) ―Al-Haadee, please guide me in the decision I have to make.‖
Attribute Developing and Practising Attributes of Allah
Ar-Rahmaan (The Merciful) We need to show compassion to others.
As-Suboor (The Patient) We must show patience to others and be patient during a hardship or struggle.
Al-Adl (The Just) We must try to be fair and just in everything we say and do. As-Salaam (The Source of Try to bring peace into someone else's life. Peace)
―Allah told the Holy Prophetsaw ,‗By offering Nawafil My servant gets so close to Me that I become the ears with which he hears, the eyes with which he sees, the hands with which he holds, and the feet with which he walks.‘ This Hadith reveals the value given to Nawafil by Allah, and the high status of a person who performs them. Allah elevates him so high that he begins to absorb His attributes.‖64
In summary, we need to make sure we offer our daily prayers, recite the Holy Qur‘an and recite and proclaim the Attributes of Allah. Remember, all the little prayers we say throughout the day are Zikr-e-Ilahi because we are remembering Allah with His Attributes.
We must never make the mistake that Salat is enough. Zikr-e-Ilahi should be done throughout the day. Without remembering Allah, our good deeds will be incomplete.
Examples of Prayers that are Zikr-e-Ilahi
Phrase Translation Example of Opportunity for using Phrase
Bismillah ir Rahman ir In the name of Allah, Most Beginning a meal Raheem Gracious Ever-Merciful. (1:1)
Alhamdulillahi Rabbil- All Praise belongs to Allah, Lord Completion of every Aalameen of all the worlds. activity
Inna Lillahi wa inna To Allah we belong and to Him Occasion of sorrow Ilaihi raji‘un shall we return
Subhan‘Allah Holy is Allah Upon seeing something beautiful
64 Remembrance of Allah pg. 6
Quarter 8 - Part 1 Activity Divide into groups and answer the following questions on a separate piece of paper. Present your findings to the class.
Ages 7-9
1. What does Zikr-e-Ilahi mean? 2. What are some ways we can remember Allah? four ways we can perform Zikr? 3. Think about other phrases or prayers we say that are Zikr-e-Ilahi? 4. Do you understand what Nawafil are and why they are important?
Recommended Homework
● Read pages 1-5 from the book Remembrance of Allah by Hadhrat Khalifatul- Masihra II. ● Learn at least 5 attributes of Allah. ● Try to offer Nawafil prayer at least once before the next class.
Ages 10-12 and 13-14
1. Give examples of phrases you can use regularly for zikr throughout your day and the situation in which you would use them. 2. Why do you think Zikr is ―the greatest virtue‖? 3. What are the four types of Zikr-e-Ilahi and how can we make sure they are implemented in our daily life? 4. Why do you think Nawafil prayers help absorb Allah‘s attributes?
Recommended Homework
● Read the book Remembrance of Allah by Hadhrat Khalifatul-Masihra II ● Learn at least 10 attributes of Allah. ● Try to offer Nawafil prayer at least twice before the next class.
Reflections: “What did I learn from this Lesson?”
February 2021 Quarter 8 - Part 2
Objectives: 1. Understand what a ―neighbor‖ is in Islam. 2. Understand the status and the rights of neighbors in Islam. 3. Understand the etiquettes in dealing with neighbors. 4. Understand the etiquettes of pathways.
Description of a Neighbor
In quarter one, we learned about ―Haqooq Allah‖ (Rights of Allah) and touched on the different relationships that the Holy Qur‘an gives guidance in respect to ―Haqooq-ul- Ibad‖ (Rights of Man).
One very important aspect of Haqooq-ul-Ibad is the relationship with a neighbor. Islam gives us a complete and perfect guide to the rights of our neighbors.
Allah says in the Holy Qur‘an ―...show kindness to parents, and to kindred, and orphans, and the needy, and to the neighbor that is a kinsman and the neighbour that is a stranger, and the companion by your side, and the wayfarer, and those whom your right hands possess.‖ (4:37)
There are three phrases used for neighbors in this verse:
From this diagram we can see that a neighbor is not just the person who lives next door. There is a much wider interpretation of who is classified as a neighbor and it is our duty as Muslims to treat everyone with utter respect and complete humility.
Status of Neighbors in Islam
The status of neighbors cannot be stressed enough in Islam. There are numerous Hadith regarding the status of a neighbor and how we should be treating them. The following are just a selected few of the sayings of the Holy Prophetsaw :
● ―The Angel Gabriel kept advising me so repeatedly, in favor of neighbors, that I thought he might be giving them the right of inheritance.‖ (Bukhari) ○ Inheritance is the worldly possession someone leaves another person after they die. ○ Imagine how important the sacred bond of a neighbor was in the eyes the Holy Prophetsaw, that neighbors seemed deserving of an inheritance, which is given to blood relatives ● “O Messenger of Allah, a woman performs voluntary prayers at night and fasts during the day, but she offends her neighbors with her tongue.‖ He said: ―There is no good in her; she is in Hell.‖ (Muslim) ○ This shows that even if someone is adhering to Haqooq-ul-Allah at the highest level, but is hurting someone with her tongue, Allah is displeased with her. ● Once the Holy Prophetsaw was asked, ―O Messenger of Allah! What are the rights of a neighbor? He said: ―If he asks for a loan, give it to him. If he asks for help, help him; If he is in need, give him; If he falls ill, visit him; When he dies, follow his funeral procession; If something good happens to him, be pleased and congratulate him; If something bad happens to him, be displeased and console him.‖ (Kamil Ibne Adi)
Our beloved Promised Messiahas also emphasized the importance of the rights of neighbors. He said,
―Whosoever deprives his neighbor of the very least good in his power, he is not of my community.‖65
Basically, we are mistaken to consider ourselves true Ahmadis if we fail to uphold the rights of our neighbors. Hudhuraba has stated,
―Irrespective of differences of race, religion or social background, we are united as human beings and so it is vital that we interact with other people, rather than isolating ourselves or only mingling with members of our own particular community. For the advancement and evolution of society, and to foster an atmosphere of peace and
65 Our Teaching togetherness, respectful discourse and discussion between people and amongst different communities is vital.‖66
Etiquettes in Dealing with Neighbors
In light of the status given to our neighbors in all aspects, Nasirat should be aware of the basic etiquettes in dealing them67:
● It is forbidden to be a source of annoyance or trouble to our neighbors. ● Be kind and compassionate to them. ● Be ready to protect the life, wealth, and honor of our neighbors just like we would our own. ● Share home cooked meals with them once in a while, especially if we cooked something special. ● Exchange gifts with them to form a mutual bond of love and affection. ● Our neighbors should feel safe and secure with us. ● Showing kindness to a neighbor is an easy way to win nearness to Allah ● Be caring and helpful to our neighbors whenever we can. ● If a neighbor is struggling financially, we should help with a loan if we can. ● If a neighbor needs anything, it is our responsibility to help them. ● Look after a neighbor if they are sick. ● Take part in our neighbor‘s celebrations and happy occasions. ● Attend the funeral of a neighbor that passes away.
Etiquettes of Pathways
We can also take the etiquettes of neighbors one step further and include the etiquettes of pathways as these are shared with our neighbors:
● Be the first to greet others on the street with Assalamu ‗Alaikum. ● If someone is lost, offer help. ● Try not to carry an object that may harm or inconvenience others. ● If going up a slope, recite Allahu Akbar. ● If going down, recite SubhanAllah. ● Do not point at people. ● Do not drag your feet while walking. ● Do not group together in the streets and sidewalks. ● Do not litter. Remove any litter or obstruction you come across.
66 Inauguration Address of Baitul Aafiyat Mosque in Philadelphia october 24, 2018 67 Syllabus Waqf-e-Nau, p.81 Quarter 8 - Part 3 Activity Divide into groups and answer the following questions on a separate piece of paper. Present your findings to the class.
Ages 7-9
1. What are some things the Holy Prophetsaw tells us to do for our neighbors? 2. If you see someone in your class without a lunch (because they can‘t afford it) what should you do? 3. Is a neighbor just the person who lives next door? 4. How can you help an elderly neighbor who is sick?
Recommended Homework
● Take a walk down your street and pick up any litter you find. ● Ask your mom to make some food to send to your neighbors or invite them over for a meal. ● Buy a gift such as chocolates and present to your neighbor just as a ―Thank you for being such a great neighbor‖ gift.
Ages 10-12 and 13-14
● Why do you think Allah gives preference to Haqooq-ul-Ibad over Haqooq Ullah? ● What is the broader meaning of Neighbor? ● In school, a girl looks at you in a rude way and clearly starts making fun of you to her friends. What can you say to her while maintaining Haqooq-ul-l Ibad within 10 words? ● If your mother made delicious food at home, but says it is difficult to give some to a neighbor you know needs it, how would you convince your mom to share? ● The Holy Prophetsaw says ―If he asks for a loan, give it to him.‖ This does not have to mean that you loan only money. What are some practical ways you can give a loan to a neighbor as a Nasirat?
Recommended Homework
● See 7-9 homework.
Reflections: “What did I learn from this Lesson?”
February 2021 Quarter 8 - Part 3
Objectives: 1. Understand the importance of seeking knowledge in Islam. 2. Understand the etiquettes of seeking knowledge. 3. Understand the etiquettes of school and learning.
Seeking Knowledge in Islam
Searching for knowledge in Islam cannot be emphasized enough. If we reflect back 1400 years to the Holy Prophet‘ssaw, that was a time of ―Jahillya‖, which means ignorance. This age of ignorance was transformed only through Knowledge! In studying the story of the first revelation, we learn that the very first word revealed in the Holy Qur‘an was ‗Iqra‘ which means to ‗read‘. This shows that education and gaining knowledge is the starting point for us to transform our lives and the society we live in. Remember knowledge without transformation is just information68.
Allah says in the Holy Qur‘an,
● ―Only those of His servants who possess knowledge fear Allah. Verily Allah is Mighty, Most Forgiving.‖ (35:29) ○ It was knowledge that developed the fear of Allah in the early Muslims and it was that very knowledge that transformed them. ● ―Allah will raise those who believe from among you, and those to whom knowledge is given, to degrees of rank. And Allah is Well-Aware of what you do. (58:12) ● ―Are those who know equal to those who know not?‖ (39:10) The Holy Prophetsaw has also shed light on the importance of seeking knowledge as directed in the Holy Qur‘an:
―Seeking knowledge is an obligation upon every Muslim‖ (Tirmidhi).
From this Hadith, we can see that knowledge is vital part of our faith. This is why Allah has taught us a prayer in the Holy Qur‘an for this very purpose,
68 Rajneesh, https://quotefancy.com/quote/1488190/Rajneesh-Knowledge-is-not-information-it-s- transformation
―Oh my Lord, increase me increase of knowledge.‖ (20:115)
The Holy Prophetsaw has also said the following about seeking knowledge:
● ―Seek knowledge even if you have to go to China for this purpose.‖ 69 ● ―The learned who are also pious constitute the greatest good of my people.‖70 ● ―For him who follows a path for seeking knowledge, Allah will ease the way to Paradise. (Muslim) ● ―He who issues forth in search of knowledge is busy in the cause of Allah till he returns from his quest.‖ (Tirmidhi) ● A believer never has his fill of knowledge till he ends up in Paradise (Tirmidhi) ● The word of wisdom is the lost property of a Muslim, so that, wherever he finds it, he should take it, as he is most entitled to it. (Tirmidhi)
After learning the importance of seeking knowledge for a Muslim, do you think we have any right to complain about school? We know school isn‘t always fun, but just think about how lucky we are to be living in a country that actually imposes this teaching of the Holy Qur‘an on us. This is in fact a great blessing of Allah.
In addition, with this blessing of school, Nasirat will actually be able to live up to Hadhrat Khalifatul Masihra II‘s (ra) dream for the Jama‘at:
―Hence, you should make yourself more proficient, and more capable, not only in your religion but also in every secular activity, every skill, and every profession. So much so that there is no field left in which the world can find anyone more competent than the members of Jamaat Ahmadiyya.‖71
Etiquettes of Seeking Knowledge72
There are a number of etiquettes that Nasirat need to be aware of when it comes to learning:
While seeking knowledge, one should not hesitate to undergo physical hardship. Knowledge is an endless treasure that one must strive to attain. Seeking knowledge requires a love for learning. A true desire to learn is insatiable. Effort and hard work are essential for learning.
69 Forty Gems of Beauty, p.166 70 Forty Gems of Beauty, p.167 71 Khutbat-e-Mahmood, 1936, page 36-37 72 Syllabus Waqf-e-Nau, p.84-85 To gain knowledge one should inculcate a love of reading. Taqwa and pursuit of knowledge go together. Knowledge should be acquired in stages. Develop the habit of reflection and deliberation. Do not ridicule someone less knowledgeable than you. Serve others as much as possible by distributing your knowledge. o Such a service does not diminish your store of knowledge, rather it increases it. One of the etiquettes of seeking knowledge is to participate in secular and religious conferences. One can become a scholar by keeping company with the learned.
Etiquettes of School & Learning73
● Say ―Assalaamo Alaikum‖ when you enter a classroom. ● Be punctual to school. ● Keep a distance of at least one foot between your eyes and your books while reading. ● Respect and obey your teachers. ● Work and study hard in your studies. ● Participate in extracurricular activities. ● Put phone and distractions away when studying. ● Read as often as possible. ● Listen carefully in class. ● Write clearly and neatly. ● Prepare well for tests. ● Never cheat on a test. ● Ask teacher questions you do not understand. ● Keep clothes clean and tidy. ● Keep classroom neat and tidy. ● Make friends with intelligent and well-behaved children. ● Do not put pen or pencil in your mouth. ● Do not pointlessly argue with your schoolmates. ● Do not use abusive language. ● Do not take absences regularly. ● Refrain from talking during study time. ● Avoid reading and writing while lying down or walking. ● Try to read news journals and magazines as they are a good source of knowledge ● Do not read someone else‘s letters or journals without their permission. ● Become a member of your local library and use it often. ● Do not just do the bare minimum but put in time for extra study.
73 Syllabus Waqf-e-Nau, p.76-78
Quarter 8 - Part 3 Activity Divide into groups and answer the following questions on a separate piece of paper. Present your findings to the class.
Ages 7-9
1. Complete the Crossword puzzle
Recommended Homework
● No Homework
Ages 10-12 and 13-14 1. Complete the Crossword puzzle
Recommended Homework
● No Homework
Reflections: “What did I learn from this Lesson?”
References
The Holy Qur‘an, Five Volume Commentary An Elementary Study to Islam, by Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih IV Introduction to the Study of the Holy Qur‘an, by Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih II Our God, by Hadhrat Mirza Bashir Ahmad Revelation, Rationality, Knowledge and Truth, by Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih IV Basics of Religion, by Sheikh Abdul Hadi Introduction to Financial Sacrifice, by Anjuman Tehrik-e-Jadid The Philosophy of the Teachings of Islam, by Promised Messiahas Conditions of Ba‘it, by Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih V Way of the Seekers, by Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih II Paradise Under Your Feet, by Lajna Ima‘illah USA Taleem/Tarbiyyat Workbook 2017-2019, by Lajna Ima‘illah USA Syllabus Waqf-e-Nau, by Waqf-e-Nau Department, Central Views of Scientists on the Existence of God, by Prof. Saleh Muhammad Allahdin Jesus in India, by Promised Messiahas Where did Jesus Die?, by J.D. Shams Blessings of Khilafat, by Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih II An Introduction to Financial Sacrifice, Tahrik-e-Jadid Anjuman Ahamadiyya Remembrance of Allah, Lectures of Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih II Forty Gems of Beauty, Hadhrat Mirza Bashir Ahmad Sahib (ra) Gardens of the Righteous, Riyadh as-Salihin
Online References Ask Islam, http://www.askislam.org/ Review of Religions, http://www.reviewofreligions.org/ Al Islam, https://www.alislam.org Qur‘an Facts, http://www.quranfacts.com/