AL-MAQASID WEEKLY | MARCH 26, 2024

ON CONDUCT IN TRAVEL | APRIL 19-21

We are excited to announce our upcoming Weekend Retreat, which will be held on April 19-21 titled On Conduct in Travel, a study of Book 17 of Imam al-Ghazali’s masterpiece Ihya’ ‘Ulum al-Din (Revival of the Religious Sciences).

According to Imam al- Ghazali, a traveler is either seeking something or fleeing from something, and it could be for an outward or inward reason. Indeed, in the Quran, Allah encourages travel for a variety of reasons: for example,

“Say [Muhammad], ‘Roam the earth, and observe how He originated the creation.’” [Quran 29:20], and “Have they not journeyed through the land, and seen the outcome for those before them?” [Quran 40:82]

While traveling has both worldly and spiritual benefits, it has hardships as well. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "Traveling is a torment because it deprives a traveler of his food, drink, and sleep.” Accordingly, Allah in His All-Encompassing Mercy affords a traveler certain concessions to make the journey easier.

In Imam al-Ghazali’s On Conduct in Travel, he discusses the different types of traveling, the etiquettes of traveling, and six legal mitigations granted the traveler.

We welcome you to join us in exploring this often overlooked, but important, issue in what we pray will be a weekend filled with abundant blessings as we acquire knowledge and spend time in devotion together.

Community Suhur

﷽

As-Salaamu 'Alaykum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuhu,

In order to give life to the night of the 17th of Ramadan, which is the day of the decisive Battle of Badr, we invite you to our Community Suhur and recitation of the Hadra Badriyya. Please find details below

Date: Thursday 3/28/24 (Ramadan 17, 1445) | Time: 3:30 AM - Fajr | Location: Ribat Musalla

Schedule of events:

3:30 AM - 4:15 AM Community Suhur (potluck)

4:15 AM - 5:45 AM Recitation of Hadra Badriyya

5:04 AM Imsak

5:49 AM Iqamah for Fajr

If you would like to contribute to the Community Suhur, please review the available slots by clicking the button below

click here to contribute to the Community Suhur

Battle of Badr Commemoration

“Indeed, Allah made you victorious at Badr when you were outnumbered. So be mindful of Allah, so that you may be grateful. ˹Remember, O Prophet,˺ when you said to the believers, ‘Is it not enough that your Lord will send down a reinforcement of three thousand angels for your aid?...Allah ordained this only as good news for you and reassurance for your hearts. And victory comes only from Allah—the Almighty, All-Wise.” [Quran 3:123-124, 126]

Commemorating events from the life of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) gives life to the our hearts, strengthens our faith, and inspires within us love, reverence, and dedication.

Please join us for our annual commemoration of the Great Battle of Badr, which took place on the 17th of Ramadan. This is the Decisive Day when Allah gave victory to His Beloved Prophet and the Companions. The Battle of Badr was a turning point for the entire Ummah, and there are many lessons to be learned from the events that took place.

Our program begins at 6:00 PM EST, which will consist of the narrative of events, some reflections, devotional poetry, and du‘a. The gathering will be broadcast at www.almaqasid.org/live

join our team

﷽

Assalam 'Alaykum wa Rahmahtullah;

We are happy to announce that Al-Maqasid is expanding its team and currently has three exciting work opportunities for individuals who are passionate about making a positive impact in the community.

• Programs Manager

• Director of Development

• Director of Finance & HR

• Quran Teacher

• Digital Content Creator

These positions offer an opportunity to join a dynamic team dedicated to our mission of facilitating the realization of Islam, Iman, and Ihsan through immersion in the prophetic inheritance. Our mission is to cultivate holistic learning environments rooted in knowledge, devotion, and service by providing full-time, part-time, and online formal learning initiatives and a variety of community programs.

Ideal candidates will possess a combination of relevant experience, strong leadership skills, and a commitment to our values and organizational ethos. For detailed job descriptions and application instructions, please visit: www.almaqasid.org/join-our-team

Thank you for considering joining the Al-Maqasid Team.

Regards,

Mustafa Davis

Executive Director

Al-Maqasid

APPLY TODAY

cOMMUNITY IFTAR

The next Community Iftar will be held on Friday March 29th Insha Allah. Please kindly RSVP your attendance. May Allah ﷻ gather us all for His sake and break our fast together as one community. Amin.

click here to register

MashaAllah, two shahadahs took place this week at Al-Maqasid during the blessed month of Ramadan.

May He grant them strength, wisdom, and steadfastness on this journey, and may He shower them with His mercy, forgiveness, and blessings in this life and the Hereafter.

The weekly Jumu'a, or Friday, Congregational prayer is live streamed from Al-Maqasid from 12:15pm-1:10pm.

Ramadan, The Month of Patience - Yahya Rhodus

“Patience in reality is active, and patience is strength because it is about having a continual strong religious impulse to do what is pleasing to Allah, subhanahu wa ta’ala, despite a number of different circumstances.”

Ramadan is known as ‘The Month of Patience (Sabr)’. As the middle of this blessed month approaches, Yahya Rhodus explains Imam al-Ghazali’s comprehensive definition of patience, discusses the main virtue coupled with patience, and gives two Quranic examples that demonstrate the power of patience, as well as providing a supplication that he encourages us to do.

click here to watch

“Verily, Ramadan is a month in which Allah Almighty has obligated its fasting. I have instituted for Muslims the practice of prayer at night. Thus, whoever fasts it with faith and expecting reward will be rid of sins like the day he was born from his mother.”

— Musnad Ahmad

So whoever renounces false gods and believes in Allah has certainly grasped the firmest, unfailing hand-hold. And Allah is All-Hearing, All-Knowing.
(Quran 2:256)

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‎فَاهْتَاجَتِ الْأَرْوَاحُ تَشْتَاقُ اللِّقَا
The souls have stirred in expectation and yearning for the meeting with Muhammad.

click here to watch

"And they say ˹mockingly˺, “What kind of messenger is this who eats food and goes about in market-places ˹for a living˺?" [Quran 25:7]

"The disbelieving chiefs of his people said, “We see you only as a human being like ourselves, and we see that no one follows you except the lowliest among us, who do so ˹hastily˺ without thinking." [Quran 11:27]

The Quran calls us to see through the veils that prevent people from seeing the true. Instead of benefiting from the way of the Prophets who are role models for us, some people due to their arrogance and ignorance, underestimate the true nature of those chosen by Allah as guides for humanity.

We must recognize that the human side of the Prophet ﷺ is a door for us to understand his special qualities and to follow his path, thereby attaining nearness to Allah ﷻand His reward.

Say, ˹O Prophet,˺ “Even though I am a man like you, I receive revelation that your God is only One God. So whoever hopes for the meeting with their Lord, let them do good deeds and associate none in the worship of their Lord.”

[Quran 18:110]

Instead of equating the Prophet ﷺ with other regular human beings, Allah ﷻ call us to reflect on His Beloved's special qualities and his being given revelation. When studying the human qualities of the Prophet ﷺ, we see his miraculous nature, magnificent character, and special qualities, further deepening our reverence and love for him.

The Companions (may Allah be well pleased with them) had the greatest reverence for and understanding of Allah’s Book, which led them to have a deep love and unbreakable connection to Allah’s Beloved ﷺ.

This lesson highlights examples of the Companions’ faith and their connection to the Prophet ﷺ, which further illustrates the closeness of the connection between the Quran and the Prophet.

Even after the Prophet's passing ﷺ, the Companions' love remained unwavering. In this lesson, we look at a few more examples of their attachment to the Prophet ﷺ.

Allah ﷻ tells us regarding Prophet Musa ﷺ, "I showered you with My love ˹O Moses˺ so that you would be brought up under My ˹watchful˺ Eye." [Quran 20:39] Two verses later, Allah ﷻ says, "And I have selected you for Myself. " [Quran 20:41]

If this is the degree of love and care Allah granted Prophet Musa (peace be upon him), what does that say of the rank granted to Allah's Beloved ﷺ? This should inspire us to follow his Sunna, have greater reverence for his teachings, and be even more committed to his path so that we may also be granted Allah's love ﷻ.

"So be patient with your Lord’s decree, for you are truly under Our ˹watchful˺ Eyes. And glorify the praises of your Lord when you rise. And glorify Him during part of the night and at the fading of the stars." [Quran 52:48-49]

These verses highlight how Allah ﷻ is consoling His Prophet ﷺ and describing the extent of His care and protection for His Beloved.

Our mother Aisha (may Allah be well pleased with her) said, after seeing how Allah ﷻ was continuously fulfilling the Prophet's wishes, "Your Lord truly hastens to give you what you want!"

Allah ﷻ says, "Indeed, We see you ˹O Prophet˺ turning your face towards heaven. Now We will make you turn towards a direction ˹of prayer˺ that will please you." [Quran 2:144] And, "And ˹surely˺ your Lord will give so much to you that you will be pleased." [Quran 93:5]

When reflecting on these verses and the vastness of Allah's generosity towards His Prophet, we should be inspired to appreciate the blessing of being from the Ummah of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.

Every believer is called to engage in 'Tadabbur', which is to contemplate the meanings of the Quran. These brief reflections are meant to help us do just that. In each reflection, our teachers share insights into some of the verses that are being recited on that particular night of Ramadan in the Tarawih Prayer.

Ramadan Reminders are daily inspirational videos delivered by Yahya Rhodus and Amjad Tarsin. These videos are broadcast live every night after the 8th Rakat of Tarawih.