السلام عليكم و رحمة الله و بركاته

الحمد لله, Allaah has brought us to yet another Ramadhaan.  May Allaah grant us all the full reward, benefit, mercy, & forgiveness that characterize this most blessed of months!

Although we all know, we also know that reminders benefit the believers.  So please take this time to remember that & remind ourselves and one-another that, despite all that this month brings in terms of mercy, forgiveness, and freedom from the Hellfire, we should not take it for granted.  How easy it is to lose the reward of fasting if we continue to indulge in the same sins we practice throughout the rest of the year?  How easy, in a moment of anger, can we lose a days worth of reward if we are not careful?  How little Allaah is in need of our refraining from food & drink if we do not refrain, as well, from backbiting and slandering others?

Moreover, how easily we can get caught-up in the festivities and enjoyment of the traditions brought about by our various cultures regarding this blessed month, and most of them will bring us no benefit in the afterlife, indeed, because they were not from the practices of the Messenger of Allaah, salallaahu ʿalayhi wa sallam, nor of his companions.  We all look forward to the special things of this great month, but let them not overshadow the true meaning and purpose of it – seeking the mercy, forgiveness, and security from the Hellfire of Allaah.  Enjoy the special treats of Ramadhaan that our mothers make for us, but don’t forget that what is truly special is what Allaah has promised those who seek it – namely, the aforementioned mercy, forgiveness, and freedom from the Hellfire.

And these are not attained by eating and drinking throughout the night, but from swollen feet and sleepy eyes that spend the night in the prayer and from sore hands and tired legs that spend the day giving out charity and seeking more good deeds to perform.

So, we should all ask Allaah to grant us the means of seeking the maximum good that can be attained from this glorious, blessed month.  Yaa Allaah, grant us that and more to the limit of your Mercy.  Aameen!

Assalaamu ʿalaykum wa Rahmatullaahi wa Barakaatuh

Alhamdulillaah, the first ten (10) days of Dhul Hijjah are almost upon us. The Messenger of Allaah, salallaahu ʿalayhi wa sallam, taught us that these days are the best days of the year, just as the last ten nights of Ramadhaan are the best ten nights. Therefore, we are encouraged to increase in our acts of good deeds and worship during this time.

Amongst the deeds we can partake during this special time are:

• Fasting (for the first nine days only, the tenth day is ʿEed ulʾadha)
• Tahmeed (saying “alhamdulillaah“), tahleel (saying “laa ilaaha ilallaah“), & takbeer (saying “allaahu akbar“)
• Hajj & Umrah
• Udhiyah (sacrifice)

For those that have been blessed by Allaah with the ability to make Hajj this year, we ask Allaah to grant them an accepted Hajj! For the rest of us, there are still plenty of acts of worship left. Please visit the Islam-QA page below for more information:

http://www.islamqa.com/en/ref/49042

May Allaah grant us all the ability to seek His Mercy & Reward in these upcoming ten days, in shaaʾ Allaah!

Jazaakum Allaahu khayr.

Assalaamu ʿalaykum wa Rahmatullaahi wa Barakaatuh

Alhamdulillaah, our community is truly blessed to have with us Shaykh Khalid Yasin, perhaps best known for his powerful & inspiring lecture, The Purpose of Life.  He will be visiting several locations throughout the community during his stay in the coming week, in shaaʾ Allaah.  Please visit this page frequently as the schedule is being updated and finalized.

Saturday (May 24th, 2008)

Ibn Taymiya Masjid & Islamic Center (map)

After Maghrib Presentation

Sunday (May 25th, 2008)

Masjid Omar bin El-Khattab (map)

4:00 PM – 8:00 PM (Ladies only)
After Maghrib khaatirah (everyone)

Monday (May 26th, 2008)

Abubakar Siddique Islamic Center (map)

After Maghrib khaatirah

Tuesday (May 27th, 2008)

Masjid Oumar Al-Foutiyou (map)

After Maghrib khaatirah

Wednesday (May 28th, 2008)

Ibn Taymiya Masjid & Islamic Center (map)

7:00 PM Presentation

Thursday (May 29th, 2008)

Event at OSU (details still coming)

Friday (May 30th, 2008)

Masjid Omar bin El-Khattab (map)

Jumuʿah Khutbah @ 1PM
After Maghrib khaatirah

Saturday (May 31st, 2008)

Masjid Omar bin El-Khattab (map)

10:30 AM Youth Program
After Maghrib presentation

Sunday (June 1st, 2008)

Ibn Taymiya Masjid & Islamic Center (map)

7:00 PM Presentation

Please check this page frequently as updates and additional details come in.  We hope you can attend as many of these events as possible!

presented by Building Muslim Leaders

www.BuildingMuslimLeaders.com

Sunday, April 27, 2008

Kottman Hall, The Ohio State University 2:30pm – 7:30pm

Speakers:

• Safi Shareef
• Mohammed Shareef
• Basil Gohar
• Sh. Omar Baloch

Topics:

• Physical Fitness for Muslims
• Peak Performance in Life
• Muhammed (SAW): the perfect example of excellence
• Imam Abu Hanifa: On Ihsan

Alhamdulillaah, the recordings of the recent promotional series, The Preservation of the Islamic Tradition, presented by Basil Gohar, promoting the upcoming AlMaghrib Institute seminar Chain of Command: Sciences of Hadeeth in Qabeelat Hayl are now available for download!

Each presentation is based on the same notes, and the only major difference between them related to minor adaptations to the audience at each location.

Presentation given on The Ohio State University campus on Thursday, January 17th, 2008

The Preservation of the Islamic Tradition (OSU)

Presentation given at Masjid ibn Taymiya on Friday, January 18th, 2008

The Preservation of the Islamic Tradition (Masjid ibn Taymiya)

Presentation given at Masjid Omar bin El-Khattab on Saturday, January 19th, 2008

The Preservation of the Islamic Tradition (Masjid Omar bin El-Khattab)

We hope you will benefit from & enjoy these presentations.

Jazaakum Allaahu khayr!

Wassalaamu`alaykum

Assalaamu`alaykum wa Rahmatullaahi wa Barakaatuh

Alhamdulillaah, we now have available for download parts 1 and 2 of Omar Baloch’s lectures given in Masjid Omar bin El-Khattab on the Rise & Fall of Muslims in Spain.  Please find the download links below:

Omar Baloch – The Rise & Fall of Muslim Spain – Part 1 of 2

Omar Baloch – The Rise & Fall of Muslim Spain – Part 2 of 2

Alhamdulillaah, the recordings from night 23 of Ramadhaan at the Noor Islamic Cultural Center are now available for download. Tonight’s taraweeh recording is special because it features shaykh Abdulkareem Daghoush, an imaan with a beautiful recitation of the Qur’aan. The entire night of taraweeh, including qunoot alwitr, is available for download below, along with Hany Saqr’s khaatirah on the beautiful recitation of the Qur’aan.

Ramadhaan 23 Taraweeh – Abdulkareem Daghoush

Ramadhaan 23 Khaatirah – The Beautiful Recitation of the Qur’aan – Hany Saqr

Alhamdulillaah, the recordings from night 18 of Ramadhaan at the Noor Islamic Cultural Center are now available for download.  This night’s taraweeh recording is special as it features both shaykh Hossam (former imaam of Masjid Omar bin El-Khattab here in Columbus) and shaykh Fares (current imaam of NICC), each doing four rak`at, and shaykh Hossam finishing with shaf`ee, witr, & qunoot alwitr.

Ramadhaan 18 Taraweeh

Ramadhaan 18 Shabir Ally Fundraising Lecture

Alhamdulillaah, the recordings from night 16 of Ramadhaan at the Noor Islamic Cultural Center are now available for download.

Ramadhaan 16 Taraweeh

Ramadhaan 16 Khaatirah

Alhamdulillaah, the recordings from night 14 of Ramadhaan at the Noor Islamic Cultural Center are now available for download.

This time around we’ve combined all the 8 raka`at as well as qunoot alwitr together into one file to make it easier to download. Additionally, we’ve included the khaatirah as well as a separate file download.

Ramadhaan 14 Taraweeh NICC

Ramadhaan 14 Khaatirah

May Allaah bring much benefit from these recordings. Please make du`aa’ for all those responsible for bringing these to you.

Alhamdulillaah, the recordings from night 12 of Ramadhaan taraweeh from the Noor Islamic Cultural Center are now available for download.

Taraweeh – 1428-09-12 – 1

Taraweeh – 1428-09-12 – 2

Taraweeh – 1428-09-12 – 3

Taraweeh – 1428-09-12 – 4

Taraweeh – 1428-09-12 – 5

Taraweeh – 1428-09-12 – 6

Taraweeh – 1428-09-12 – 7

Taraweeh – 1428-09-12 – 8

Taraweeh – 1428-09-12 – Shaf`ee 1

Taraweeh – 1428-09-12 – Shaf`ee 2

Future recordings will be more consistent, in shaa Allaah, across all rak`at, as this was an experimental setup.

Alhamdulillaah, Omar Baloch’s lecture, Are you a Ramadhaan Mu’min?, presented by the Noor Islamic Cultural Center youth group, is now available for download.

As with other lectures, you have your choice of formats – the common MP3 format or the higher-quality and freer Ogg Vorbis format.

Omar Baloch – Are you a Ramadhaan Mu’min? (MP3)

Omar Baloch – Are you a Ramadhaan Mu’min? (Ogg Vorbis)

Please enjoy this lecture, and don’t forget to make du`aa’ for our brother Omar and the rest of us during this blessed month of Ramadhaan.

Jazaakum Allaahu khayr.

Assalaamu`alaykum wa Rahmatullaahi wa Barakatuh

Alhamdulillaah that Allaah has brought us to Ramadhaan. The return of Ramadhaan is like the return of an old friend – a friend that visits but once a year. This visit, however, is one that leaves a mark lasting the entirety of the year. It is a visit we spend half the year anticipating, and half the year remembering. Such was the way of the Companions of the Messenger of Allaah, salallaahu `alayhi wa sallam, as they would spend the six months prior to Ramadhaan making du`aa’ to Allaah to allow them to reach the upcoming Ramadhaan, and they would spend the six months after Ramadhaan asking Allaah to accept their deeds in the previous Ramadhaan

And like an old friend spreading cheer, Ramadhaan comes with good news. The good news that Ramadhaan brings is that of mercy, forgiveness, & hope. It is during Ramadhaan’s yearly visit that the news of the open doors of Jannah and the closed doors of Jahannam are delivered.

And like an old friend’s visit that we expect with certainty, there is no Muslim but that he looks forward, with anticipation, excitement, and even anxiety, towards the visit of our old friend, Ramadhaan. And yet, once the old friend, Ramadhaan, has visited, we are content, at peace, and enjoy his company.

And like an old friend that brings gifts for one-and-all, Ramadhaan brings with it the opportunity to increase in taqwaa & `ibaadah to all who seek them.

And just as an old friend comes to encourage us to do good, and to leave bad, Ramadhaan comes to do the same, by encouraging us to leave our sins and to increase our good deeds.

And just as the time spent with an old friend is cherished, Ramadhaan comes with the Blessings of Allaah for its entire visit, in time, deeds, and all other aspects.

And just as would not wish to dishonor our cherished old friend by wasting his time and ignoring him, thus should we give our old friend, Ramadhaan, his rights and what is due to him, for indeed, he brings to us so much good & opportunity. Therefore, the least we should do is give him his dues, as we can only benefit.

Ramadhaan Mubaarak wa kul `aam wa antum bikhayr.

O Allaah, make this Ramadhaan a truly blessed one for all of us. O Allaah, help us to increase our deeds for Your sake in this blessed month. O Allaah, in this month, forgive us our sins. O Allaah, in this, your blessed month of Ramadhaan, accept our good deeds. O Allaah, let us leave this month better than when we entered it. O Allaah, let us continue through to the rest of the year the good deeds & habits we take up during this, your blessed month of Ramadhaan. O Allaah, in this, your blessed month of Ramadhaan, grant victory to the Muslims, give the Muslims respite from the oppressors, and shower us all with Your Mercy, and you are the Most Merciful, Most Beneficent. O Allaah, accept our du`aa’ in this, your blessed month of Ramadhaan.

Alhamdulillaah, the recordings from this past weekend’s Islamic conference, The Correct Understanding of Islam, at Masjid ibn Taymiya, are now available for download.

Due to a mix-up in the recording process, the recordings on Sunday came out better than those on Saturday. Alhamdulillaah, the mix-up was resolved by the last two lectures on Saturday and for all of the lectures on Sunday. Additionally, the first lecture on Sunday, Taariikhdii Muslimiinta ee andolus, is incomplete – the beginning and a portion from the middle are missing.

These lectures may be freely distributed, shared, put on CD, etc.

Saturday

Hussam Refat – Brotherhood in Islam (Arabic)
Mohamud Ibrahim – (Qabriga) Guiga 1aad ee Aakhiro (Somali)
Muhammad Syed Adly – The Danger of Bid’a (English)
Adam Sh. Abdullahi – Cadaalada Islaamka (Somali)
Mohamed Fod – Xaqiiqada Towxiid (Somali)
Abdirahman Ahmed – Ahmiyada Salaada (Somali)

Sunday

Mohamed Ibrahim – Taariikhdii Muslimiinta ee andolus [Incomplete] (Somali)
Mustafe Abdirahman – Halaagyada iyo Badbaadooyinka (Somali)
Mukhtar Sh. Ibrahim – Xaqiiqada Aduunyada (Somali)
Muhammad Syed Adly – Characteristics of the Victorious Group (English)
Muhammad Syed Adly – The Role of Youth in Islam (English)
Mohamed A. Ibrahim – Qur’aanka (Somali)

May Allaah bring through the availability of these lectures much benefit accumulating until the Day of Judgment.

Assalaamu`alaykum wa Rahmatullaahi wa Barakatuh

Alhamdulillaah, Suhaib Webb’s khutbah, given on August 24th, 2007 in the Noor Islamic Cultural Center in Columbus, Ohio is now available for download! Please read on for the link and additional details.

I have to apologize for the title – if anyone can think of a better one, definitely let me know, either via e-mail or in a comment. The lecture itself is available in two formats – the standard MP3 format or, for those that prefer, in Ogg Vorbis (playable in WinAmp and several other media players). The content is identical between the two files, so you need only download one of them.

Suhaib Webb – O Ummah, Do Not Despair (MP3)

Suhaib Webb – O Ummah, Do Not Despair (Ogg Vorbis)

May Allaah bring from this recording much benefit!

Humanity’s Teacher: 21 Teaching Techniques flyer

Please see the following thread on the forums for more details:

http://forums.columbusdawah.com/viewtopic.php?t=498

Please download the notes here:

teachingtechniquesskeletonnotes.pdf

Mountain of Faith – Seats of Scholars Newsletter

Jazaakum Allaahu khayran for your patience & understanding!

Profiles of Courage – The Story of Imaam Ahmad ibn Hambal notes