- This week, the Adab class will be given by Shaykh Tawfique Chowdhury (Aus). That’s after Maghrib Prayer, Friday 31st August at Makki Masjid, 125 Beresford Rd, Longsight, Manchester.
- The last Adab class will be on Friday 7th September after Maghrib Prayers – the restart will be on Friday 2nd November at the new time of after ‘Isha Prayers insha’Allah.
- I can confirm that the proposed Hajj programme this year with Shaykh Kehlan and myself is now unfortunately cancelled. Apologies for the delay in getting back to those people who put their names forward.
- Wednesday 5th of September will be the final fiqh class at Cheadle Masjid until after Ramadhan. We hope to restart at the new time of after ‘Isha Prayer on Wednesday 31st of October insha’Allah.
- Finally, although it doesn’t really belong here (but hey, it is my site after all innit), please have a read of this post by Baybers of Austrolabe. I think we all need a Baybers in our local Masjid so if anyone knows where you can get one on the cheap…
August 31, 2007 at 9:00 am
Assalamu alaikum Abu Eesa
i’m finding it really really difficult to wake up for fajr prayer. i put the alarm on, but usually switch it off without even realising!please can you give any advice that might help me to wake up?
jazak Allah khayr
August 31, 2007 at 10:32 am
JZK for your thoughts AE.
Usually it is us who look at the UK with admiration at your scholars.
We read your site daily and get immense benefit from it, May Allah SWT reward you with that which is greater.
Anon, my impression is that if one limits the size of the evening meal and stops eating carbs at all at night, then it is much easier to wake for fajar
August 31, 2007 at 11:05 am
Anon, if you were to be offered $1 million to get up for Fajr, what efforts would YOU make to get up?
Also, here is a useful article:
http://www.scribd.com/doc/266747/Ways-to-wake-for-Fajr
August 31, 2007 at 12:48 pm
“Usually it is us who look at the UK with admiration at your scholars.”
…while us in the UK gather in masses at events where international superstar speakers will speak and find a mere handful at the masajid where our resident ‘ulema are teaching their ‘ilm. What a strange phenomenon, we envy other countries where these superstar speakers reside thinking we’d be better off there while neglecting the gems we have in our own communities. Is this a case of the grass is greener or a way of sponging off doing any work (seeking knowledge, getting involved with the da’wah etc) because “we don’t have it as good”?
(Bayber I’m not having a go at what you said at all, your words just reminded me of something I’ve wanted to rant about for ages.)
August 31, 2007 at 2:09 pm
Re: Fajr
Get someone to call you – a friend, (muslim) neighbour, relative. Make sure s/he calls you until you wake up!
Go sleep early!
Contemplate on the fact the he Prophet (Saw) said that you have an element of Nifaaq (hypocrisy) if you don’t wake up for fajr! Think about that, and when time for fajr comes, jump out of bed and say ‘I am not a hypocrite!’, and then pray your fajr salah!
Wsalaam
August 31, 2007 at 2:10 pm
Re: Superstar scholars!
We need to stop getting attached to personalities – its why we are in the mess we are in here in the UK…
Love the TRUTH, not the people.
people are known by the truth, not the other way round. Take knowledge where you can take it, it doesn’t have to be from someone famous.
Wasalaam
August 31, 2007 at 4:33 pm
On Local Gems and Foreign Stars
Re the rant (spot on, but its still a rant, without any real prescriptive or constructive insight I’m afraid) about the very real and widespread issue of unknowingly neglecting local ulema deserving of being sat at the feet of, in favour of joining the throngs of the superstars.
Turn the observation on its head ya akhi.
Could part of it be that I as a potential student DONT KNOW *how* to identify who the local ulema are??
You know, I’m pretty sure its not by the size of their beard.. so in a pinch, by the size of their flock is all I got.
And before you respond YES I know that its not the numbers that are a proof of a teachers status, yes and I KNOW that statement much bandied about men are known by truth not truth by men.. but frankly, that homily leaves me NO wiser on the question of HOW TO FIND such a man in my locality. Its only after they et ‘discovered’ that you may realise his true worth.
So my question to AE and everyone who has observed this phenomenon: advise me, and advise us.. how do we recognise local talent? How do we now identify the hidden carriers of ilm amongst us and give them their haqq?
I want practical steps, tips and pointers.
Or a searchable database on the web ;p
wa’l salam!
PS. If I come across badly and have offended your feelings I regret that and ask you to forgive me.. cos I’ve just realise I had a lil rant of my very own innit. D’oh!
PPS. and if anyone could point me in the right direction in the Harrow area (better yet, name names) then may Allah bless you and match for you whatever I earn thereby.
August 31, 2007 at 6:17 pm
salamualaykum
re: local ‘ulema
we really, really need to open our eyes and look around. i’m not directing this at you Abu’l. sometimes i just think we’re all so ready to go to big talks for a bit of entertainemtn but when we have realy,s cholars, awliya in our midst, we can’t even be bothered to attend their halaqas. we go for these emaan rushes, but then sadly our emaan becomes dependant on them – we need to feel alive.
anyway, heres a true story, it reminds me of someone i know. perhaps it’ll help us take heed before it’s too late:http://attalib.blogspot.com/2007/08/when-skys-wept-shaykh-al-tafseer.html
August 31, 2007 at 7:44 pm
everybodys right about the gems we’ve got at home. I personally make an extra effort to see “Superstar scholars” when they visit my (maybe not so) humble town. Especially if ive bought a few of their CDs. Also everybody discusses their arrival and asks if we are going to see them.
August 31, 2007 at 11:37 pm
Wa ‘alaykum salam
I think that enough good ways have been mentioned to get up for Fajr. The only thing I’ll add was what Shaykh Kehlan told someone the other day: “if the Believer recognises what Jahannam really is, he’ll never fail to get up for Fajr.”
Sure, it’s a bit negative and simple, but dat be da truth right there man.
On Local Gems and Foreign Stars
I’ll be honest, there is no way other than to consult your heart and put your trust in that which you feel right with; there is nothing else an absolute beginner can do without friends to advise him etc. And your consulting should be based on taqwa and that will give you a criterion to work out what’s what (as mentioned a few posts ago) – so your own good deeds, intention and patience will be the key to finding the right person for that will give you taqwa and that will allow you to make the right decision.
Finally, I don’t know any people in North London but Shaykh Haytham al-Haddad isn’t far in East London and is a personal friend. Also, Shaykh Suhaib Hasan is a teacher of mine and is from East London. Don’t say I didn’t drop names…
September 1, 2007 at 9:14 pm
Well I did admit it was a rant
. I don’t know, perhaps people are naturally attracted to the glitter that their mind associates with “famous” personalities. But my point is, for the serious seeker of knowledge, and in general for the sincere believer who will not attach worship of Allah to a specific time, place or indeed a personality, there WILL be people of knowledge to benefit, there WILL be opportunity to further one’s ‘ilm and taqwa. Either those who envy us for our scholars – be it the non-Brits envying the Brits, or the northerners the Londoners – don’t know any better or we don’t have it as bad as we think we do but we like to believe so. It’s the same mentality which claims, “I can’t be a good Muslim until I make hijrah.”
September 1, 2007 at 9:19 pm
That was an excellent lecture delivered by Sheikh Abuyusuf by the way. JazakumAllah khairan for all those who helped make it possible.
September 2, 2007 at 10:54 pm
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September 2, 2007 at 10:55 pm
sorry bro AE
I dunno what’s happening
think i’ll leave before i make a mess of your site!!