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Muslim Student Handbook Edition III
The World is
Your Oyster
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Dear student,
Firstly I would like to express my heartfelt congratulations
on pursuing a new educational journey. May Allah grant
you success in your endeavour and bless you with
success in this world and the hereafter. Ameen.
S i s t e r s
S t r i v i n g
f o r
E x c e l l e n c e
The Arabic word ihsan is derived from the word husn meaning beautiful. Ihsan is used to define a state whereby one is so aware of the presence
of Allah in their life that they strive for excellence in all matters. A muhsin is a male who adopts this beautiful character trait and a muhsina is
the feminine form. Hence, our organisation is called al-Muhsinaat – the women who strive for excellence – as we want all of our sisters to live a
life of excellence, a life whereby we can all attain the eternal pleasure of Allah, the Most High.
“And do good. Of course, Allah loves those who do good” {2:195}
Muslim Student Handbook · Foundation Certificate in Islamic Studies · Tajwid Courses · Sisters only events
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W: www.al-muhsinaat.org | E: [email protected]
Al hamdulillah (All praise is for Allah alone), Al
Muhsinaat is blessed to present before you the third
edition of the Muslim Student Handbook. The themes
of the previous editions included; ‘Can you maintain the
balance (between your studies and religion)?’ as well as
‘Era of Revival – The Change starts with you’. This year
the theme is based on a suggestion made by someone
close to me which inspired me to include a productivity
cycle in the handbook (may Allah reward them greatly).
Therefore, I decided to call this edition, ‘The World is
Your Oyster – The cycle of maximising opportunity’.
The message I would like you to take from the title, and
entire handbook is that Allah has opened the door of
opportunity for you, but in order for you to achieve
something great you have to grab the opportunity with
the correct intention. It is hoped, that Insha Allah (Allah
willing) the cycle that is mapped out and explained will
assist and give you clear guidelines on how to make the
most of your coming year at university.
Always remember to be sincere in your intentions
by seeking the pleasure of Allah, reaching the heights
of your actions through excellence, and following any
success you find with expressing gratitude to Allah.
M
Muslim Student Handbook
Edition III
Copyright © 1433 / 2012 |
Al - Muhsinaat | All rights reserved
www.al-muhsinaat.org.uk/msh
[email protected]
Editor: Bint Sa’id
Designer & Typographer: Bint Uddin
Ibn Mas’ud (May Allah be pleased with him) said: “Do not
learn knowledge for three reasons: to amaze and confound
the foolish, to argue with the learned and to make people’s
faces turn towards you. Rather, seek what is with Allah with
your hearts and actions, since only that will remain and
whatever is besides it will go.”
Introduction
Assalamu ‘alaykum wa rahmatullahi wa
barakatuhu,
All Praise is due to Allah, Lord of the
Worlds, Most Gracious, Most Merciful,
and blessings and salutations on the
beloved of Allah, Muhammad, and his
Companions until the Day of Reckoning.
This handbook presented to you has
been written and compiled by several
scholars and students, with the intention
of assisting students in maintaining the
balance between their studies and their
Deen. In essence, one’s studies and one’s
religion are not disconnected; rather
they can complement each other when
done with the correct intentions and
etiquettes. This is the very point we hope
to emphasise through this compilation.
We pray that you are able to reap
benefit from the guidance and advice
and that Allah accepts the efforts of
those involved in the compilation of this
handbook, as well as yourselves. May
Allah grant us all the ability to act upon
the advice contained in this handbook,
bless us with the ability to achieve His
pleasure, and make it a means for us to
help propagate His Deen.
We request you to sincerely remember
us in your supplications.
Wassalamu ‘alaykum
Muslim Student Handbook Team 2012
www.al-muhsinaat.org/msh
Wassalam, Bint Ahmad
Al Muhsinaat Director
www.al-muhsinaat.org
The World is Your Oyster 3
Self Assessment
Shaykh Muhammad Husain Kazi
Imagine this, you’ve enrolled onto a degree lasting a
minimum of 3 years, you will be using your savings
to pay off your tuition fees, you will be commuting
long distances daily, and yet when asked ‘what you
aim to achieve from this?’, you answer ‘I’m not sure!’.
How can this be? Is it not similar to undertaking a
long and expensive journey without knowing your
final destination?
The cycle that you will be taken through will help
you answer these questions and discusses how you
can make the most of your time at university. The
cycle can be applied to all walks of life and will be of
great assistance to you in achieving the excellence
that you aim for in all that you do.
The first stage, which is all about self assessment,
is indispensable. This process is like using GPS (global
position system) on a navigation system; it will highlight
your current location exactly. By self-assessing you
will be able to identify your strengths and areas for
improvement. By doing so, you will be able to move
onto the next stage which is goal setting.
In this stage, primarily you must ask yourself:
Where Am I Now? In Islam, this self assessment and
reckoning is called Muhasaba. There are many ways
you can do this, but a good diagrammatic way to do so
is ‘The Heart Wheel’ designed by Shaykh Muhammad
al-Shareef (www.HeartWheelJournal.com)
The Cycle Comprises Four Stages
1 Self-assessment
2 Goal setting
3 Taking action
4 Reviewing and updating
You rate yourself on a scale of 1-10 in all of the
eight segments and shade in each of the relevant parts
starting from the middle of the wheel. This will give you
a visual representation of where you currently are.
The scholars encourage that one exercises
muhasaba daily. You should take self-reckoning of
the external acts (the ritual prayers, fasting, giving
alms etc.), as well as the internal acts (intentions,
praiseworthy character traits and blameworthy
character traits etc.). If you passed away today, where
would you stand before Allah?
The next question you must ask yourself is ‘Why
am I doing this?’ This is about assessing your intention
for all the actions that you are doing be they study
related or not. The predominant answer to the
question should be to seek the pleasure of Allah. It is
important to assess whether your pursuit of further
education will help towards obtaining the pleasure of
Allah or whether it will distract you from it.
Making an intention is an act of the heart; it doesn’t
require spending money or hours. In actual fact, all it
takes is a moment of contemplation to assess if the
action you are about to carry out or are carrying out
is being done both sincerely (seeking the pleasure of
Allah) and correctly (without violating the teachings
of the Qur’an and Prophetic guidance).
Allah, Most High says, “I did not create the Jinns and
the human beings except for the purpose that they should
worship Me.” (al-Dhariyat, 56)
Every moment of your life can be an act of worship,
without physically doing anything extra. Islam is a living
dimension covering issues related to all five aspects
of life: theology, worships, financial dealings, social
etiquettes, and purification of the heart. It is clear that
Islam is neither time-restricted nor bound to a place
of worship; rather it is a complete system that deals
with anything you will encounter in your life from the
moment you enter until the time you depart.
Allah willing, exercising muhasaba daily will lead
you to improve your inner and outer state; it will
cultivate an awareness of your dependency unto
Allah, inculcating humility into your life before the
Creator. As a humble servant of Allah it will make you
more mindful of how you discharge the duties of Allah
from the moment you rise until the time you retire
to sleep. It will assist you in paying more attention to
quality in action and will help you to keep on top of
your intentions.
The Heart Wheel
by Shaykh Muhammad al-Shareef
Fasting
for the health needed
Daily Sadaqah
with money, body or time
Avoiding distractions
things that are not important
and not urgent
Upright Character
engaging others
4 The World is Your Oyster
Salah
with concentration
Dhikr
time blocks where
I remember Allah
Chastity
lowering gaze, dressing in a way
pleasring to Allah, protecting myself
Night Prayer
with focused Qu’ran recitation
The World is Your Oyster 5
Goal Setting
Ustadha Bint Ahmad
University is a window of opportunity and the last thing
you want is to go adrift and not maximise this opportunity.
It is not enough to just work hard; you must take full
advantage of the potential to achieve something great by
setting a distinct primary goal, as well as numerous short
term ones. Goal-setting is like a map or navigation system
on a journey, without which reaching your destination in
the best time with the best route, is near to impossible.
In the ‘self-assessment stage’ you have read about
the importance of intention. You must embark upon
this educational journey ensuring you intend seeking the
pleasure of Allah alone. This act is indispensable to convert
the most mundane of actions into an action for the hereafter.
It is crucial you understand that over and above the acts you
do, Allah Most High looks towards your intention. Therefore
you will need to constantly remind yourself that the ultimate
goal at university, as with all things in a believer’s life, is to seek
the pleasure of Allah Most High.
It is essential you write your goals down as they are the
road map to your success. You could write your ultimate
goal at the top of a piece of paper and follow this by your
short term goals. As each goal is met, you can either cross
them out or place a tick beside them. This process of
thinking about and writing down your goals will assist you
in making your vision into a living reality. It will help you
to stay on top of your tasks, remain focused and will give
you a regular sense of achievement. It will also provide a
constant reminder for you in relation to your ultimate goal
for the Hereafter.
When setting goals, remember the acronym
SMART
S - Specific (or Significant)
M- Measurable (or Meaningful)
A - Attainable (or Action-Oriented)
R - Relevant (or Rewarding)
T - Time-bound (or Trackable)
For example, rather than saying I want to obtain a
degree in medicine, say to yourself I am studying
Medicine for the pleasure of Allah to become a doctor
by 2020 to work as a medical aid worker in Somalia.
The manner of achieving the goals and the route one
will take to complete the tasks will differ from student to
student. This will vary based on your ability, intelligence,
6 The World is Your Oyster
the chosen course of study and various other factors.
Every student is unique, however in every short term
goal you must aim for ihsan in its completion.
Ihsan is the Arabic term for excellence, striving to do
your utmost best. The diversity of Muslim achievement
in the Islamic Sciences as well as the secular sciences
such as art, science, architecture, literature, geography,
politics, economics, social movement, philosophy,
medicine and many more came from the Muslims’
desire to attain this very ihsan. It is one of the greatest
lost treasures in the Muslim world today that you
should strive to unearth and revive. Any science that
was studied regardless of it being Islamic or secular
would always be in aid of achieving the greater success,
the very paradise that is the abode of those who seek
the pleasure of Allah.
Allah says, “Is there any reward for ihsan except
ihsan?” (al-Rahman, 60)
If you sincerely strive in seeking the pleasure of
Allah, and attain ihsan in both your daily worship and
your everyday activities, you will be rewarded for this
excellence by being blessed by Allah with success
in this worldly life (as witnessed in the Golden Age
of the Islamic heritage, where some of the most
extraordinary contributions to modern day civilisation
were made), as well as being blessed by Allah with the
ultimate success, the ultimate ihsan - that of paradise
in the hereafter.
At university you will be attending lectures and
tutorials; you may have to participate in practical
lessons and will be expected to hand in assignments
and a whole heap of other things that your mind may
automatically react negatively towards. At this point
pause for a moment and remind yourself of your
ultimate goal.
Professor Yusuf al-Qaradawi has mentioned: ‘Allah
loves when one of you is given a task, that he or she
does it in the most excellent manner’.
Put your heart and mind into every task and strive
to be of those loved by Allah through excellence in
action. Do not just meet targets, but look to excel
in each one along with focusing on one aspect of
improvement at a time. Be sure to break down your
short term goals into a list of action points to allow you
to achieve the goal and provide smaller focus points
for yourself.
May Allah grant us all ihsan in all that we do. Ameen
The World is Your Oyster 7
Taking Action
Ustadha Bint Ahmad
Now that you have assessed your current position
and set yourself goals to get where you want to be, it
is time to take action to achieve these goals. Valuing
time and taking specific actions are an essential part in
the process of achieving your goals. Developing time
management skills and increasing your ability to work
within time restricted deadlines is vital to ensuring
that you reach your goals.
From the on-set you must seek the divine assistance
of Allah to facilitate every action. A good supplication
to include into your morning is:
A template for your action plan could look like this
ِ ‫ك‬
‫ ََل‬،ِ‫اْلَ ْم ُد هلل‬
ْ ‫هلل َو‬
ََ ْ ‫بَالعـالَ َِم‬
ِّ ‫كَهللِ ََر‬
ُ ‫َصبَ َح الْ ُم ْل‬
ْ ‫َصبَ ْحنَا َوأ‬
ْ ‫َ "أ‬،َ‫ـي‬
ُ ‫َصبَ ََحَالْ ُم ْل‬
ْ ‫ـحَـنَاَ َوأ‬
ْ‫أ‬
ْ َ‫َصب‬
ِ
‫ك‬
َ ُ‫ـيَأسـأَل‬
َ ‫ـك‬
ْ ِّ‫َاَللّ ُه َّـمَإِن‬
ُ ‫ لَهُ الْ ُم ْل‬،ُ‫ك لَه‬
َ ْ‫َفَـْت َحهَُ إِلَ َه إِاَل اهللُ َو َح ْدهُ ََل َش ِري‬،َ‫َخـْيـَرَ َه َذاَالْيَوم‬
َُ ‫َوأ‬،َ
ْ َ‫َون‬،
َ ُ‫َوُه ََـداه‬،َ
َ ُ‫َونَـَُْوَرهُ ََوبََـرَكتَـه‬،َ
َ ُ‫ص َـره‬
َ
‫رب‬
ْ ُ‫َع َْـوذَُ َولَه‬
ِّ ،‫اْلَ ْم ُد َوُه َو َعلَى ُك ِّل َش ْي ٍء قَ ِد ٌير‬
ِ
ِ
ِ
‫َماَبـَ ْع َـده‬
ََ ‫اَفَْـيه ََو َش ِّـر‬
َ ‫َم‬
ََ ‫َش ِّـر‬
َ ‫ـكَم ْـن‬
َ ِ‫ب‬
َ
‫ك َخْي َر َما ِِف َه َذا الْيَ ِوم َو َخْي َر َما‬
‫ل‬
‫أ‬
‫َس‬
‫أ‬
ُ
َ ْ
‘We have entered a new day and with it all the dominion
ِ
belongs to Allah, Lord of all that exists. O Allah, I
‫ك ِم ْن َشِّر َما ِِف َه َذا الْيَ ِوم‬
‫ب‬
‫ذ‬
‫و‬
‫َع‬
‫أ‬
‫و‬
،
‫ه‬
‫د‬
‫ع‬
‫ب‬
ُ
َ ُ َ ُ َ ْ َ which
ask You for the goodness of this day, its victory, its help,
its light, its blessings, and its guidance. I seek refuge in You
،‫ك ِم َن الْ َك َس ِل‬
ِّ ‫ َر‬،ُ‫ َو َشِّر َما بَ ْع َده‬from the evil that is in it and from the evil that follows it.’
َ ِ‫ب أَعُوذُ ب‬
ِ ‫( وس‬Abu Dawud)
ِ ‫وء‬
ٍ ‫ك ِمن َع َذ‬
ِ‫ب أَعُوذُ ب‬
ِ
‫اب ِِف‬
‫ر‬
،
‫َب‬
‫الك‬
ِّ
َ
ْ
َُ
َ َ
A proverb that always comes to mind in relation to
ٍ ‫ الناا ِر و َع َذ‬taking
."‫اب ِِف الْ َق َِْب‬
action is: ‘When the Going gets Tough, the Tough
َ
‘We have entered a new day and with it all dominion is
Allah’s. Praise is to Allah. None has the right to be worshipped
but Allah alone, Who has no partner. To Allah belongs the
dominion, and to Him is the praise and He is Able to do all
things. My Lord, I ask You for the goodness of this day and of
the days that come after it, and I seek refuge in You from the
evil of this day and of the days that come after it. My Lord,
I seek refuge in You from laziness and helpless old age. My
Lord, I seek refuge in You from the punishment of Hell-fire,
and from the punishment of the grave.’ (Muslim)
8 The World is Your Oyster
When writing your action plan, keep the following points in mind:
• Prioritise the five ritual prayers- make your day revolve around them.
• Work to achieve your SMART goals.
• Get into a routine- sleep early to get the optimum hours of sleep and wake up early to avoid too much
sleep.
• Counteract procrastination- the gravest obstacle in achieving your goals and meeting deadlines.
get going.’
You may have to take actions that you do not want
to do and times will be difficult, but remember it is
only with striving and hard work that you will achieve
success and be able to reach your goals.
One of the most helpful ways to take action is to
write an action plan. This will help you to focus and
will provide you with some structure and guidance. It
will also help you in the review process which is the 4th
stage of this cycle.
Action Plan Template
Deadline date
Goal
Why is this a goal?
Action List
•
•
•
Time frame [daily / weekly / monthly]
•
•
•
Resources needed
Obstacles
First step in progress to achieve my goal
A lot of guidance in relation to taking action, can
be found in the life of the Messenger (Allah bless
him and give him peace) especially in relation to
time management.
Yuksel A. Aslandogan (Co-editor of Muslim Citizens
of the globalised world) writes:
‘Four principles emerge as we examine the life of
the Prophet Muhammad from a time management
perspective [Canan 1994]. Interestingly, these are also
the principles agreed upon by most contemporary experts
of time management,’ [Taylor 1998, Jasper 1999, Covey,
Morgenstern 2000].
These are
1 Appreciation of the value of time and, consequently,
making the best use of every piece of available time.
2 The guidance of a mission, a set of values, and
priorities in planning every activity.
3 Establishment of a time policy or a time budget.
4 The scheduling and completion of activities within
allocated time slots.
When you are undertaking any action, be sure to
stop for a ‘critical pause’. In this pause you should
circumspect and question yourself. You need to ask
yourself:
• Why am I doing this act?
• What are the benefits of this act?
• Will this act incur the wrath of Allah?
• Who am I really doing this act for?
By making this small effort and pausing, it can help
you achieve a lofty position in the eyes of Allah. This
is regardless of whether the act is a direct form of
worship or not. Your correct intention, coupled with
sincerity and prophetic excellence will help your
progress on the road to success.
May Allah grant us the ability to follow in the footsteps
of the best of mankind, our Messenger (Allah bless him
and give him peace). Ameen. The World is Your Oyster 9
Reflections, Reviewing
& Updating
• Which of my qualities and habits do I still need to
improve?
• How can I expand my potential and stretch my limits?
Shaykh Muhammad Husain Kazi
Imagine your completed goal: Its graduation day and
you are robed in your gown walking onto the stage
ready to receive your degree that will secure you
a job; the job that will provide you the cash in your
hands that you have worked so hard for. This is the
success that you are working towards but do not let
this vision of success blind you. Achievement of your
short term goals should not distract you from your
ultimate aim – Seeking the Pleasure of Allah.
Mankind is often reminded by Allah, in the Qur’an,
of one’s humble origin lest we become haughty over
our achievements. Take heed from the arrogance and
pride that destroyed Qarun, which sourced from his
abundant store of treasures, as mentioned in Surat alQasas (verses 76 – 82).
While studying continually assess your intention. The
devil is ever-ready to deceive you and is always looking
for ways to beguile you. All the devil needs to do is
taint your intention. Therefore dear student, beware
of doing this to attain fame and status in the eyes of
people, or simply to amass the glitters of the world.
Allah may well grant you this, but if your intention is
contaminated, you will have no share in the hereafter.
“Among the people there is one who says: “Our Lord,
give to us in this world...” and he has no share in the
Hereafter.” (Al-Baqara, 200)
Thus, if Allah grants you status or money and all the
while your intention remains the same, then this is
from the bounty and mercy of your Allah, which He
gives to whoever He wishes. One of the ways to save
yourself from the deception of the devil is through this
process of reviewing. This is the final stage in the cycle
of maximising opportunity.
You must review yourself daily in relation to both your
academic and spiritual status.
Allah says “O you who believe, fear Allah, and everybody
must consider what he (or she) has sent ahead for
tomorrow. And fear Allah. Surely Allah is fully aware of
what you do.” (al-Hashr, 18)
Most importantly, in every review, whether daily, weekly
or monthly, assess where you are in terms of your
ultimate goal and fulfilling your purpose in life. Upon
recalling a noble act or an act of worship, you should
express gratitude unto Allah Most High and request for
greater divine guidance and success in enhancing virtue.
Upon recalling your evil act or wrongdoing, you should
become regretful. Seek Allah’s pleasure alone, and you
will never fail.
Ibn Qayyim (may Allah have mercy on him) mentions
several points in relation to taking account of one’s self.
A summary of these are
1 To commence with the obligations and when one falls
short to make amends.
2 If one does commit any prohibition, one should make
amends through repentance, and redress with a good
deed.
3 To take account for heedlessness, and make amends for
it through remembrance of Allah, and turning to Him.
4 To take account for the movements of the limbs, the
speech of the tongue, the walking of the feet, the
holding of the hands, the gaze of the eyes, and the
listening of the ears. (Ask yourself) What you intended
by it? Who did you do it for? And how did you carry
out the action?
In the Qur’an Allah teaches a comprehensive
supplication, which the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless
him and give him peace) would often recite (Muslim);
A famous quote of Umar (Allah be pleased with him):
you too should make an effort to recite this daily. These
are the people who seek the good of this world and
the hereafter, and they will be rewarded accordingly.
“Our Lord, give us good in this world and good in the
Hereafter, and save us from the punishment of Fire.”
(Al-Baqara, 201)
well?
• How can I improve tomorrow?
• What were the most valuable things I learned?
The benefits of this stage are endless. Some key ones are:
• It will help you keep on top of your intentions
• You will be able to pinpoint areas for improvement
more easily
• You will be able to highlight your strengths and carry
these forward
• You will be able to adjust your goals if necessary
• It will remind you of your ultimate goal
• It will give you the inspiration and motivation you
need to carry on
Likewise, give yourself a bigger review every week and
month and ask yourself questions such as:
• How much time and effort did I put into achieving
my long-term target?
• Have my results met my expectations thus far?
Lastly, you must remember that this cycle is a life-long
process, each time you come to the final stage you’ll be
ready to go through the cycle again. May Allah grant us
all the ability to act upon this and may He allow us to
seek His pleasure alone. Ameen.
‘Bring yourselves to account before you are brought to
ِ ‫ََرَبَّناَآتِن‬
‫اَِفَالدُّنْياَح‬
account, and weigh your deeds before they are weighed’
ِ
ِ
ِ‫اَِفَو‬
ِ ‫ََرَبَّناَآتِن‬
ِْ‫َا‬
َ‫َالد‬
‫اَحنسنِ ًة‬
ِ‫َالدبُّنَّْنياَآت‬
ْ‫ِفُّنْي‬
َ ِ‫اَحَََسةنًَةَو‬
َ‫اَِف ََر‬
ْ ‫ِف‬
‫َاْ َََِِ ِةَحسنةًَوقِناَعذ‬
In relation to your academic studies, a few questions
you can ask yourself daily are:
‫ابنةَالنَّا‬
‫ح•سنةًَوقِناَعذ‬Did I meet my targets for the day?
َ‫َوقِرَناَعذابَالنَّا ِر‬
‫س‬
‫ح‬
ً
• What did I do well today and what wasn’t done so
Preceding this Allah makes mention of those who seek
only the good of the world. Speaking of them, Allah says:
10 The World is Your Oyster
The World is Your Oyster 11
Sheikhy Advices
In the name of Allah the All Merciful
the Most Merciful.
Dear students,
Let us make this academic year about the honour
of our Prophet (peace be upon him). As Muslim
students people will come to know our Prophet
(peace be upon him) and Islam through us; and not
just through our words but our example.
So honour our Prophet first by following his
example; by being people of sublime character,
manners, politeness and helpfulness. Then by being
people of prayer, spirituality, gravity, chivalry, hard
work and direction. Be gentle and be forbearing
for the Prophet’s miracle was that his forbearance
always superseded his anger and people’s acts of
ignorance only increased his forbearance.
The Prophet (peace be upon him said),
‘Gentleness has not existed in anything except
that it has adorned it and it was never seized from
anything except it blemished it.’ And if you must be
firm, if you must stand up for yourself remember the
verse, ‘Repel in the most beautiful manner and you
will come to find that the one with whom you have
enmity is like a loyal friend.’
All of this is the sunnah of Muhammad (peace be
upon him), particularly in the context of civil life
and da’wa which is the context you exist in. Let
your fellow students remember you as the ones
who introduced them to the great Muhammad
(peace be upon him), whose impact on the lives
of people yesterday was evident in people’s
conduct today, one and a half millennia on.
Wassalaam
Shams Adduha Muhammad
Director, Ebrahim College
12 The World is Your Oyster
Dear students!
Value your time at uni. Every day an announcement
is made in the morning “Do whatever you can today,
because once the sun sets this day will never come
back in your life”
Hasan basri used to say: “O son of Adam! You
are the name of days; when a day passes by, part
of you has passed”
Also, There are too many fitnas out there.
However, the greater the struggle, the greater the
reward. So be wise!! Don’t give in to temptations.
May Allah protect you and bless you with the
good of this world as well as of the hereafter.
Wassalam, (Shaykh) Abdur Raheem Limbada
www.tafseer-raheemi.com
An excerpt from Learning 2 Learn, by Shaykh
Muhammad Saleem Dhorat.
The opportunity to study is not given to all. There are
many intelligent people throughout the world who due
to their circumstances are unable to pursue formal
education. Likewise there are many who have the
opportunity to study but have not been blessed with
the necessary intellectual capacities required to follow
their preferred course of study. Consequently, we must
constantly remain grateful for having been given not only
the opportunity to study but also the relevant faculty of
intelligence too. It is a famous saying among the scholars
of Islam that Ba adab, ba nasib, be adab, be nasib i.e.
the one who adopts respect is blessed (with knowledge)
and the one who is lax in respect is deprived.
Gratefulness goes hand in hand with respect and thus
one should respect one’s teachers, within the guidelines
of the Shar’iah, and the mechanisms e.g. books etc. by
which one acquires knowledge. The humility, reverence
and respect that one should adopt for knowledge and
for one’s teachers is aptly demonstrated by the blessed
Companions (May Allah be pleased with them) who
used to display such rapt attention when learning from
the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) that it
used to be as if ‘birds were perched on their heads.’
Upon commencing a course of study the student
agrees to follow certain rules and regulations as specified
by the institute/teacher. This agreement, whether written
or verbal, needs to fulfilled to the best of our abilities as
this is the Command of Allah that we fulfil agreements.
Bint Noor
The World is Your Oyster 13
Striving To Serve
Humanity In Need
A new village in Kahda, Somali
Since its inception in 2001, Ummah Welfare Trust has responded
to disasters and crises around the world.
With your support, the Trust undertakes sustainable projects by
caring for widows and orphans, providing water aid, food aid,
medical aid, emergency relief and constructing homes and masjids.
Join hands with UWT and help bring a smile to all those suffering in
25 countries throughout the world.
Transparency
Ummah Welfare Trust works under the guidance of scholars who
ensure that the charity’s role as a trustee is always fulfilled. Knowing
that we are all ultimately accountable to the Almighty, the charity
strives to maintain transparency and accountability.
All donated funds are monitored and reviewed by scholars who
ensure Zakah, Sadaqah and Lillah funds are spent correctly.
Our 100% Donations policy allows us to ensure that every
penny donated reaches its intended destination. Not a single
penny is deducted for administration or fundraising purposes.
Help Families
in Somalia Start Again
Following the worst drought seen for sixty years, Ummah Welfare Trust has set up a unique project to
help thousands of families to re-start their lives insha Allah. This project aims to provide the thousands
of mothers, fathers and children of Somalia with a foundation on which they can have a fresh start
insha Allah.
‘Allah Subhanahu wa ta’ala remains committed to helping His servant as long as the servant
stays committed to helping his brother in need.’ - Sahih Muslim
£700 will completely change the life of a family in Somalia. Not only will it provide
them with a home that lasts a lifetime, it will equip them with the absolute essentials
they need to re-start their lives once again insha Allah.
A new handmade steel home
A 35kg food package
A kitchen and wash set
A family-set of clothes
For just
A new bedding set
A hygiene set
A Qur’an and prayer mat
Copies of Bulugh al-Maram and Riyadh as-Saliheen
£700
The believer's shade on the Day of
Resurrection will be his charity
- Sunan at-Tirmidhi
Al Muhsinaat is partnering with Ummah Welfare Trust to help 100 families start again.
We hope to do this by raising £70,000 insha Allah.
Every penny counts. Your donation will help bring back smiles to the children of our Ummah in
Somalia and restore normality into the lives of many families. Brothers and sisters - their home lies
in YOUR heart, and all they ask is do you have space?
One New Life Project costs only £700! As an ISOC/team or individual - If you
can take on the challenge to fund an entire home or even part of it,
please email [email protected] and we shall email you our fundraising
e-pack! We will strive to assist you as best we can in your fundraising target
insha Allah.
DONATE
VIA TEXT
Donation Line
0800 4 0800 11
www.uwt.org
Donors just have to send a text BOOK85 and amount to 70070
eg. if you wish to donate £10 then text BOOK85 £10
the amounts can be £1, £2, £5 or £10
DONATE ONLINE via - www.justgiving.com/thenewlifeproject
Charity Reg. No. 1000851
To 70070
BOOK85
10
Fruitify
your day with these daily supplications
A way to implement the prophetic teachings, and to follow the way of the
Messenger (Allah bless him and give peace), is by including the prophetic
supplications in your day.
Studying Supplications
Before Studying
َّ
‫ي‬
‫عِن يِبَا َعلَّ ْمتَي ِْن َو َعلِّ ْم ي ِْن َما يَْن َفعُ ي ِْن‬
ْ ‫الل ُه َّم انْ َف‬
Subhanaka la ‘ilma lana illa ma ‘allamtana – innaka
anta ‘L’aleemu ‘Lhakeem. To You belongs all purity!
We have no knowledge except what You have given
us. Surely, You alone are the All-knowing, All-wise.
(al-Baqarah, V32)
When Studying Something Difficult
‫ت‬
َ ْ‫اللَّ ُه َّم الَ َس ْه َل إَِّال َما َج َع ْلتَهُ َس ْه اًل َوأَن‬
ِ
‫ت َس ْه اًل‬
ْ ‫ََْت َع ُل‬
َ ‫اْلُْز َن إِ َذا شْئ‬
Allahumma la sahla illa ma ja-‘altahu sahla, wa anta
taj’alu ‘l-huzna idha shi’ta sahlan. Oh Allah, an easy
task is only that which You make easy and You make
the difficult easy, when You wish. (Ibn al-Sunni)
After Studying
ِ ‫اللَّه َّم اِ يِّن أ‬
‫ت‬
َ ُ‫َستَ ْودع‬
ُ ْ‫ك َما قَ َرأ‬
ُ ْ‫ت َوَما َح َفظ‬
ْ ْ ُ
ِ
ِ
‫َّك َعلَى َما‬
َ ‫اج ِ ِْت إِلَْي ِه ان‬
َ ‫فَ َرُّدهُ َعلَ َّي عْن َد َح‬
Allahumma inni
ma qara’tu ِ wa ma
‫الْ َوكِْيل‬astowdi’uka
‫‘ َم‬alayya
‫‘سِ ِْب َونِ ْع‬inda
‫ت‬
‫قَديٌْر‬innaka
َ ْ‫ َوأَن‬ilayhi,
ْ ‫ َح‬hajati
ُ‫تَ َشاء‬
hafazhtu fa radduhu
‘ala ma tasha’u qadeerun, wa anta hasbiya wa ni’mal
wakil. Oh Allah! I entrust You with what I have read
and I have studied. (O Allah!) Bring it back to me
when I am in need of it. (Oh Allah!) You do whatever
You wish, and You are my Availer and Protector and
the best of aid.
16 The World is Your Oyster
For Increase in Ones Knowledge
‫ب ِزْدِِن ِعـ ْل ًما‬
ِّ ‫َر‬
Rabbi zidni ‘ilma. My Lord! Increase me in knowledge.
(Taha, V114)
Various Other Supplications
By making du’a (supplications), success becomes a
reality; wishes and aims are achieved. Therefore, du’a
is a form of worship, in fact it is one of the most
honourable and glorious forms of worship. Strive to
recite these following supplications during your day!
Before sleeping
ِ‫اللَّه َّم بِ م‬
‫َحي‬
َ ‫اْس‬
ُ ‫ك أ َُم‬
‫وت َوأ م‬
ُ
Allahumma bi’smika amutu wa ahya. Oh Allah, by
your name I die and live. (Bukhari)
After Waking Up
ِِ
‫َحـيانا بَـ ْع َـد ما أَماتَـنا َوإليه‬
ْ ‫احلَ ْم ُـد للّه الّذي أ‬
‫النُّـشور‬
Al-hamdu li’Llahi’lladhi ahyana ba’da ma amatana wa
ilayhi’n-nushur. Praise be to Allah who gave us life
after having given us death, and to Him is (our) final
return. (Bukhari, Muslim)
When Looking in the Mirror
ِِ ‫ح‬
‫ت َخ حل ِقي‬
َ ‫اْلَ حم ُد للَّه اللَّ ُه َّم َك َما َح َّسحن‬
‫فَ َح ِّس حن ُخلُ ِقي‬
Al-hamdu li ‘Llah(i), Allahumma kamaa hassanta
khalqi fa hassin khuluqi. Praise be to Allah, O Allah,
as you have given me a good physical form, so favour
me with good character (Ibn al-Sunni).
When Entering a Market or Mall
‫يكالَهاالَها‬
‫َالاإِلَهَاإَِال اللَها َو ْح َده َا‬
َ ‫الا َش ِر‬
ِ ِ‫ااْلمدااُيي‬
‫احياا‬
َ ‫ياوُييتا َوه َو‬
َ ْ ْ َْ ‫الْم ْلكاا َولَه‬
‫اْلْي راا َوه َاوا َعلَىاكلاا َش ْيءاا‬
ْ ‫َلاَُيوتا بِيَ ِداهِا‬
‫قَ ِديرا‬
La ilaha illa ‘Llahu wahdahu la sharika lah(u), lahu
‘l-mulku wa lahu ‘l-hamd(u), yuhyi wa yumit(u), wa
Huwa Hayyul la yamut(u), bi yadihi ‘l-khayr)u), wa
Huwa ‘ala kulli shay’in qadir(un). There is no god
but Allah. He is One and has no partner. His is the
kingdom and to Him is all praise. He gives life and
gives death. He is living, not subject to death. In His
hand is goodness and He has power over all things.
(Tirmidhi)
The World is Your Oyster 17
Who Will You Befriend?
Bint Adam
University provides a multitude of opportunities; one
of which is to form new and strong friendships which
will continue long after you have finished your course.
Our Beloved Messenger (Allah bless him and give
him peace) advised his community, “A person is on the
religion of his close friend, so let him carefully examine
who he befriends.” (Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud)
During your degree at university, you will
undoubtedly be exposed to a variety of people from
all backgrounds and walks of life. In the first couple of
months, inevitably one will feel a bit out of place as
they try to accustome themselves to the surroundings
and environments in which they will spend at least the
next three years of their life.
As the common English idiom goes, “Birds of a feather
flock together,” and this is especially true when it comes
to spiritual matters. Whilst at university you should
spend time with believers that are strong-willed and
of good character, people who remind you of Allah
Most High. Our Prophet (Allah bless him and give him
peace) described such people when he said, “Indeed
some people are keys to the remembrance of Allah; when
they are seen, Allah is remembered.” (Tabarani, Kabir)
During one’s studies and time at university, it is
expected to face difficulties, times of stress as exams
approach and apprehension when results are out.
During such times, one endeavours to seek solace in
something, and one of the best things to seek solace in is
a righteous companion. A companion whose company
will instill within you the remembrance of Allah Most
High - as it is through His Remembrance that hearts find
peace and tranquillity. The very state you are seeking
during these testing times of your degree.
Maintaining righteous company will bear the fruits
of inculcating within oneself praiseworthy character
traits. Righteous company is essential as the character
traits of your friends will inevitably influence your own.
Abu Hurayra (May Allah Be pleased with him)said, “A
believer is the mirror of his brother. When he sees a fault
in it, he should correct it” (Bukhari). Thus the key to
developing and attaining excellence in mannerisms and
conduct is through acquainting yourself with individuals
who adorn themselves with these very personalities.
18 The World is Your Oyster
The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be
upon him) said: “Man will be with whom he loves.”
(Bukhari)
One’s friends should be people who are helping one
draw closer to one’s Lord.
Imam Ghazali in his Beginning of Guidance (Bidayat
al-Hidaya) lists a number of qualities to look for in a
friend:
1Intellect
• As there is no good friendship with a foolish
person;
• Specifically seek someone with practical intelligence
who has the capacity to seek benefit, even if
worldly;
2 Good Character
• Ghazali states that someone of bad character is one
who cannot restrain their
a anger or
b desire;
• Somebody who truly cares for others. “The religion
is sincere counsel.”
3 Righteousness
• “Do not obey someone whose heart We have made
heedless of Our remembrance, who follows his
inclinations, whose case has gone beyond all bounds.”
(Al-Kahf , 28)
• As witnessing the transgression of a wrongdoer on a
regular basis will remove from your heart all sense
of the enormity of the crimes and make them seem
insignificant.
4 Lack of Greed
• Someone concerned with amassing “things” of this
world
• Human nature is designed to imitate and follow (by
example), so one person’s nature may take from
another without even realizing it.
5Honesty
• As one will always face deception from the liar.
Imam Ghazali continues that after finding a decent
friend, one should uphold, respect and fulfill the
duties of being a friend.
From this we can see that before forming friendships,
you must ask yourself the following questions:
1 Would I like to be with this friend in the hereafter?
2 Will being in the company of this person make me a
better Muslim?
3 Will they be a friend who will remind me of my
Islamic duties when I neglect them?
The importance of good company is also highlighted
in the following hadith, the Messenger (peace and
blessings be upon him) said: “The example of a good
companion and a bad companion is like that of the seller
of musk, and the one who blows the blacksmith’s bellows.
So as for the seller of musk then either he will grant you
some, or you buy some from him, or at least you enjoy a
pleasant smell from him. As for the one who blows the
blacksmith’s bellows then either he will burn your clothes
or you will get an offensive smell from him.” (Bukhari)
May Allah Most High provide us with friends who carry
the sweetest musk of this world - the remembrance of
Allah Most High.
If the answer to these questions is yes, then thank Allah
Ta’ala that He Has given you proximity to a friend from
amongst His friends insha Allah.
The World is Your Oyster 19
developing a healthy lifestyle as well as, Insha Allah,
helping you to enjoy good health not only throughout
university but throughout your life.
Excercise
Maintaining a healthy lifestyle whilst at university can
be tough. The endless coursework, reading material
and exams can put your body and mind under intense
pressure. Ever heard of the saying... take good care of
your body and your body will take good care of you? A
desire to keep fit is only the first step towards becoming
so and obviously the best and most logical way is regular
exercise. Not only does it prevent you from developing
lazy habits, it also increases your confidence, releases
endorphins to make you feel better, fights stress and
generally provide a sense of discipline.
Healthy Living
Hasan Kazi
The Prophet Muhammad (Allah bless him and give
him peace) has mentioned “There are two blessings
which many people lose out on: health and free time.”
(Bukahri)
An essential part of a Muslim’s life is to take care
of their health. If you are not careful in controlling
this fundamental part of your being, than you may
be deprived in other more important aspects such
as performing salah and attending to those in need.
Remember, health and sickness is from Allah alone;
we have been commanded in the Qur’an and through
various ahadith to take care of our bodies and be
mindful of our health. Give thanks to Allah each and
every day for the countless blessings and health He
has bestowed upon you and continue to ask Allah for
betterment of your health and wellbeing.
The points below address the important factors in
20 The World is Your Oyster
Excersice Tips
• Get a routine and stick to it: don’t compromise and
keep at it (you will thank yourself later)
• Keep active and moving: don’t be lazy! Walk instead
of taking the bus, cycle, jog, engage in sports and
keep yourself busy.
• You don’t need a gym to keep fit or exercise: make
use of the space around you, be creative, design
a bodyweight routine or simply invest in a pair of
dumbbells for added resistance.
• Interval training if your short on time: most smart
phones have apps which can be downloaded (such
as tabata or interval timer for apple and android
users) or simply use a stop watch. Interval training
constitutes of shortening the length of your workout
by reducing the rest period in between sets, it’s great
for fat loss and increasing your heart rate – give it a
go! A simple example can be to jog for 1 minute and
sprint for 30 seconds: repeat x 10.
Nutrition
In addition to exercise an essential component of
the health equation, which many seem to neglect, is
the nutritional aspect which accounts for almost 70%
of attaining a healthy mind and body. This does not
mean you have to eat cardboard, instead it means
making better quality and wholesome food choices.
As Muslim’s our bodies have a right upon us. The
Prophet Muhammad (Allah bless him and give him
peace) mentions in a hadith: “Even your body has rights
over you.” (Bukhari)
Nutrition tips
• Balanced meals: Balanced is best! Don’t follow the
latest ‘trend’ diet which will only deprive your body
of essential nutrients, this is a lifestyle not a quick fix!
• Snacking while studying: opt for better choices such
as fruits, vegetables, nuts, eggs, dairy and lean meats.
• Drink more water: your body is made up of 70% water,
it will keep you hydrated and feeling fuller for longer.
• Prevent overeating: Eat 4-6 well balanced smaller meals
spread throughout the day rather than 3 big meals.
“The human being has never filled a container worse than
his stomach. Hence, it will be sufficient for the son of
Adam to satisfy his hunger with a few bites to strengthen
his backbone. Then, if he must eat his fill then he should
allow for one third food, one third water, and third air”
(Tirmidhi)
Sleep
“And We made your sleep a rest for you.” (al-Naba’, 9)
Therefore you must respect your need to sleep by
observing the etiquettes and approaches to sleep in
order to maximise the benefits you gain as a result.
This, in turn, will help you to manage stress and make
your waking hours more productive.
It all comes down to balancing your life and time
management. This can only be accomplished through
planning your studies, time for worship, social life,
health and wellbeing, and other important aspects
ahead of time instead of cramming it all together
causing you to neglect one or the other.
Sleep Tips
• Time management: Manage your time efficiently
and plan your sleep schedule around your worship,
studies, work and social life.
• Try and get 6-8 hours of sleep: this may not be the
case all the time, but again it all comes down to
management and efficient planning
• Observe the Sunnah
• Sleep on your right hand side
• Perform ablution before sleeping
• Recite the prophetic supplications before sleeping.
• Take an afternoon nap if possible (30-45 mins).
Not only is it a blessed sunnah, but it has many
benefits too.
Importance of Halal
The verse mentioned below brings to the fore
and stresses the importance of eating Halal.
Nowadays the word ‘Halal’ has become the
most abused word amongst Muslims and nonMuslims alike. It is a common practice that many
businesses will position the Halal sign in front of
their takeaways and butchers solely for trading
purposes and with great disregard as to its true
definition. Many Muslims have fallen prey to this
and may well be partaking in the consumption
of ‘Haram’ meat. The sad reality is that Muslims
nowadays are not concerned with doing even
a little background research to actually find out
how the meat they are purchasing is slaughtered.
Al hamdulillah with the mercy and blessing
of Allah the almighty, in the UK there is
an organisation set up called ‘HMC’ (halal
monitoring committee) which ensures that
every phase of the processing of meat and
poultry is monitored to ensure its suitability for
Muslims. Please do check out their website for
more information on what the true definition of
Halal slaughter comprises of and references to a
list of HMC approved butchers and takeaways
within the UK (www.halalhmc.org).
“Do not eat that (meat) over which the name of
Allah has not been pronounced. This is surely a sin.”
(al-An’am, 121)
“And there are cattle on which, (at slaughter),
they do not pronounce the name of Allah, a
fabrication against Him. Soon He will punish
them for what they have been fabricating.”
(al-An’am, 138)
“They ask you as to what has been made lawful for
them. Say, “Made lawful for you are good things,
and (hunting through) birds and beasts of prey
that you train, teaching them out of what Allah has
taught you. So, eat of what they hold for you, and
recite the name of Allah upon it.”” (al-Ma’ida, 4)
The World is Your Oyster 21
Istikhara The Guidance Prayer
Istikhara comes from seeking the best decision or seeking
what is right for one. Linguistically istikhara is from the
same root as khayr – which means good. The Islamic
understanding of Istikhara is asking Allah Most High to
make a choice on one’s behalf. The purpose of Istikhara
is that the believer is seeking to make the best choice in
life. We take the means to make a decision but before
deciding, we suspend our judgement and leave the
matter to Allah Most High.
It is recommended to open the dua of istikhara,
with praise of Allah and sending blessings on
the Prophet (Allah bless him & give him peace),
and to close it in this manner, too. Like other
du’as, it is recommended that one face the qibla.
Istikhara (prayer of seeking guidance) gives the best
answer, for one’s worldly and religious life , when coupled
with another essential sunna: Istishara (seeking sound
counsel) of those worthy of being consulted and taking
the sound means of assessing the situation at hand.This
is why it is good to consult with people of wisdom,
understanding, and experience regarding the results of
one’s prayer of seeking guidance (istikhara), because one’s
own interpretation is often clouded by one’s inclinations
and desires.
It is best to recite it before sleeping, though in no way
necessary. One should suspend one’s own judgementor
inclination about the particular matter, and wait for Allah
to show one a sign or to make things happen in a way
that indicates what to do. If unclear, it is recommended
to repeat the istikhara prayer and supplication seven
times. Shaykh Nuh Keller mentions that the more
one prays the istikhara prayer, The clearer its answers
become to one. He prays it for all matters, even things
one would not imagine doing istikhara for.
It is not necessary that you get a dream or even a
“feeling.” Rather, the istikhara is a prayer that Allah guide
you towards that which is best (khayr) for you. If you
do the prayer of guidance (istikhara) with the proper
manners, the most important of which is to truly consign
the matter to Allah and suspend your own inclinations,
then Allah will make events unfold in the direction that is
the best for your worldly and next-worldly affairs.
If stuck in a situation where it is not possible to pray,
one may limit oneself to the supplication alone. This is
what women in menstruation should do, too.
22 The World is Your Oyster
The istikhara prayer is very simple: one prays two
rakats at any time that is not disliked, after which one
recites the supplication of istikhara.
When reciting the supplication think of the matter you
are performing istikhara for whilst saying the words
that are underlined.
(Excerpts from SeekersGuidance.org/Sunnipath.com)
, ‫ك‬
‫اللَّ ُه َّم ي‬
َ ‫َستَ ِخريُ َك بِعِْل ِم‬
ْ ‫إِّن أ‬
ِ ‫وأ‬
‫ك ِم ْن‬
َ ُ‫َسأَل‬
َ ِ‫َستَ ْقد ُرَك بُِق ْد َرت‬
ْ ‫ َوأ‬, ‫ك‬
ْ َ
ِ
ِ
ِ
, ‫َّك تَ ْقد ُر َوال أَقْد ُر‬
ْ َ‫ف‬
َ ‫ك الْ َع ِظي ِم فَِإن‬
َ ‫ضل‬
ِ ‫ت َعالم الْغُي‬
, ‫وب‬
ُ ُ َ ْ‫ َوأَن‬, ‫َوتَ ْعلَ ُم َوال أ َْعلَ ُم‬
َّ ‫ت تَ ْعلَ ُم أ‬
‫َن َه َذا األ َْم َر َخْي ٌر‬
َ ‫اللَّ ُه َّم إ ْن ُكْن‬
ِ ‫ِِل ِِف ِد ِيِن ومع‬
‫ال‬
َ َ‫اشي َو َعاقِبَ ِة أ َْم ِري أ َْو ق‬
َ ََ
ِ
ِ
ِ
ِ
ُ‫ فَاقْ ُد ْرهُ ِِل َويَ يس ْره‬, ‫ َعاج ِل أ َْم ِري َوآجله‬:
ِِ
‫ت‬
َ ‫ اللَّ ُه َّم َوإِ ْن ُكْن‬, ‫ِِل ُُثَّ بَا ِرْك ِِل فيه‬
َّ ‫تَ ْعلَم أ‬
‫َن َه َذا األَ ْم َر َشٌّر ِِل ِِف ِد ِيِن‬
ُ
ِ ‫ ع‬: ‫ال‬
ِِ
ِ
‫اج ِل‬
َ َ َ‫َوَم َعاشي َو َعاقبَة أ َْم ِري أ َْو ق‬
ِِ ِ
ْ ‫اص ِرفْهُ َع يِن َو‬
ْ َ‫ ف‬, ‫أ َْم ِري َوآجله‬
ُ‫اص ِرفِِْن َعْنه‬
‫ث َكا َن ُُثَّ ْار ِض ِِن بِِه‬
ْ ‫َواقْ ُد ْر ِِل‬
ُ ‫اْلَْي َر َحْي‬
‘Allahumma inni astakhiruka bi’ilmika, Wa astaqdiruka
bi-qudratika, Wa as’alaka min fadlika al-‘azeem Fainnaka taqdiru Wala aqdiru, Wa ta’lamu Wala a’lamu,
Wa anta ‘allamu l-ghuyub. Allahumma, in kunta
ta’lamu anna hadha-l-amra khairun li fi dini wa ma’ashi
wa’aqibati amri (‘ajili amri wa’ajilihi) Faqdurhu li wa yassirhu li thumma barik li Fihi, Wa in kunta ta’lamu anna
hadhal-amra shar-run li fi dini wa ma’ashi wa’aqibati
amri (‘ajili amri wa’ajilihi) Fasrifhu anni was-rifni anhu.
Waqdur li al-khaira haithu kana Thumma ardini bihi.’
“O Allah, I ask you to show me what is best through your
knowledge. I ask you to empower me through your power.
And I beg you to grant me your tremendous favour, because
you have the power whilst I am without power. You have
knowledge whilst I am without knowledge. And you have
knowledge of all things unseen. O Allah, if you know that
this undertaking is in the best interest of my religion, my
life in this world, and my life in the hereafter and can
bring about successful results in the long term and the
short term, then make it possible for me, make it easy for
me, and then bless me in it. If not, then turn it away from
me, and make it easy for me to do well wherever I may
happen to be and make me content with your decision, O
Most Merciful of the merciful.” (Bukhari)
The World is Your Oyster 23
“Surely, Allah and His angels send blessings to the
Prophet. O you who believe, do pray Allah to bless him,
and send your Salam (prayer for his being in peace) to him
in abundance”. (al-Ahzab, V56)
Recommended book: Salat and Salam Compiled and
Translated with an Introduction by Shaykh AbdurRahman ibn Yusuf.
5
To abstain from sins and disobedience. This has a
profound impact on enhancing the intellect’s ability to
understand and retain information. Whereas, sins, bad
character, and acts of disobedience serve as obstacles
to the mind’s ability to learn and absorb information.
Invaluable & Indispensible
Tips for Students
This checklist of invaluable and indispensable tips
for students has been tried and tested, and if
implemented will insha Allah be a means of bringing
more blessings into your daily life!
Bint Abul Khair
1
Always keep your intentions sincere. To maximise
benefit from your studies you must constantly remind
yourself of your goal - attaining the pleasure of Allah.
Abu Bursa related from Abu Musa that the Prophet
(Allah bless him and give him peace) said, “The likeness
of someone who remembers his Lord and the likeness of
someone who does not remember his Lord is like the living
and the dead.” (Bukhari)
united. Islam advocates brotherhood/
sisterhood, and yes that means at university too.
Whilst in the prayer room or attending ISOC events,
avoid feuded discussions and polemical issues. Agree
to disagree, for differences of opinion are all within the
scope of Islam, always respect others and maintain the
adab al-ikhtilaf (etiquettes of disagreement).
7
ba
Always be charitable & maintain family ties - Be
a giving person, whether it is in the monetary form, or
through simple things such as smiling, picking up litter,
assisting a friend etc.
pe
r ie
e
th
an
id
ct
an
re
s
di
ea
ht
io
Sometimes students may have to live out when they go
to university. Whatever your situation may be ensure
you maintain good family ties with the parents, siblings
and close relatives. Remember to call them and visit
regularly. Whilst you are at home, spend some quality
time with the family such as eating meals together.
e
upon the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give
him peace).
Commuting to college/university can consume a lot of
your day. Turn those idle minutes into minutes of benefit
and reward through the Dhikr (Remembrance) of Allah.
or
4 Spend time sending salutations and blessings
6 Spend time engaging in the remembrance of Allah. 10
Keep
r ig
All-Merciful,
9
Be a good ambassador of Islam. Remember you
are an ambassador of Islam, avoid doing things that will
misrepresent Islam. Be the best Muslim you can be
whilst you walk, talk, eat, study and socialise. There is
no greater form of da’wah than this.
ar
24 The World is Your Oyster
the
Sidi Abdullah Anik Misra Said ‘Ask Allah to put the
wealth in your hand, and not in your heart’ –
sh
Bismi’Llahi ‘r-Rahmani’r-Rahim
‘With the name of Allah,
the Very-Merciful.’
When the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him
peace) was asked to pray for young Anas (Allah be
pleased with him), the first thing he prayed for was
wealth, amongst others things [Bukhari].
m
ِ ‫الرحِيِم‬
ِ ِِ‫الرحِمن‬
ِ ِِ‫بِسِمِِالل‬
Ask Allah for blessings in your wealth. Certain
years of one’s degree may be easier and more relaxed
than others. Students often take this part of their
degree as an opportunity to find a part time job and
earn money. Regardless of how much wealth you have,
ask Allah to bless you in it and to always keep you
content with whatever you have. You should also ask
Allah to save you from the ill-effects of consumerism.
ex
2
Always strive to begin studying with the name
of Allah. Recite:
3
Recite the Qur’an daily in accordance to your
ability. Read a few verses or pages daily, whatever the
amount, keep it consistent. In addition to this recite
Surah Yasin in the mornings, Surah Mulk and Surah
Waqi’ah in the evenings, and Surah Kahf on Fridays. The
benefits of these surahs are mentioned in the prophetic
traditions. Take time to contemplate over the deeper
meaning of the verses, and to implement the guidance.
This is also indicative of another truth, namely, that
when a seeker of knowledge sets on the path of
learning, and remains consistent and sincere in his
pursuit, God grants him a light that increases his power
to resist falling into wrong doing and sins.
8 a
be is
n f th c
ca
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I so o
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all
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do pec Yo ere elp
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ou ng
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d
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U unt
S o t t l e j o u ey t g f
ur
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d a yo i c
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ek
r
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ou t h m a
d
am ou
u
,
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(I s p
i
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10
This is what is meant in Imam al-Shafi’i’s famous lines:
‘I complained to Waki’ about my poor memory:“Give up
your sins!” was his advice to me; “For knowledge is a light
from Divinityand the Light of God is veiled by iniquity!”
“Eat together, all of you, and do not separate individually,
because the barakah is in the group.” (Ibn Majah)
The World is Your Oyster 25
Islamic Portal
Muslim Student Bodies
Federation of student Islamic Societies (FOSIS)
UK Islamic Societies (Not a comprehensive list)
Brunel University
Imperial College
Kings College London
London Metropolitan
London School of Economics
Queen Mary
SOAS
University College London
University of East London
Birmingham City University
University of Oxford
University of Warwick
University of Leeds
University of Sheffield
University of Cambridge
St Andrews University
Glasgow University
Cardiff University
Alternative Student Finance
1st Ethical (Lobbying for a Halal alternative
to student loans campaign)
Turath Scholarship Fund
Student Accommodation
MST Student Accommodation Service
Halal Food
Halal Monitoring Committee
(For a list of halal restaurants and butchers
across the UK)
Productivity Tools
Drop Box
You Need a Budget (Budgeting Software) Islamic Institutes
Ebrahim College
Seekers Guidance
Al- Kawthar Academy
As- Suffa Institute
Al- Muhsinaat
ZamZam Academy
Useful Links
Mosque Directory
Muslim Directory
26 The World is Your Oyster
www.fosis.org.uk
www.brunelisoc.com
www.theisoc.com
www.kclisoc.com
www.lmuisoc.com
www.tiny.cc/lseisoc
www.queenmaryisoc.co.uk
www.soasisoc.wordpress.com
www.uclisoc.com
www.uelisoc.com
www.bcuisoc.co.uk
www.ouisoc.com
www.warwickisoc.co.uk
www.leedsisoc.com
www.islam-circle.union.shef.ac.uk
www.isoc.co.uk
www.groupspaces.com/sta-islam
www.gumsa.co.uk
www.cardiffisoc.co.uk
http://www.1stethical.com/2012/07/18/lobbying-for-a-halalalternative-to-student-loans/
www.turath.co.uk/front/turath-scholarship-fund
www.msconline.org.uk/accommodation.php
www.halalhmc.org
28 Osborn Street (Brick Lane)
London E1 6TD
www.dropbox.com
www.youneedabudget.com
T: 020 7247 0073
W: www.junglebraai.com
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www.ebrahimcollege.org.uk
www.seekersguidance.org
www.akacademy.eu
www.as-suffa.org
www.al-muhsinaat.org
www.zamzamacademy.com
www.mosquedirectory.co.uk
www.muslimdirectory.co.uk
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Help families in Somalia start again.
View the middle pages for full details
Donation Line
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www.uwt.org
Charity Reg. No. 1000851