Stony Brook MSA is having an online intensive for sisters’ this summer on “The Fiqh of Menstruation.” Ustadha Shamira Chothia Ahmed from Zaytuna Institute will be holding classes online for those interested starting July 9th at 2PM EST (edit: Classes are being postponed until July 16th- so there is still time to register). For Ustadha Shamira’s biography, please see the end of this post. The course will be conducted based on a text written by Mufti Abdur Rehman ibn Yusuf and his wife, Rashida Eskajee available online through ZamZam Academy. The cost for the entire course is $20- but no one will be turned down due to a lack of funds.

If you are interested in taking the course:

1. Please e-mail msasis@gmail.com expressing your intent to enroll in the class.

2. When you get a confirmation e-mail back, please send your deposit via the button below.

Ustadha Shamira Chothia Ahmed

Born in Northern California, Shamira Chothia Ahmed is an emerging young, female teacher of the traditional Islamic sciences. Her studies led her to seek knowledge from scholars on three continents — Africa, Europe, and Asia. Upon receiving ijaazas (authorizations) to teach, she was granted the opportunity to be an instructor of Hanafi fiqh for women at the Zaytuna Institute in Hayward, California. Privately, she taught fiqh (jurisprudence), tajwid (cantillation) and Qur’anic tafsir (exegesis). She recently completed her M.A. in the Social Sciences at the University of California, Irvine, and teaches classes on hadith to sisters in the Southern California region.

Edit: Classes will be starting July 16th insha’Allah at 2PM EST.

According to the Stony Brook University website, the Union building is closed tomorrow, July 4th. As such, we will not be holding Jumu’ah on campus. We apologize for the inconvenience this may cause.

Insha’Allah those who were intending on attending Jumu’ah on campus can attend Jumu’ah at Selden Masjid. First adhan is at 1:15 PM (try to be on time!).

Well, if you haven’t already joined our mailing list (send an e-mail to us and we’ll add you) - there is indeed a new addition to our website. It’s been an off-and-on part of our site (and if you’ve been a regular visitor to our website- you’ll have noticed many changes to our format) but it’s back- The Stony Brook MSA Forums are up and running!

There’s a link in the right hand toolbar but if for some reason you want to click a link in this post, then here it is.

So register, make an account and start posting!

Remember that, as a Muslim, we strive to do our best in every aspect of our lives — both for this world and the Hereafter.  Please utilise your time wisely, study hard, and above all, make Du’a, for in the end, it is by Allah’s will alone that anything is possible.  For this occasion, here are some Ad’iya (plural of Du’a) you can and should make use of before the wave hits (heh, props to the mail writers!):

DUA BEFORE STUDYING

Allahumma infa’nii bimaa ‘allamtanii wa’allimnii maa yanfa’ unii.

O Allah ! Make useful for me what You taught me and teach me knowledge that will be useful to me.

Allahumma inii as’aluka fahmal-nabiyyen wa hifthal mursaleen al-muqarrabeen.

O Allah ! I ask You for the understanding of the prophets and the memory of the messengers, and those nearest to You.

DUA AFTER STUDYING

Allahhumma inni astaodeeuka ma qara’tu wama hafaz-tu. Faradduhu ‘allaya inda hagati elayhi.

O Allah ! I entrust You with what I have read and I have studied.

Innaka ‘ala ma-tasha’-u qadeer wa anta hasbeeya wa ni’mal wakeel.

(O Allah !) Bring it back to me when I am in need of it. (O Allah !) You do whatever You wish, and You are my Availer and Protector and the best of aid.

DUA WHILE STUDYING SOMETHING DIFFICULT

Allahumma la sahla illama ja-’altahu sahla wa anta taj ‘alu al hazana etha shi’ta sahla

O Allah ! Nothing is easy except what You have made easy. If You wish, You can make the difficult easy.

DUA FOR DISTRESS

Allahumma rahmataka arjoo falaa takilnee ilaa nafsee tarfata ‘aynin wa aslih-lee sha’nee kullahu, laa ilaha illa anta

O Allah ! It is Your mercy that I hope for so do not leave me in charge of my affairs even for a blink of an eye and rectify for me all of my affairs. None has the right to be worshipped except You.

DUA FOR LAZINESS

Allâhumma innî a’udhu bika minal-ajzi wal-kasli wal-jubni wal-harami wal-bukhli, wa a’udhbika min adhabil qabri, wa a’udhubika min fitnatil mahya walmamat.

O Allah , I seek refuge in You from weakness and laziness, miserliness and cowardice, anxiety and sorrow, and I seek refuge in You from the torments of grave, and I seek refuge in You from the trials and tribulations of life and death.

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Everyone can find the time to make Du’a, and as it is an act of worship, there’s really no reason why you shouldn’t — you get hasanat (Desi: sawab) just for asking from Allah.  So as you’re doing that, also make sure to make Du’a for Sister Sanaa’s husband (who recently underwent surgery) and our brothers and sisters who got into that car accident the previous Monday.  Hm…and why not just make Du’a for the entire Muslim Ummah, too?

Lastly, Jazakumallahu Khairan, everyone, for all of your help this semester.  Inshallah you’ll be rewarded for your efforts.  And now, move forward without regret —

LET’S ROCK THE FINALS!

**Note: if by some chance, Allah ta’ala blesses us with clear skies (or reasonably clear skies–we will not be picky) tomorrow, then the picnic will be on–keep an ear out at Jummah!**

Pictures taken from:

http://www.virtualtoydrive.org/image.php?productid=56

and http://www.binghamhirecentre.com/gokart.gif

I’m not sure how many times I’ve said this, but get ready for the ultimate event of the year!

Tomorrow, May 9th, is the End of the Semester MSA Picnic! As for what goes on…well, t’s difficult to elaborate when the title is so self-explanatory. Just show up! It’s taking place at Sunken Meadow Park after Salatul Jumu’ah. If you don’t know how to get there or don’t have a vehicle, carpools will be arranged.

For those attending 2:20 classes, don’t worry — accommodations will be made to make sure you don’t miss out. We realise that various meteorologists have predicted a high chance of rainfall tomorrow, but just remember that it will rain only if Allah wants it to rain! So don’t give up on the final programme of the year. See you there, inshallah!

(P.S. In the event that it in fact does rain, we’re looking for suggestions on how to celebrate our liberation from another grueling semester.  Contact us at sbumsa@gmail.com or speak to a board member.  Jazakumallahu Khairan)

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If absolutely must, you can confirm this on Facebook.

If there’s any MSA tradition that should never be broken, it’s the establishment of this:

An array of faces, old and new, seamlessly synthesising with a vast plethora of exquisite cuisine to form the ultimate amalgamation of sheer bliss — this is the true power of the annual * Dinner, and by the Will of Allah it has finally come upon us once more!

SBUMSA graduates join us in order to share their experiences outside of the safe, secluded walls of our university in the real world. It’s the actions of the old generations that have brought us to where we are today, so this is the opportunity to learn how to set the way for the generation that follows us! Plus, they’re probably all really cool people, too!

A celebration of SBUMSA’s finest can only include the finest food, so for those who’ve known only SAC pizza and imitation masala this year, this isn’t an event you can afford to miss! The event will take place Friday, April 25th, in the Union Ballroom at 7:30 pm.

(* - Deleted expletive, apparently)

If you have Facebook, then you can confirm the existence of this event there.

If you’ve been keeping up with the times, voting for the new MSA e-board (”executive”; I always thought it meant “electronic”, haha!) is over and the results are in. Here are the people who will be serving you for the 1429-1430 Academic Year!

President - Munzareen Padela

Vice President - Omar Shareef

Treasurer - Nabiha Zakir

Brother’s Secretary - Waqas Iqbal

Sister’s Secretary - Lena Zohny

Brother’s Representative - Nabras Ahmad

Insha’Allah, this new set of shining faces and golden hearts will fulfill their duties and make our wings take dream*! May Allah bless them all for voluntarily taking on the daunting task of running the MSA.

On a separate but equally happy note, Thursday of I Love Muslims! week (4/10) will in fact have something going on! We’ll be watching Desert Rose, a short lecture series by Muhammad Al-Shareef. Afterwards, we’ll be…playing games (ಠ_ಠ). Don’t miss it! Until then.

( *If you’re not familiar with this phrase, use Google!)

Formerly known as “Islam Awareness Week”, this 5-day event extravaganza is one of the most anticipated weeks of the semester! If the incredibly strange thought that there weren’t enough events this semester came to mind, this’ll more than make up for it! Here’s the breakdown on what’s happening:

• Scarves for Solidarity - Monday, April 7th. See the post below for more details.

• Islam Around the World - Tuesday, April 8th. It’s quite certain that at some point in your life, it may have occured to you that Islam in-fact exists outside of the Arab/Desi/Western world. Well, here’s your chance to confirm it — visit the Student Union Lobby at any time between 12pm and 3pm to see displays detailing Islamic culture and lifestyle as it exists in other nations!

• Hiatus - Wednesday, April 9th. Wearing scarves and visiting different countries in just two days is a bit taxing on your endurance, isn’t it? View this as a small intermission for your sake…

• Aphorisms of a Gnostic - Thursday, April 10th. What an awesome name! Spend your time learning what it means and much more in Wang Centre Lecture Hall 2 at 8pm. Shaikh Zahir Bacchus will be giving a bit of insight into the life of Ibn Ata Allah.

• Jumu’ah - Friday, April 11th. In fact, this has been and will always be every Friday until the end of time! Pretty cool, right? Shaikh Zahir will be giving the Khutbah as per his 3-day power visit.

• Treading the Sacred Path - Saturday, April 12th. What? A 6th day?! Yeah, we’re cool like that…Shaikh Zahir finishes his triple combo smash with a continuation of the wisdoms of Ibn Ata Allah.

The week has in-fact already begun, so there’s no time to waste! Make sure you don’t miss a single day!

UPDATE:  Unforunately, due to unforeseen circumstances, Shaikh Zahir will not be joining us this week.  Keep checking back for more information as it comes.

 Now that this is completed: You can discuss it here!

Looking to Sign Up?!

1 out of 3 women around the world has been beaten, coerced into sex or otherwise abused during her lifetime.

- “Dating Violence Against Adolescent Girls and Associated Substance Use, Unhealthy Weight Control, Sexual Risk Behavior, Pregnancy, and Suicidality.” Pediatrics, August 2004.

The purpose of Scarves for Solidarity is to help save battered women while spreading awareness about Islam. The Muslim Student Association is working with sponsors who plan to donate $5 to Battered Women’s Shelter for every female who volunteers to wear a head-scarf/hijab on Monday, April 7^th 2007.

The donations will be made to Suffolk County Coalition Against Domestic Violence, after all pledges have been collected.

Head-scarves will be available (FOR FREE) at the Union lobby between 12 pm and 3 pm throughout the week of Monday, March 31st. All that is required from you is to wear the scarf provided for you from 10am until 7:30 pm on April 7th. The scarves will all be the same color so that you can recognize other women volunteering to save battered women.

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