June 13, 2024

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ON DEVOTIONAL POETRY weekend retreat

In Imam al-Ghazali’s On Devotional Poetry, he discusses the differing scholarly opinions on music and singing, the permissibility of listening to pleasant sounds, types of pleasant sounds including poetry, five contingencies which make music and singing impermissible, and rebuttals to arguments prohibiting music and singing.

While there are differing scholarly opinions with respect to music and singing, Imam al-Ghazali argues in Book 18 that there is both textual evidence and proper analogy that indicate their permissibility under certain occasions and conditions. For example, Imam al-Ghazali mentions the singing that occurred upon the arrival of the Messenger to Madinah and on another occasion, he ﷺ allowed Sayyida Aisha, Radiallahu Anha, to listen to servants beating drums during Eid. Additionally, the messenger ﷺ said with respect to one of his ﷺ companions, “[he] has been gifted with a sweet melodious voice out of the voices of the family of Dawud.”

The Weekend Retreats have become a cornerstone of Al-Maqasid programming, focusing on Imam Al-Ghazali's seminal work, Iḥyā’ ‘Ulūm al-Dīn. Over 200 attendees joined us at Al-Maqasid for the On Devotional Poetry retreat mashAllah. May Allah bless all of our teachers and students.

volunteer appreciation
Special gathering for volunteer appreciation with Shaykh Yahya and Ustadh Amjad

Shaykh Yahya and Ustadh Amjad hosted an exclusive ice cream social and special reflection session for Al-Maqasid retreat volunteers and Seminary students following the weekend retreat. Our esteemed teachers spoke about the spirit of service, the intentions we should uphold when serving, and the rewards reserved for those who dedicate their lives to Khidma (service).

Volunteers and students shared personal reflections on the past year and had the opportunity to ask questions and discuss ways to improve our programs and service.

Al-Maqasid Academy Graduation

Al-Maqasid Academy is a full-time academic program for students in grades 7-12th in Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania. The Academy utilizes a blended-learning coach model on-site at the Al-Maqasid campus. This program aims to meet the personal, academic, and spiritual needs of students through leveraging the resources of an accredited curriculum (for the Standard Sciences) with certified teacher support online and qualified on-the-ground learning coaches, altogether enhanced with a Sacred Science curriculum taught by respected teachers at Al-Maqasid.

Rehan Mirza, Director of Al-Maqasid Academy (Sanad Prep), hosted the Academy graduation ceremony, where we heard eloquent and thoughtful reflections from both students and faculty. The Academy boys offered a beautiful Nasheed (see video below). It was a day of celebration as the students received their certificates after completing a year of rigorous study.

Shaykh Yahya Rhodus delivered an inspiring commencement speech, encouraging students to persevere and continue their pursuit of academics and sacred knowledge. It was a wonderful conclusion to a successful year, masha'Allah.

For more information about Al-Maqasid Academy, please click the button below:

Al-Maqasid Academy

Upcoming programs

Assalamu Alaykum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuhu

The Day of 'Arafa will be on Saturday, June 15th in sha' Allah.

Please join us at Al-Maqasid at 7:30PM as we bring this day to life in remembrance and prayer and close with a community Iftar.

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "For Fasting the Day of 'Arafa, I anticipate that Allah will expiate the [sins] of the previous and upcoming year." [Muslim]

Righteous scholars of the Umma also recommend some of the following Invocations:

The Prophet ﷺ said: “The best prayer is the prayer of the Day of `Arafah. The best thing which I and the Prophets before me have said is:

لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللهُ وَحْدَهُ لاَ شَرِيكَ لَهُ، لَهُ الْمُلْكُ وَ لَهُ الْحَمْدُ وَ هَو عَلَى كُلِّ شَيءٍ قَدِيرٌ

La ilaha ill’Allahu wahdahu la sharika lahu, lahu’l-mulku wa lahu’l-hamdu wa `ala kulli shayin qadir

[“There is no deity save Allah alone. He has no partners. To Him belongs the dominion and all praise and He has power over all things.”]

It is also recommended to recite Sura al-Ikhlas (Qul Huwa Allahu Ahad) 1000 times and to make abundant duʿa on this most blessed day.

More invocations recommended by righteous scholars can be found here:

https://muwasala.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Arafat-Adhkar.pdf

Salat al-Eid will be on Sunday, June 16th Insha Allah Al-Maqasid will be participating in a joint Eid Prayer with the other local masajid.

Please note the following logistical details and important considerations:

Location:

Zephyr Stadium

3800 Mechanicsville Rd

Whitehall, PA 18052

Date & Timings:

Sunday, June 16, 2024

7:30 AM - Takbīrāt begin

8:30 AM - Eid Prayer begins

Additional details:

1) It is important that everyone brings their own prayer rugs, as the prayer will be held outdoors (weather permitting), in accordance with the Sunnah of our Beloved Messenger ﷺ.

2) Should weather conditions be unfavorable according to forecasts, a final decision and announcement will be made by Saturday(evening), June 15th for cancellation and alternative arrangements. In that case, Eid prayer will be prayed indoors at Al-Maqasid with more details to follow.

Dear Students, Families, and Friends of Al-Maqasid,

We are excited to invite you to the Al-Maqasid Commencement Ceremony, celebrating the accomplishments of our students. This special event will take place on June 22nd at 5 PM, insha'Allah.

We are thrilled to announce a momentous occasion in the journey of our students that truly deserves celebration. Our students have exhibited exceptional dedication and achieved remarkable milestones in their academic endeavors. Their achievements are a testament to their hard work, perseverance, and the support they have received from our faculty and community.

In light of this, we cordially invite you to join us for a special ceremony at Al-Maqasid to celebrate the accomplishments of our students. This event is an opportunity for us to come together as a community, alongside family, friends, and esteemed faculty members, to honor and applaud the outstanding achievements of our students.

Light dinner will be served following the ceremony, and we kindly ask that you RSVP by June 17th to ensure that we can accommodate everyone. We apologize, at this time we do not have childcare. Youth 13+ are welcome to attend.

We look forward to seeing you on June 22nd at 5 PM for this momentous occasion!

Link to RSVP: https://www.tickettailor.com/events/almaqasid/1275816

RSVP TODAY

MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS

Love & Iman - Habib Ali Al-Jifri

What is the connection between our love for those around us and faith?

“The believers have even greater love for Allah.” (Quran 2:165)

‎قَدْ كَفَانِي عِلْمُ رَبِّي مِنْ سُؤَالِي وَاخْتِيَارِي
My Lord’s knowledge has sufficed me from requesting and choosing

click here to watch

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LOVING THE BELOVED ﷺ

This weekly Majlis includes a recitation of the prophetic biography in poetry form followed by a counsel intended to connect the listener to the Prophet ﷺ and his teachings. The more we know about his life, character, and way, the more we will come to love and follow the one beloved to Allah.

The Infinite Path of Divine Guidance - Yahya Rhodus

Guidance has a beginning, but it doesn’t have an end. There is no degree to which you can say, 'I have reached the pinnacle of guidance.' Allah will give you more guidance and more guidance and more guidance.

The Door step of the most blessed days of the year - Amjad Tarsin

We have to have these times where we reflect deeply on the purpose for which we were created.

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, “No good deeds are better than what is done in these first ten days of Dhuʻl-Hijjah.” (Sahih Bukhari)

The Weight of lā ilah illā Allah - Ahmed Yahya

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said,

“Verily, Allah will single out a man from my nation before all of creation on the Day of Resurrection. Ninety-nine scrolls will be unrolled before him, each scroll as far as the eye can see. Allah will say: Do you deny any of this? Have my recording angels wronged you? He will say: No, O Lord. Allah will say: Do you have any excuse? He will say: No, O Lord. Allah will say: No, rather you have a good deed with us and you will not be wronged today. A card will be brought upon which is written the testimony that there is no God but Allah and Muhammad is His servant and His Messenger. Allah will say: Bring forth your scale. He will say: O Lord, this card along with these scrolls? Allah will say: Verily, you will not be wronged.” The Prophet said, “Then, the scrolls will be placed upon one side of the scale and the card upon the other. The scrolls will be lifted up and the card will weigh it down. Thus, nothing is heavier with the name of Allah.”

(Sunan al-Tirmidhī)

The Blessings of the Best of Creation - Ismail Ali

A lot of us have come from different areas, and many of us have come from different backgrounds, but for all of us to be in this room, praising the Prophet ﷺ, is an indication of his universal message.

It is the nature of this world that we are veiled from seeing the reality of the true reward of the Messenger and belief in Allah.

JUMU’A KHUTBA

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

Mention the Name of Your Lord - yahya rhodus

“What we understand then is that dhikr, the remembrance of Allah Ta’ala, has a direct connection to the pillars of this deen. Each pillar is meant, ultimately, to bring our hearts closer to Allah.”

Allah commands us in the Quran to mention His Name. [76:25] In this Khutba, Yahya Rhodus explains the great blessings of being permitted to mention Allah’s Name and the many opportunities Allah provides for His remembrance.

Yahya then discusses several verses in the Quran that tie remembrance of Him with fundamental acts of worship (prayer, fasting, Hajj).

ARTICLES

The Best Prayer is the Prayer of Arafah

The Prophet ﷺ said: “The best prayer is the prayer of the Day of Arafah. The best thing which I and the Prophets before me have said is:

لاَ إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللهُ وَحْدَهُ لاَ شَرِيكَ لَهُ، لَهُ الْمُلْكُ وَ لَهُ الْحَمْدُ و هَو عَلَى كُلِّ شَيءٍ قَدِير

La ilaha ill’Allahu wahdahu la sharika lahu, lahu’l-mulku wa lahu’l-hamdu wa huwa ‘ala kulli shayin qadir

“There is no deity save Allah alone. He has no partners. To Him belongs the dominion and all praise and He has power over all things.”

The Prophet ﷺ called it a prayer (dua) but where is the request? What is the person actually asking for when he says it?

The reality is all requests are contained in it if you are connected to its meaning and realise its implications.

If you say it with realisation, your Lord gazes upon you and all requests made to Him by anyone in the past and the future are insignificant compared to what He then gives you.

The believers should repeat it on the Day of Arafah whether they are performing hajj or not.

Saying it removes darkness from you until you become pure light. It removes the darkness of witnessing created things by affirming to Whom truly belongs the dominion and the power to give life and death.

Can you then have hope in other than Him, fear other than Him or rely on other than Him? No!

May Allah enable us to realise these realities.

May He bless us on the Day of Arafat such that the forces of disbelief, misguidance, corruption and deviance are stopped in their tracks. May the banners of Muhammad be unfurled in every place so that the promised time soon comes in which la ilaha ill’Allah enters every single house.

Via MUWASALA - https://muwasala.org/2019/08/07/the-best-prayer-is-the-prayer-of-arafah
Muwasala is an online repository for the scholarly teachings of the blessed tradition of Hadramawt.