FEATURED

Jalsa al-Awwabin

Imam al-Haddad’s works have a powerful impact on the heart, which is why he is known as “Haddad al-Qulub,” the “Heartsmith.”

Jalsa al-Awwabin is a biannual gathering of Quranic recitation, brief readings from Imam al-Haddad's various books, and devotional poetry.

﷽

Assalamu Alaykum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh,

We are delighted to invite you to our upcoming Al-Maqasid Weekend Retreat, taking place from February 14–16, titled: On Marvels of the Heart—a study of Book 21 of Imam al-Ghazali’s masterpiece, Ihya’ ‘Ulum al-Din (Revival of the Religious Sciences).

In The Marvels of the Heart, Imam al-Ghazali provides a profound exploration of the heart’s pivotal role in human existence. He examines its four distinct levels, its relationship to the spirit (ruh), ego (nafs), and intellect (‘aql), and its many remarkable qualities. Through vivid analogies—such as the heart’s resemblance to a mirror—he unravels how the heart is influenced by external forces and how it shapes our actions, guiding us toward either goodness or misguidance.

This retreat will, Insh’Allah, be an opportunity to delve deeply into the inner workings of the heart, its transformative potential, and the process of purifying it to cultivate a closer connection to Allah ﷻ.

WHEN:
February 14–16

WHERE:
Al-Maqasid
7386 Alburtis Road, Macungie, PA

register today

UPCOMING PROGRAMS

As-Salaamu ‘Alaykum,

Wayfarers to God – A Sisters Series on Suluk with Sayyida Nejma Davis will take place online via Zoom only this week.

Note: There will be no in-person class.

Date: Saturday, February 1st

Time: 12:00 PM – 1:30 PM
(Please note the time change)

Location: Online via Zoom

The Zoom link can be found in the Wayfarers to God sisters’ Telegram group: https://t.me/+bNhmqQDkK5lmMzM0

InshaAllah, we will resume in-person gatherings next class at Al-Maqasid in the Green Barn at the usual time.

Assalamu Alaykum,

We are honored to invite you to Al-Maqasid's Annual Benefit Dinner, an evening of remembrance, reflection, and gratitude. We also look forward to hosting our distinguished guests, Ustadh UbaydAllah Evans and renowned artist Isam Bachiri.

Our beloved Prophet Muhammad, also teaches us of the relationship between light and knowledge. He said, "Truly, the superiority of the scholar over the devout worshipper is like the superiority of [the light of] the full moon over the other constellations." [Ahmad, Tirmidhi]

Join us as we come together to strive to build a legacy of Prophetic light rooted in the knowledge of revelation. Your presence will be a great means of support in working together to fulfill this immense sacred duty.

WHEN:
Saturday, February 22nd 5:00 PM-9:30 PM

WHERE:
Glasbern Inn (2141 Packhouse Rd, Fogelsville, PA 18051)

REGISTRATION REQUIRED

register here

MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS

The Maidservant Who Attained the Greatest Honour

Narrated by Sayyidi Habib Umar bin Hafiz (may Allah protect him and benefit us by him)

While on his Night Journey, the Prophet ﷺ smelt a beautiful scent. Jibril told him that this was the scent of the maidservant of the daughter of Fir`awn. She was someone who believed in Allah and loved Him. She was not affected or deluded by the manifestations of wealth and power that she witnessed while living in the palace of Fir`awn. One day when she was combing Fir`awn’s daughter’s hair, she accidentally dropped the comb.

She said: “In Allah’s name (bismillah).”

Fir`awn’s daughter said: “Who is Allah? Do you have a lord other than my father?”

She replied:“Allah is my Lord, your Lord, your father’s Lord and the Lord of all people.”

Fir`awn’s daughter told her father what the maidservant had said. Fir`awn summoned her and asked her:“Do you have a lord other than me?”

She replied: “Allah is my Lord, your Lord and the Lord of all things.”

Fir`awn said: “If you do not renounce your faith I will punish you and kill you.”

She remained firm and said:“Do what you wish.”

She remained firm in the front of the worst of tyrants. How many people in our times are shaken by the smallest thing?

A cauldron of boiling oil was brought and they cast her first child into it and then her second. She was breast-feeding her third child and out of mercy for the child she tried to stop herself being thrown into the cauldron.

Her child stopped feeding and said to her:“Remain firm, because you are on the right path!”

Then they were both cast into the cauldron. She immediately attained the grace, bounty, forgiveness and generosity of Allah. She reached such a high station that the Best of Creation ﷺ smelt her scent on the best of nights, the night of the Isra’ and Mi`raj. Allah wished to manifest the station of this great woman who truthfully sought Allah and remained firm in her faith.

May Allah make us firm!

(Via Muwasala: https://muwasala.org/2015/05/15/the-maidservant-who-attained-the-greatest-honour/ )

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 Expanded Heart: Walking the Path of Divine Guidance - Yahya Rhodus

In a world filled with distractions and fleeting pleasures, true tranquility lies in a heart expanded by faith. This talk explores the necessity of making choices based on revelation, following the guidance of the Prophet ﷺ, and recognizing the immense blessing of being on the path of divine mercy.

Allah ﷻ reminds us:
"So is one whose breast Allah has expanded to [accept] Islam and he is upon a light from his Lord [like one whose heart is hardened]?" (Qur’an 39:22)

The Prophet ﷺ said:
"Indeed, there is a piece of flesh in the body; if it is sound, the whole body is sound, and if it is corrupt, the whole body is corrupt. Truly, it is the heart." (Bukhari & Muslim)

Through sacred knowledge, remembrance, and reliance upon Allah, we seek the expansion of our hearts to navigate the challenges of life, bear tribulations with patience, and embody the mercy and light of the Prophet ﷺ. May Allah increase us in beneficial knowledge and grant us hearts filled with His remembrance.

Living with Purpose and Guidance - Yusuf Weltch

Allah ﷻ says, “And I did not create the jinn and mankind except to worship Me” (Qur’an, 51:56). Amidst the vast diversity of people, languages, and backgrounds, we share one ultimate purpose—to worship our Creator as He has commanded. Life is a series of choices, and true success lies in choosing guidance over desire, revelation over fleeting pleasures, and eternal meaning over temporary distractions.

The Prophet ﷺ said, “Seeking knowledge is an obligation upon every Muslim” (Ibn Majah). Only through sacred knowledge can we navigate the journey of life with clarity, ensuring that our decisions align with divine wisdom. It is by Allah’s mercy alone that we are guided to this path, and it is through gratitude and sincerity that we remain steadfast upon it. May Allah increase us in beneficial knowledge and grant us the ability to make choices that lead to His pleasure and eternal bliss.

Finding One’s Path: The Journey to Sincere Devotion - Imam Rasul Suluki

Allah ﷻ says, “And each [of you] has a direction toward which he turns. So race to [all that is] good” (Qur’an, 2:148). Every person has been created with a unique path in the service of Allah, yet discovering it requires patience, sincerity, and self-reflection.

The Prophet ﷺ said, “The best of people are those who are best in character” (Bukhari). True success lies not in imitating others, but in cultivating one’s own strengths while embodying the noble character of the Messenger ﷺ. Whether through scholarship, service, or devotion, each of us has a role to fulfill in our journey toward Allah—one that aligns with our nature and the divine wisdom bestowed upon us.

JUMU’A KHUTBA

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

Benefiting from Beneficial Knowledge - Yahya Rhodus

“If we do not have the right knowledge, or we have the right knowledge but we don’t have the correct state of heart, these are the two ways that you and I can really go astray.”

We live in an age of information, but how much of this knowledge is truly beneficial and how much of it causes us to go astray? And even if we are exposed to beneficial information, are we in a state to benefit from it?

In this khutba Shaykh Yahya addresses these fundamental questions by looking at two sets of verses in the Quran (45:16-17, 23, and 28:76-82) that teach us about the prime importance of beneficial knowledge, what pollutes it, and how to benefit from it.

Seminary Rawha

Linguistically related to the spirit (ruh), the Rawha is a class centered around Islamic spirituality. It explores the text-based tradition that outlines the spiritual path and aims to inspire seekers to both embark upon it and attain its realities.

Lectures:
Essential Topics in Religious Literacy

Addressing Misconceptions
and Objections in Islam

This course aims to clarify and address common misconceptions about various issues that are commonly misunderstood and often become causes of division among Muslims. Issues such as celebrating the Prophet’s birth s and the concept of innovation (bid‘a) are some of the topics covered in this course.

Elementary Shafi’i Fiqh:
A Study of The Ladder of Success

Weekly Shafi’i Fiqh class studying the book Sullam Al-Tawfiq (translated by Shaykh Musa Furber as The Ladder to Success) written by the great scholar and caller to Allah, Al-Habib Abdullah bin Hussayn bin Tahir. Instruction will be in English.