FEATURED

Beyond the Shahada: When the Honeymoon Ends

Join us on Saturday, November 23rd at 10:30 AM in the Green Barn for an interactive session designed for new Muslims. This gathering provides a supportive space to discuss the challenges after the initial excitement of conversion, offering practical tools and insights to help strengthen your connection with Islam.

This gathering is for converts to Islam (both those who converted recently and those who are further in their journey) providing a welcoming space for open discussion and connection through shared experiences.

WHEN: Saturday / 10:30 AM-12:00 PM

WHERE: Al-Maqasid (Green Barn)

RSVP: (https://buytickets.at/almaqasid/1460779)

UPCOMING PROGRAMS

A Weekly Ladies-Only Gathering for the Recitation of Qasida al-Burda.

Qasida al-Burda, composed by Imam al-Busiri, is a poem in praise of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ which has gained acceptance throughout the Muslim world.

As always, children are welcome. Here are a few gentle reminders:
- Children must remain with their parents and stay inside the barn at all times.
- Girls aged 8 and older are encouraged to participate in the gathering.
- We kindly request no boys over the age of 8.

WHEN: Fridays at 3:30pm
WHERE: Al-Maqasid | Greenbarn

MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS

The Blessed Names of the Prophet ﷺ

Lesson (2) His Blessed Name “Muhammad” ﷺ

The many blessed names of the Prophet ﷺ point to his exalted rank and nobility ﷺ. In these sessions, we will study Shaykh Idris Watts’s translation titled, the Heavenly Guide to the Beacon of Pure Light, which is a commentary on the blessed names of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ from Imam al-Jazūlī’s Dalā’il al-Khayrāt.

Al-Shama'il Al-Muhammadiyya
(Muhammadan Characteristics)

Lesson (2) Al-Shama’il Al-Muhammadiyya: Chapter 1 | Hadith 1

Studying the prophetic characteristics increase us in knowledge and thus love of the Best of Creation صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم. In these lessons we will cover the blessed work of Imam al-Tirmidhi titled, Al-Shamā’il Al-Muḥammadiyya (Muhammadan Characterstics).

من مثل أحمد
Who is like Ahmad?

click here to watch

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.

Loving What He Loved: A Path to Divine Nearness - Yahya Rhodus

Our Lord, in His infinite wisdom, has commanded us to love and honor the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. This love is not merely an emotional attachment but a profound spiritual obligation.

Allah ﷻ says: "Indeed, Allah and His angels send blessings upon the Prophet. O you who have believed, send blessings upon him and peace in abundance." (Surah Al-Ahzab, 33:56)

To love him is to align our hearts with what Allah ﷻ loves. It is to mention him frequently, to defend his honor, and to follow his guidance with reverence and gratitude. The Prophet ﷺ himself emphasized this love, saying: "None of you will truly believe until I am more beloved to him than his father, his child, and all of mankind." (Sahih al-Bukhari and Muslim)

The Spring of the Believer - Amjad Tarsin

Winter, with its long nights and short days, offers a unique gift to those seeking nearness to Allah ﷻ. It is a season that facilitates devotion and introspection, often described as the spring of the believer. While the world outside may seem barren and still, the hearts of those who are mindful of their Lord find this time ripe for growth and renewal.

The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ is reported to have said: "Winter is the spring of the believer: its nights are long for those who wish to stand in prayer, and its days are short for those who wish to fast." (Musnad Ahmad)

Winter becomes a season of opportunity—a time to sow the seeds of ‘ibada (worship) and cultivate the fruits of taqwa (God-consciousness).

Reacting Like the Prophet ﷺ - Abdul Malik Klockemann

In our interactions with others, it’s easy to become unsettled by harsh words or difficult behavior. We allow these moments to create disruption in our lives, disturbing the serenity of our hearts. Yet, as seekers on the path of refinement, we are reminded that our responses must align with the prophetic way, which is rooted in patience, forbearance, and a deep connection to Allah ﷻ.

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ was the most perfect embodiment of refined character. Despite facing immense trials—insults, rejection, and even physical harm—he never allowed the actions of others to shake his inner tranquility. Allah ﷻ describes this elevated state in the Qur’an: "And not equal are the good deed and the bad. Repel [evil] with that which is best, and you will see that the one who was once your enemy has become your close friend." (Surah Fussilat, 41:34)

The Prophet ﷺ also taught: "The strong one is not the one who overpowers others in physical strength, but the strong one is the one who controls himself when he is angry." (Sahih al-Bukhari and Muslim)

JUMU’A KHUTBA

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

Turn to Allah When Distressed - Yahya Rhodus

“If Allah, subhanahu wa ta’ala, is on your side, then there is nothing that anyone in the heavens and the earth can do to harm you, but we have to be the right way for Allah, subhanahu wa ta’ala, to be on our side.”

One of the unchanging principles of our deen is turning to Allah, subhanahu wa ta’ala, when we are in distress or when we have wronged ourselves. Citing examples in the Quran, Hadith, and stories of the righteous, Yahya Rhodus explains how to turn to Allah and what it the quickest way to receive an answer to a supplication, including specific Quranic and Prophetic duas to make.

Yahya also explains how to train oneself for the loneliness of the grave.

Elementary Shafi’i Fiqh

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.

Lectures: Essentials of Islamic Literacy

Importance of Sanad - Yahya Rhodus

Al-Maqasid's weekly lecture series will cover topics that are essential to every Muslim's religious literacy. We welcome you to join us as our faculty members offer engaging lectures on crucial topics such as the way sacred knowledge was preserved, the importance of infusing spirituality into environments of learning, and what a principled engagement would look like in our context today. Each lecture will be approximately 45 minutes long, allowing ample time for questions and discussion.

Tasawwuf

Introduction to the Purification of the Heart

Weekly class discussing the obligations and prohibitions that relate to the heart. This class covers all that is obligatory to know regarding purification of the heart through a deep look at the relevant Quranic verses and Prophetic narrations.

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.

The Seminary Rawha takes place Monday and Wednesday evenings

RAWHA

The Rawha takes place every Tuesday at 7:00pm EST. During the Rawha, Shaykh Yahya Rhodus will be covering the Hikam (Aphorisms) of Imam Ibn 'Ata'illah al-Iskandari.