NMP is over a year old and grateful for all your support

Transcription

1 Issue Four December 2013 NEW MUSLIM PROJECT NEWS NMP was able to help several converts go on their hajj much to their delight, as this happy photograph shows. More photos inside IN THIS ISSUE This is a Hajj special and features several stories on that topic. You can also see our barbecue photos, read about an interfaith discussion we ran, and lots more besides. NMP is becoming more active all the time NMP is over a year old and grateful for all your support ASSALAAMUALAIKUM, Brothers and Sisters. The New Muslim Project is more than 15 months old. From conception to its fully functional present form, NMP has been blessed with boundless enthusiasm and commitment from our volunteers and the exceptional generosity of our donors and sponsors. The cost of setting up NMP was $13,400 and it costs $34,000 a year to run our office and services. We would therefore like to acknowledge the numerous individuals and organisations that continue to support us. Specifically, we would like to thank our incredibly generous sponsor who has already contributed over $33,000 with the faith that this was a much-needed resource, FIANZ for a donation of $5,000, and a very kind family which has been there for our community on many an occasion for their gift of $3,750. There are no words to express our sincere and warm gratitude and appreciation for such an incredible group of supporters. May Allah (swt) bless you all and reward you now and in the hereafter. As we entered our second year, NMP was able to take part in Muslim-based events such as Auckland Eid Day at ASB Showgrounds, and Islam Awareness Week s Open Day (pictured). Both these events allowed us to assume our position as a bridge of understanding between the diverse faiths that make up Auckland. We were also able to better introduce ourselves to other Muslim groups within the community, as well as converts who were in search of a support organisation like NMP. Through these two events alone, we were able to provide our expertise in the conversion of at least seven new converts, alhamdulillah. Sincerely, New Muslim Project Team

2 Seven converts were able to perform hajj with assistance from NMP. Before their trip, they were invited to a hajj orientation, interacted in a forum and even sent in live updates through NMP s facebook page while on their pilgrimage. Here are some of their photos. Hadith There are three signs of iman (faith) told to us by our Prophet. One is loss of interest in the transitory world. The second is longing for the abode of eternity (akhirah). The third is preparation for death before it comes. (al-bayhaqi)

3 Origins of Pilgrimage HAJJ is the fifth pillar of Islam. It is compulsory for every Muslim to make pilgrimage to Makkah once in their lifetime if they are financially and physically capable of it. It is so important that a Muslim whose hajj is accepted returns with all his sins erased. The pilgrimage is not something that was introduced in the 7th century CE with the arrival of the Prophet Muhammad (saw), but was a tradition that stretched back to 2000BCE near the estimated time of the Prophet Ibrahim (as). The history of hajj can be traced back to when Allah (swt) commanded Ibrahim (as) to leave his wife Hagar and his son Ismail (as) alone in the desert. Looking for food and water, Hagar walked between two hills, Safa and Marwa, to no avail. Ismail, still a baby, began to cry from thirst and beat his heels to the ground, from which the spring of Zamzam appeared miraculously. A wandering tribe found the two by the newly formed well, and settled in the area, creating the foundations of what would later become the city of Makkah. Years later, Ismail (as) and Ibrahim (as) were instructed by Allah (swt) to build the foundations of the Kabah, and call people from across the world to seek it out for pilgrimage. Over the years, as the message of Allah was forgotten, Makkah remained a symbolic pilgrimage destination for people across and beyond the Arabian peninsula, but pagan beliefs led to the erection of idols around the Kabah. In the 8th year of Hijra in 630CE, after the Prophet Muhammad (saw) reclaimed Makkah, he cleared the holy site of all idols, returning it to its original purpose. The Kabah has undergone many stages of construction and renovation, and today stands 13 metres high. Its base measures 11 by 13 metres. It is in many ways the centre of the Muslim world, and is the focal point for the direction of supplication for Muslims everywhere. During the rituals of hajj, pilgrims walk between Safa and Marwa, and drink from the well of Zamzam, retracing the steps of Hagar and Prophet Ismail (as). They perform tawaf, circling the Kabah, and offer prayers in every direction encircling it. Throughout hajj, a Muslim must refrain from misconduct, argument and sexual intercourse. This symbolises the dedication required to undertake hajj. The overwhelming spiritual and social experience felt by many of those who partake in hajj can be powerful enough to change lives. The American civil rights activist Malcolm X described in his autobiography the profound personal impact visiting Makkah We have rendered the house a focal point for the people, and a safe sanctuary. You may use Ibrahim s shrine as a house of prayer. We commissioned Ibrahim and Ismail: You shall purify My house for those who visit, those who live there, and those who bow and prostrate. Surat Al-Baqarah, verse 125 and performing hajj had on his views and ideology. There were tens of thousands of pilgrims, from all over the world. They were of all colours, from blue-eyed blondes to blackskinned Africans. But we were all participating in the same ritual, displaying a spirit of unity and brotherhood that my experiences in America had led me to believe never could exist between the white and the non-white. America needs to understand Islam, because this is the one religion that erases from its society the race problem. You may be shocked by these words coming from me. But on this pilgrimage, what I have seen, and experienced, has forced me to rearrange much of my thought patterns previously held.

4 Dealing with Trials A Convert s Perspective and an opportunity to prove ourselves to Him. But how many of us rejoice when these trials arrive? When Allah (swt) sends someone a trial, He is showing His faith in that person. He only sends us trials that He knows we can handle. We should strive to recognise these opportunities, use By David Wallace them to show our faith in Him; and thank Him for this special IT IS NOW about a year since I and valuable type of blessing. converted to Islam. In that time, So now, when a good thing I have undergone many trials. I happens to me, I say have had physical trials including Alhamdulillah. When a bad thing two painful and long-lasting happens to me, I say injuries. I have had emotional Alhamdulillah twice, because I trials including the end of my know that Allah (swt) has just marriage. I have had one terrible given me one more opportunity near-death experience. to earn my reward in the life to Occasionally, when these trials come. arrive, I wonder why. Why am I Interfaith Discussion being made to suffer when I am trying hard to be a good Muslim and to serve my Creator faithfully? Then I remind myself that our earthly life is nothing more than a test. The nature of our time in the hereafter depends on how we perform in this test. Moreover, Allah (swt) has custom-made the content of the test for each and every one of us. The more difficult the test, the greater the reward if we do well. A high place in Jannah will never be an easy thing to earn; but wouldn t we all rather have the opportunity to earn such a thing, than have an easy life here on Earth? We know that we will face many trials throughout our lives. Every trial is a blessing from Allah (swt) JESUS in Christianity and Islam was the topic for an NMP-organised interfaith discussion held on Friday, 29 November in Auckland. About 100 people came to hear the Reverend Dr Keith Rowe put the Christian side of it across, while Sheikh Nori Abdul Aziz Ben Fayed spoke for Muslims. It was a stimulating evening.

5 NMP gains exposure at Auckland Eid Day AS RAMADAN came to a close, the Auckland Muslim community prepared to get together at ASB Showgrounds to celebrate the third annual Auckland Eid Day Eid al-fitr festival. This year, the event attracted more than 10,000 Muslims and quite a few non- Muslims. As a family-based event, Auckland Eid Day works to create an atmosphere of fun, happiness, diversity and unity, where Muslims and others come together to share this special day of celebration. Throughout the day, Auckland Eid Day offers a wide variety of games, food stalls, educational displays, and a collection of stage shows presenting diverse cultural performances, joyful Islamic anasheed and guest speakers appealing to all family members from children to adults. Supported by Al-Manar Trust and funded by community businesses, Muslim organisations across Auckland have joined the initiative to represent the many causes, groups and foundations that make up this vibrant community. This was the first time that New Muslim Project took part in the event. Although it has been about a year, we re still new, said Mazin Al-Salim, NMP Manager, We have constantly received questions like, Who are you? What does the NMP really do? How come nobody knew about it among the wider community? Many brothers and sisters who came to meet us in the office indicated they had no idea that such a project existed. So a gathering like Auckland Eid Day was the perfect opportunity to inform others of the project and its services. Throughout the day the NMP stall received countless visitors who were able to learn more about the project and its many services. Converts who had been introduced to the project earlier were also happy to see its presence in such a large gathering of Muslims. The NMP stall was also the perfect location for non-muslims who attended the event. There, they were able to openly ask questions about Islam Awareness Week Open Day was another event at which NMP was present. Islam and receive resources of further reading or information. The exposure we received from Auckland Eid Day helped us link with other groups within the community like a PR exercise and helped us better prepare our stall at Islamic Awareness Week s Open Day soon after, added brother Mazin. These events lead to a significant increase in the number of people visiting the NMP office to ask questions, express interest in Islam or simply requesting to come make shahada at the office to become Muslims. Sister Johara Lunah was one of the many visitors NMP received at our stall. She approached the stall in search of support and on the brink of conversion. I was given support with great care and affection at the stall, she said. I was invited to go into the office after Eid and because of their help, I did. With them I was able to say my shahada and become Muslim officially. I truly believe that the project helps many reverts like me. They take away our doubts and give us confidence. I am happy to have met them at the stall when I did. Auckland Eid Day s main goal is to make sure all Muslims across Auckland are united and come together on this special day. That includes our convert brothers and sisters, said Hady Osman, Auckland Eid Day Project Manager. For many of them, this may be the first time celebrating Eid an occasion that could still be new or unfamiliar to them. It is our responsibility to make sure that we are able to share with our new brothers and sisters that spirit of celebration and festivity within the Islamic way. The NMP hopes to continue taking part in such events, not only strengthening its position as an organisation, but also acting to represent converts across Auckland. To follow NMP involvement in such events, like our Facebook page at NewMuslimProjectNZ. If you would like to become a buddy to a new Muslim, or feel you or someone you know needs a buddy, please buddy@newmuslimproject.co.nz

6 Grateful Convert Performs Hajj Words and photos by Huda Julie Webb-Pullman IN LATE SEPTEMBER I received a phone call offering me a trip to hajj leaving in seven days Initial excitement was quickly followed by a reality check how much would it cost? $8000, I was told. I don t have $8,000. I don t even have $1,000, I replied. That s okay it will be paid for you. Do you have a passport with at least six months validity? Yes, I replied, a new one Are you fit to travel, and for performing hajj, and can you get meningitis and flu vaccinations tomorrow, and a medical certificate declaring these? Yes, I m sure I can. As a new Muslim, the opportunity to perform hajj was something I had thought a lot about in the year and a half since reverting to Islam. But I could not see how I would ever be able to do it the cost represents a year s income for me, a year s living costs working in Gaza how could I justify sacrificing a year s work for Gaza, for hajj? I would have to do hajj one day, but that day seemed like it would have to wait a very long time. Then suddenly, due to the incredible generosity of an unknown benefactor, here I was, on my way to hajj. Well, if the visa came through after an initially anxious few days, I decided to stop worrying and leave it in the hands of Allah and the visa arrived at the checkin counter of Auckland airport only hours before the flight. My first lesson of hajj had been taught, and learnt be patient and trust in Allah It was a lesson that was to be repeated many times in the next month, and one I still have not mastered, but have improved my marks, insha Allah. Madinah Our first stop was Madinah. It was my first real confrontation with the ummah and I use that word deliberately It is no accident that hajj is described as the women s jihad From the moment we tried to enter Al-Masjid al-nabawi we discovered why. To call it a battle is only a small exaggeration imagine about a million women from almost every country all trying to enter the same building to pray at the same time. Naive new Muslims such as us tried to weave our way politely through the heaving mass of female humanity only to be shoved, pushed, poked, prodded, stamped on and even thrown out of the way by what seemed like battalions of women, arms linked in battle formation, torpedoing through the crowds. Multiply this by a hundred, and you might get a sense of what it was like trying to get to rawda the running of the bulls in Pamplona seems a picnic by comparison But even in the midst of this seemingly chaotic mayhem, there were pockets of stillness, sanity, peace, consideration, friendliness and humour. My second lesson of hajj the ummah is comprised of humans in all shapes and shades, degrees of good and bad, generosity and self-interest, piety and laughter it is our attitude that determines how we deal with it. A wonderful Australian woman who helped me to rawda expressed it best, when she told her companion who was complaining about being pushed and shoved, Toughen up How many bruises have you got? Two, her companion replied. Not enough to complain about declared her mate, launching herself back into the fray, dragging me along with her. When we got to the green carpet, she steered me to a space, and stood by protecting me while I prayed my two rakahs and supplicated, then I did the same for her. We moved on and amazingly another space opened, and I got to pray a second time in front of the next tomb and again in front of the third, without the need for protection. As I left an amazing feeling came over me, tears came out of my eye, and I felt as if I was a hundred feet tall, floating in the air above the rawda, and a huge smile burst across my face. Makkah Madinah was like a kindergarten preparing you for the school of Makkah. Going there, you had got a little used to being amongst huge numbers of people, to being pushed and shoved, to exercising and extending your patience and tolerance, to focusing on what is important and letting the rest zone out and fall by the way. You had been taught a lot of lessons and thought you had learned most of them, and even graduated. Well, think again Makkah was about to challenge

7 any complacency Umrah Tawaf Sai Even going to the Kabah late at night, as we did for our umrah, did not escape the crowds. Arriving at about midnight in a group of eight, we attempted to circumambulate in the lower inner circle, as some members of our group were determined to kiss the black stone, or at least touch it. Following the example of many others, we held onto each others clothing in order not to become separated but we made the mistake of trying to walk abreast, rather than one behind the other. This immediately resulted in others bursting through our links, and desperate attempts to rejoin. As we went further and further in towards the Kabah, the crowd became denser, the temperature hotter, the crush more unbearable, especially as we approached the green light at each round, and more people joined. I began to panic and, letting go of my companions, tried to get to the outside where it was less crowded but no-one would let me through. I thought I was going to be crushed and could think only of escape; I couldn t breathe and feared I would have a fatal asthma attack eventually a man helped me out to the edge and gave me a drink of water, and I continued the tawaf on my own, on the outer edge. The rest of the week before going to Mina for hajj proper was spent as much as possible in Al- Haram or in the courtyard, either praying or doing tawaf. This was usually for fajr, maghrib and isha because it was just too hot for the 30-minute walk to the mosque in the middle of the day. Sometimes it was so crowded I couldn t get inside, sometimes so crowded I could only get a foot inside the courtyard. Many people prayed in the streets surrounding the masjid. While praying fard or just on my own, I met people from many countries: Uzbekistan, Sri Lanka, Somalia, China, Tunisia, other places I had never heard of. Sometimes we communicated in English, sometimes by gestures, often they spoke in their language and I in mine, and nobody minded. We seemed to understand each other I was the recipient of many random acts of kindness, and hopefully gave as many, or more, than I received. Sometimes it was a drink of water, making a space so someone could pray next to you, sharing your prayer rug, taking up less space, giving up the chair you had managed to find. One woman from Malaysia gave me $500 riyals (about US $150) because I was working in Gaza I told her I would use it to pay my translator and she said, No, it is for YOU. For every 10 selfish acts (and there were many) there was at least one to counteract it, for every 10 refusals to make space for you there was always at least one who would let you in. Just when you were about to give up, it would happen in one way or another the lesson of patience and trust in Allah (swt) reinforced over and over again. I was not always a good student, but that was another lesson soon to be learnt: Allah s infinite capacity for forgiveness and mercy. Mina Sardines in a can have more room than we did in our tent, I swear There was not even a centimetre of space between our mattresses (but at least we had mattresses) and I would often wake with my neighbour half in my bed, while I bulged out the side of the tent. This was probably the hardest thing for me when I am hot and/or sick, I hate people touching me, and it drove me CRAZY I tried to be nice about it, I snapped about it, but I couldn t stop it ultimately I just had to ask Allah (swt) for forgiveness for it, and help to overcome it. Still a work in progress Going to the toilet was almost a mission impossible you had to pre-plan and go at least 30 minutes before you needed to, to make sure you made it in time. Showers were above the toilets, and women often also did their laundry in there, so you could have very long waits. But the bottom line for me was, we had tents, with air conditioning, and we had thick mattresses, and we had toilets and showers, even if not enough of them unlike the pilgrims of previous centuries, whose hajj probably not even ONE of us would have survived. For all the whingeing about conditions at Mina, we had it better than 90% of pilgrims throughout history have had it for which I, for one, was very grateful Yes, it was tough, yes it was uncomfortable, yes, we were forced into close proximity with all the snorts, burps, farts and other bodily functions of people we may ordinarily never have given more than the time of day let alone shared such intimate space with but it helped us all learn our fourth lesson our fundamental sameness despite our superficial differences, and hopefully a bit more tolerance.

8 Hajj If Madinah was kindergarten, and Makkah was school, then hajj was most definitely the institute of higher learning. All our lessons of the previous two weeks in patience, trust in Allah (swt), our common humanity, transcending suffering through prayer and faith, tolerance towards our fellow man and woman, would be put to the test, and into practice. Not only these, but also our own interpersonal behaviours such as gossip and backbiting the hardest thing NOT to do living in such close quarters with a million other women. Talk about jihad It was to be a jihad with ourselves. But the reality was actually a million times easier than I imagined or feared. From the intensely personal and deeply spiritual experience of praising, praying and supplicating for an entire day on Arafat, barely noticing the scorching heat, to passing the night at Muzdalifah with more praising and supplications without noticing the discomfort of lying on the ground on thin squabs, then collecting stones and leaving at dawn for the rejoicing in Allah s favours and stoning the pillar at Jamarat, where, as at rawda, a gap opened miraculously as I approached. The next two days passed in daily trips to Jamarat, each one seemingly shorter and quicker than the day before despite being over 4km each way, much of it under the midday sun. Each day with calmness and serenity, and a stronger sense of conviction of the rightness of it all, and feeling closer to Allah (swt). Arriving back in Makkah, I was dreading the tawaf alifadhah because of my memories of my umrah tawaf and the knowledge that there would be even more people there now. I joined one of our group and his elderly mother and we went to the first floor of the mosque, and walked a long, slow and relaxed tawaf on the outer edge. On top of the final stoning at Jamarat and the trip back to Makkah, this left us utterly exhausted, but we couldn t even find a taxi. The walk or stagger back to the hotel 1.4 km away was like being in a state of suspended animation, just putting one foot in front of the other, trusting that eventually we would get there. When the time came to do my farewell tawaf, I felt as if I was walking on air. I went right into the middle, I touched three walls of the Kabah as spaces opened up in front of me, and gave thanks, thanks, and more thanks for the amazing gifts I have been given by my Islam teacher Dr Attallah who gently led me to my shahada, by the kind sponsor who made it possible for me to perform hajj, and most of all by Allah (swt) who has rewarded me with so many blessings. And as if that was not enough, when we went to check in for our flight back, I had been upgraded to business class Alhamdulillah NMP was represented at the recent inaugural Muslim World Forum (organised by the Ministry of Ethnic Affairs and sponsored by FIANZ and others) by NMP Manager Mazin al-salim, seen here with NMP volunteer David Blocksidge and his wife Mazlinah.

9 Tips for a Great Hajj Words and photos by David Blocksidge RECENTLY another convert and myself were attending a nikkah. We sat around the table with other friends eating the delicious Malay food and the conversation got around to the topic of hajj. The other convert and I were blessed to have been given the opportunity by Allah (swt) to go from Auckland with our wives on our pilgrimage in Our friends had not yet undertaken their pilgrimage and they felt that our informal chat about it was informative in a way that a structured lecture cannot be. They asked me to put my thoughts down on paper. Insha Allah this will encourage other brothers and sisters to undertake their own pilgrimage. My wife Mazlinah and I had attended a short series of lectures at an Auckland mosque on the topic of hajj. They were excellent and I would encourage everyone to attend such lectures. They gave a good outline of what to expect, and the rituals required of pilgrims to perform hajj successfully. Check with the organisers to ensure that lectures are being given in a language you understand, or that a full translation will be given simultaneously. Check, too, that appropriate arrangements have been made for sisters to attend my wife was the other side of a curtain so she could not see the speakers or the little demonstrations. The arrangements for translation were also far from satisfactory, especially on the sisters side. Do not expect to remember everything you are told at this point. It is unnecessary. When you are on hajj you will receive almost daily briefings from the leaders of the group you are travelling with. On that subject, pick a reputable agent to go with; ask around among your hajji friends and discuss the service they received from the group they went with. On hajj itself, we carried with us everywhere an excellent booklet called Hajj of Change: A Guide to Performing Hajj, Umrah and Ziyaarah. It detailed everything we needed to know to perform the rituals of hajj. See if you can get a copy. Keeping yourself well informed about what you should be doing at each step provides confidence and peace of mind that your hajj will be performed correctly and will therefore be accepted (hajj mabrur), insha Allah. Hajj is an experience that almost defies description. It is huge by any measure. Masjid Al- Nabawi the mosque of our Prophet (saw) in Madina can accommodate three-quarters of a million worshippers under cover. Each year, in excess of three million pilgrims are visiting the same sites at about the same time so you can expect massive crowds everywhere you go. The mosques in Madina and Makkah are so big that during prayers, an appointed person near the middle of the mosques repeats the Imam s words Allahu akbar during prayers so people near the back can know for sure when to prostrate and so on. So many people from every corner of the planet means that you can also expect to come home with a bug of one kind or another. I had a hacking cough that I called Muzdalifah virus because I was okay until I spent the obligatory night in that place. I prefer the description of another returned hajji, who aptly named it camel cough. My wife had conjunctivitis in one eye. As they say in the ads, consult a doctor if symptoms persist. We were warned beforehand that we could expect to see surprising or even shocking sights and this turned out to be true. At Masjid al-haram, some women insisted on taking wudhu at the men s outdoor wudhu station just outside the mosque, unwilling to go downstairs to their own area. Women beggars entered our men-only tent at Mina more than once, and beggars generally are a problem. We were told, and I feel it is sound advice, not to give to these professional beggars but to give instead to the mosque cleaners, hotel staff and others who work for a pittance in Madina and Makkah. Ten Saudi riyal (roughly three New Zealand dollars) buys their food for one day, for example. At Mina one night near our tents, a fight broke out between two groups of Sunni and Shia brothers. Whether their hajj was accepted only Allah (swt) knows. But the oddest moment I had was when we met an Indonesian couple at a lift in a shopping mall next to Masjid al-haram. The man spoke to his wife, saying that I must be a tourist. Maybe he forgot that Makkah is a city only Muslims can enter. Or maybe he couldn t get over a Muslim in jeans and tee shirt. It reminded me of Imam Afroz Ali s trick question: What is Muslim dress? The answer, of course, is that there is none. Muslim dress is anything that s loose-fitting and covers the awrat.

10 A word you hear constantly in the context of hajj is sabr patience. You need lots of it to cope with the crowds; half-hour queues for toilets, wudhu and showers; travel hiccups; constant delays and hold-ups. Allow plenty of time for everything. Most people are doing the best they can in the circumstances but moving three million people around for a single purpose is a logistical nightmare so show some compassion for the officials, many of whom are part-time and do another job the rest of the year. That said, I must confess to losing my cool with the airline check-in clerk who yet again seated my wife and I far apart. Despite checking in simultaneously as husband and wife, that airline (Emirates) managed to seat us separately on every single leg of the journey. We negotiated each time with fellow passengers to swap seats so we could be together. This happens a lot and is ironic considering the emphasis on women travelling on hajj with their mahram. The first fellow pilgrim to offer to swap seats in this way for us turned out to be a Shia Muslim with beautifully refined manners, so the moral for me is not to rush to judge others. We were advised that when doing tawaf (circumambulating the Holy Kabah in Makkah), we should refrain from talking as tawaf is an act of worship. Despite this, we saw many people chatting, chanting in groups and even uploading photos and taking video. It is disrespectful, to say the least as indeed are all the cellphones ringing in prayers. On that topic, we found that we were able to do without our phones for the entire trip. This was a great relief and saved us the expense of local SIM cards. Agreeing beforehand where to meet after prayers was our successful tactic. On the ground floor it can get very crowded so we did all but the first of our tawafs on the roof. Go at cooler times of the day, such as just before dawn. Just keep an eye out for fast-moving wheelchairs. A friend I was with, Ashraf Khan, had a great suggestion for protecting our wives from being jostled by other men during tawaf. We had our wives walk immediately in front of us and we put our arms out stiffly on each side of our wives shoulders so nobody could cross their path. In crowds generally, hold your wife s (or mother s or daughter s or sister s) hand so you do not get parted. It can happen all too easily. If like us, you follow the school (madhab) of Imam Shafi i, then you will need to use Hanafi rules of wudhu for hajj. This is permissible during hajj and it allows you to hold hands for this purpose without breaking wudhu. Sadly, crowds attract pickpockets especially outside Masjid al-haram in Makkah. Take all necessary precautions because they are expert at parting you from your valuables. I alerted my friend to his unzipped pouch in time to prevent any theft from it, after which he let his wife carry it under her hijab. There are many beautiful sights and you may wish to take photographs so you have a visual record of your hajj. The authorities have become more relaxed about this in recent years but don t push your luck in places such as the grave of our Prophet (saw) in Masjid Al-Nabawi. I saw men trying to take photos through the grille at the grave. It is bad manners; anyway, there is nothing to see. I had my own rule about photography: Do the necessary rites of hajj, then get the camera out if time permits and the circumstances are appropriate. Your primary intention at all times is to perform hajj. Hajj is an incredible experience. Clichés such as the trip of a lifetime hardly begin to do it justice. Try to perform it while you are still reasonably fit because it is physically, mentally and spiritually demanding. I have the photographs to remind me of our Prophet s mosque, which must be one of the most beautiful, tranquil places on Earth. Visiting his grave is not part of hajj but it is considered mustahab (highly desirable) by all four schools of thought to do so. It s worth being outside the mosque at dawn and at dusk to watch the enormous umbrellas opening and closing. They surround the entire mosque. Speaking of beautiful sights, if you are on the roof of Masjid al- Haram during the day, look up. If you are lucky, high above the scores of construction cranes you may see birds of prey soaring on the thermals. I counted 12 on one thermal alone, gently circling high above the Kabah.

11 Of course, the main beauty comes from within: the joy of being able to spend many hours in quiet contemplation and reflection. After nearly every one of the five daily prayers in the mosque, you will hear a call to janaza (funeral) prayers. It is good to remain an extra few minutes to perform these (they are very short) because of the blessings bestowed upon those who pray for the dead. If you are very near the front row of Masjid Al- Nabawi, near the Imam, you may be able to follow the funeral out to the adjacent famous cemetery, which is where some companions and family members (ra) of the Prophet (saw) are buried. I made mistakes with our luggage. One was taking two sets of ihram sheets. They are bulky and heavy and one would have done. I also packed too many books; one Qur an would have sufficed because we found an excellent bookshop in Medina and came home with such gems as The Sealed Nectar and Heroes of Islam. I have not discussed the rites of hajj; I am not a scholar. You will learn about this side of hajj in due course from the appropriate sources. May that day come soon for you, insha Allah. Some useful organisations Al Hikmah Trust The Trust runs programmes, presentations, forums and meetings to educate Muslim and non-muslim youths and students about Islamic beliefs and practices. For details of events, like the Facebook pages Al Hikmah Trust Boys or Al Hikmah Trust Girls. Al-Manar Trust This Trust, which initiated Auckland Eid Day, focuses on Islamic education for adults and children, as well as running youth camps and trips. It has an excellent reference library of Islamic material Carr Road, Mt Roskill. Tel: (09) Fatimah Foundation Fatimah Foundation aims to provide family assistance to Islamic mothers and homes through a service based on Islamic values. For events, visit the website. To volunteer, call (09) or noeleen@fatimafoundation.org.nz For general enquiries, info@fatimahfoundation.org.nz or find them on Facebook. Marhaba Play Group Marhaba aims to help the children of the Muslim community to learn the Arabic language and Islamic studies by providing a broad-based educational programme which allows the kids to choose from a range of activities presented in fun ways. Make contact to register your child or to volunteer. hoda.elwalili@gmail.com or visit or find them on Facebook. Mt Albert Islamic Trust As well as holding Friday prayers (with the bayaan and khutbah both in English), this trust runs children s classes and publishes a useful e- newsletter called Rocket Science that among other things gives prayer times and the programme schedule for the Voice of Islam TV show. mtalbertmasjid@gmail.com or visit RMDT RMDT (Rasheed Memorial Dawah Trust) operates primarily in Auckland as well as in some Pacific islands such as Fiji, Tonga and Samoa. RMDT is active in specific areas, notably ecology and charity. Find them on Facebook. WTG WTG (Working Together Group) are active in specific community Fatimah Foundation volunteers (left) receive udhiya gifts for distribution; one of two hearses (above) operated in Auckland by WTG projects, notably the Janaza Project, which provides funeral services for Muslims, the Janaza Waqf fund, and the Helping Hand Project, which distributes food collected from food banks in mosques to needy families. WTG s most recent initiative is the launch of an appeal to fund the purchase of a foster home/orphanage for Muslim children in New Zealand. Janaza details: Ashraf Khan ( ) or Mazin Al-Salim ( ). Helping Hand: Ismail Waja ( ) or Ayah Kautai ( ). Orphanage: David Blocksidge ( ). YMWA YMWA (Young Muslim Women s Association) supports and nurtures Islamic identity and values among Muslim women around Auckland. ymwa.nz@gmail.com or visit or find them on Facebook.

12 Parting shots The NMP BBQ, Cornwall Park, November. Sheikh Shafee led prayers and several returned pilgrims spoke. We welcome your contributions and suggestions for future NMP News. Also, tell us if you would like your organisation to be listed. Please the editor: We need a sponsor to help with the modest cost of printing NMP News if you would like to assist with our work. You can donate to New Muslim Project through Kiwi Bank. Account name and number: New Muslim Project, Level 5, Office 5A2, ACG House, 396 Queen Street, Auckland Open 10am to 2pm Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays (except public holidays) Telephone: (09) info@newmuslimproject.co.nz Web: or find us on Facebook Views expressed in New Muslim Project News are those of the author or organisation concerned and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the publisher, Al Hikmah Trust. Contents copyright Al Hikmah Trust 2013.