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TABLE OF CONTENTS 04 introduction 07 vision 09 mission 10 programs 15 environment 16 location 3 18 teachers 23 prospective students 24 testimonials 26 volunteering 29 donating to al-maqasid an overview
INTRODUCTION The Muslim community in the United States has observed remarkable growth in the past few decades. Although we are still a small percentage of the population, signs indicate the increase is likely to continue. Undoubtedly, our community is positioned to make immense contributions to society, however, it is also expected that we will face a number of challenges in the process. The underlying assumption of our optimism is that we will be successful in transferring our religious heritage to the next generation. al-maqasid
INTRODUCTION We at Al-Maqasid believe the highest priority of our community is to build sound educational institutions that effectively root the realities of Islam in our lives. Only then, we will be able to make unique and beneficial contributions while successfully navigating the turbulent waters of the times. This principled engagement we are striving for cannot take place without immersing ourselves in the Prophetic Inheritance. The Prophetic Inheritance encompasses all aspects of Islam but the Prophet Muhammad particularly mentioned knowledge in relation to it: Indeed the scholars are inheritors of the Prophets. The Prophets bequeathed neither dirham nor dinar, rather they bequeathed knowledge; thus, whoever receives [this knowledge] has indeed received a great portion. In a famous story of Abu Hurayra, he passed by the marketplace of Medina and called out, Why are you all here when the inheritance of the Messenger of Allah is being distributed? Shall you all not go and receive your portion of it? They asked, Where is this taking place? He responded, In the mosque. They hastened to the mosque, yet upon arrival, they only found people praying, reciting the Qur an, and learning the halal and haram. The unexpected sight made them question what they had been told. Abu Hurayra then emphasized, That is the inheritance of Muhammad. 5 This Inheritance is the key that unlocks the doors of all good. Indeed, it is the secret to true success in this world and the next. In order to root ourselves in it, we must embark upon a path of learning and connect to the blessed scholarly chains of transmission. The importance of this sacred pursuit relates to the purpose of life itself: to know our Lord. We ask you to join hands with us as we strive to cultivate the necessary environments for this experience here in the United States. an overview
al-maqasid VISION
VISION To facilitate the realization of Islam, Iman, and Ihsan through immersion in the prophetic inheritance. 7 an overview
al-maqasid MISSION
MISSION To cultivate holistic learning environments rooted in knowledge, devotion, and service by providing full-time, part-time, online, and community programs. 9 an overview
PROGRAMS 10 The heart of Al-Maqasid lies in our programs. Our learning methodology is based upon the al-maqasid al-thalatha: knowledge ( ilm), devotion (suluk), and service (da wa). We are dedicated to offering the community a holistic worldview whereby the various dimensions of their lives may all be lived religiously. We recognize that the realization of Islam, Iman, and Ihsan is a lifelong process and thus we emphasize relationships. We hope to be a lifelong partner in this journey by weaving together a diverse set of programs that allow for various levels of formal learning as well as regular opportunities to sustain and increase one s religious knowledge and practice. It is of the utmost importance to us that these programs remain accessible to the community. We intend to develop different curriculums that will cater to the diverse needs of the various types of students. The programs we intend to offer fall into one of four categories: Full-time; Part-time; Online; and Community. Our most ambitious goal is to eventually open a seminary. al-maqasid
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PROGRAMS We are currently offering the following programs and services, some of which are livestreamed: DAILY Congregational prayers Fajr class Group litanies WEEKLY Gatherings of remembrance (Sunday and Thursday night) Rawha (class on Islamic Spirituality) Loving the Beloved (class on the Prophetic Biography) 12 MONTHLY Jalsat al-awwabin (reading from the books of Imam al-haddad) Outreach programs (to communities throughout the US) Cross community gatherings (within the Northeast) QUARTERLY Weekend Retreats (locally and nationally) Visiting scholars YEARLY Summer Retreat Ramadan program Yearly Occasions (special times of the year) al-maqasid
PROGRAMS Our goal for the remaining part of 2016 and 2017 is to continue the abovementioned programs and services but also add the following: Three Forty-Day Beta Prophetic Living Programs ( 2016 and /January/ April 2017) Launch our One-Year Prophetic Living program in Fall 2017 Launch our Weekend Intensive Learning Program 13 Continue development of our Arabic curriculum an overview
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ENVIRONMENT The right environment is needed for growth. Just as certain conditions must be present in the physical environment for growth, likewise there are conditions that must exist for religious and spiritual growth. We envision a space that is welcoming to all seekers, a space where people of varying degrees of practice can assemble and benefit regardless of their background. Key components of this environment include but are not limited to the following: 15 Love of Allah and His Messenger Following of the Prophet s Sunna Permeation of spirituality Purity of heart Mercy, empathy, and concern for people Respect of the Umma s diversity Spirit of service Text-based teaching Group invocations and gatherings of remembrance an overview
LOCATION We are located in Greater Allentown, Pennsylvania, about an hour and fifteen minutes north of Philadelphia and two hours west of New York City. In the scenic hills of the Lehigh Valley, our site provides a serene atmosphere for study, one that facilitates concentration and dedication, yet is still accessible to major airports and cities. 16 We have recently purchased two properties that contain over 5,000 square feet of building space situated on three plus acres of land. The primary building includes a large gathering hall, multiple classrooms, a conference room, office space, a kitchen, a walk-out basement, and other amenities, all with a beautiful view of nature. We have started the permit process with the township and hope to have approval soon. Part of the requirements will be to construct a parking lot as well as bring the building up to commercial code. We hope to eventually acquire the two adjacent properties to expand our site into a campus where we could offer all of our programs and have the students live on site. al-maqasid
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TEACHERS 18 YAHYA RHODUS One of the well-respected Muslim scholars in the Western world, Yahya has spent the best part of two decades studying at some of the most prestigious learning institutions in the Muslim and Western world. Having embraced Islam at the age of 19 in Santa Clara, California, he immediately began his study of the Islamic sciences with Shaykh Hamza Yusuf and visiting Mauritanian scholars, such as Shaykh Khatri Wuld Bayba, and Shaykh Abd Allah Wuld Ahmadna. Shortly thereafter, he traveled to Mauritania to pursue a full-time course of study where he was able to learn from one of Mauritania s greatest scholars, Murabit al-hajj. Following an interim period of study in Damascus, Syria, Yahya went on to spend the best part of seven years in Tarim, in the Hadramawt Valley of Yemen. There, he studied at the reputable school, Dar al-mustafa, with the renowned scholars Habib Umar bin Hafiz and Habib Ali al-jifri. Since that time, Yahya has been the official translator for Habib Umar and Habib Ali at various international speaking engagements, including the Common Word Conference held at Yale University in 2008. Upon returning to the United States, Yahya served as a full-time instructor at Zaytuna College. He holds a B.A. in Near Eastern Studies from UC Berkeley, an M.A. in Islamic Studies from the Graduate Theological Union, and is currently pursuing a PhD in Theology and Religious Studies at the University of Cambridge, England, in collaboration with Dr. Tim Winter (Shaykh Abdal Hakim Murad). He is the Founding Director of al-maqasid. al-maqasid AMIN MUHAMMAD Imam Amin Muhammad is a native of Atlantic City, New Jersey, who has spent more than a decade studying the Islamic sciences with scholars from Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Syria, and Lebanon. In particular, he has spent extended periods studying with Shaykh Samir al-nass, Shaykh Salah al-din al-idlibi, Shaykh Jamal al-dhahabi, and Shaykh Walid al-rifa i. Presently, Imam Amin lectures weekly on Islamic Theology (Aqida), Islamic Jurisprudence (Fiqh), and Spirituality (Tasawwuf) in various centers of learning in New
TEACHERS Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Delaware. He is known for his community involvement at the grass-roots level, serving people far beyond his own community. He continues to be involved in numerous local and national projects, while serving as the Imam of Masjid Muhammad, the oldest mosque in Southern New Jersey. UMER MIAN Over a period of eight years, Umer Mian s pursuit of sacred knowledge led him to study at some of the major centers of traditional Islamic learning in the Muslim world. The initial part of his study was spent in Tarim, Yemen, where he completed the Badr Arabic language program, graduating first in his class. He subsequently traveled to Damascus, Syria, spending three years at the renowned al-fath Institute, finishing top of his class in each of his three years. He thereafter traveled to the Bukhari Institute in Lahore, Pakistan, where he received formal authorization to teach (Ijaza) from Mufti Asif Qureshi. He subsequently returned to Tarim, Yemen, where he not only studied with Habib Umar bin Hafiz and Habib Kadhim al-saqqaf, amongst many other prominent scholars, but also taught Islamic Jurisprudence (Fiqh) and other sacred sciences at Dar al-mustafa. Umer also holds a B.A. in Computer Science from Cornell University and currently works in computing. He is a core instructor for al-maqasid. 19 YASSER QURESHI Being initially inspired to travel the path of sacred knowledge by Shaykh Hamza Yusuf and Habib Ali al-jifri in the late nineties, Yasser has studied in traditional Islamic seminaries in Syria and Turkey, following the long established curriculum of Islamic sciences. During his time in Damascus, Syria, he graduated first in his Arabic and Islamic Studies program. As well as being formally trained in a number of Islamic sciences during his seminary studies, he furthered his Islamic education with more focused instruction with scholars such as Shaykh Ayman Shawwa, Shayh Rushdi Qalam, Shaykh Muhammad Shuqayr, Shaykh Mahmud Masri, Shaykh Ibrahim Khalil al- Ahsa i, Shaykh Mashuq Yamac, and Shaykh Salih al-ghursi. an overview
TEACHERS He has also completed a M.A. in Medieval Arabic Thought, and is currently pursuing a PhD in Philosophical Theology at the University of Cambridge in collaboration with Dr. Tim Winter (Shaykh Abdal Hakim Murad). In addition to his online instruction at Al-Maqasid, Yasir also teaches at the Ribat Institute (located in Woking, England) and the Cambridge Muslim College. SAYYID ABDAL FATTAH BA ALAWI Sayyid Abdal Fattah Ba Alawi was born in Mogadishu, Somalia. His ancestors hail from Tarim, in the Hadramawt Valley of Yemen. He began memorizing the Qur an with his mother at the age of five, committing two-thirds to memory before completing his memorization with Shaykh Abd al-qadir at the Madrasa of Shaykh Ali Sufi. He subsequently relocated to the land of his ancestors in Tarim, where, for a number of years, he continued his studies at Dar al-mustafa. As part of his specialization in Quranic Studies, Sayyid Abdal Fattah has numerous formal authorizations (Ijaza) in different modes of Quranic recitation. He has taught Qur an in many places during his stay in Yemen and the US. He currently lives in Allentown, Pennsylvania, and serves as the Resident Imam and Director of the Qur anic Studies Program at al-maqasid. HASAN PETRUS Hasan was born and raised north of the border in Montreal, Canada. His pursuit of sacred Islamic knowledge has taken him to two continents to sit at the feet of those who still carry unbroken chains of sacred learning. During his stay in South Africa, Hasan focused primarily on Qur anic Studies. He subsequently moved to Tarim, Yemen, to study at the prestigious seminary, Dar al-mustafa. During his time in Tarim, Hasan was able to study a broad curriculum of Islamic sciences, benefitting directly from from Habib Umar bin Hafiz, Habib Muhammad bin Abdullah al-aydarus, Habib Hashim bin Aqil, Shaykh Umar bin Husayn al-khatib, and others. He returned from Tarim in 2015 to take up a teaching post at al-maqasid. al-maqasid
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PROSPECTIVE STUDENTS Our location in NE Pennsylvania offers a unique study environment. With a retreat-like feel, the calm surroundings foster learning and devotion. In addition, a growing community of local supporters participate in the daily prayers, weekly classes, and gatherings of remembrance. Students will have opportunities to enrich their studies with a diversity of activities available in the neighboring region. 23 We are currently looking for students to participate in the upcoming Forty-Day Beta Prophetic Living Programs. In partnership with SeekersHub Global, Al-Maqasid plans to offer work-study scholarships for qualifying students. an overview
TESTIMONIALS Al-Maqasid has become my home, a home that I desired since the moment of accepting Islam a place where I can learn, grow, and mature so that I can teach others. Al-Maqasid s beginning is blessed and this indicates the greatness of what it can do as time progresses, linking us to the tradition of Islamic knowledge and its chains of transmission. HAMID RODRIGUEZ 24 The Internet has made sacred knowledge accessible to many of us who otherwise could not study with the most learned scholars of our time. But I always thought that I would have to travel overseas to feel part of a spiritual community. This is no longer the case since I have been taking classes and attending retreats with al-maqasid. I have had the privilege to learn from Shaykh Yahya and other affiliated scholars and have met numerous brothers and sisters whose support and example have made the journey easier. JULIE MAIR Every retreat is held in an environment of learning, worship, reflection, companionship, spirituality, and physical rejuvenation. The experience always proves to be an invigorating, spiritual upliftment, rooted in knowledge, devotion, and service. In those moments they remind me that I am not alone. They are the embodiment of the following Hadith: The believers in their affection, compassion and love for one another are like one single body. If a part of it suffers from pain, the whole body will suffer in pain. The retreats, the scholars, the compassion demonstrated al-maqasid
TESTIMONIALS by the entire Al-Maqasid team are there for me that I might be there for others. Attending Al-Maqasid is my spiritual life-preserver, and in sha Allah, I will continue to attend as long as I can. May Allah Most High reward them for their service to His servants. Amin ASMA HANIF My husband and I have attended many of the Al- Maqasid retreats. Alhamdulillah, these have been excellent experiences that remain etched in my mind. Each retreat is unique and singular in its own way. The instructors are always highly qualified, and the choice of subject matter is timely, pertinent and clearly presented. I have kept all the reading material from each retreat and review them frequently. The lessons on how to be a proper da i and the importance of fikr (meditation) were topics I had not been exposed to much previous to the first retreat but since then they have been incorporated into my daily routine. 25 Finally, I must add that I really enjoy the rich diversity of the attendees and instructors at the al- Maqasid retreats. I always look forward to reuniting with old friends and making the acquaintance of many new ones, alhamdulillah. And, last but not least, I look forward to reuniting with the teachers, who always find time to speak with attendees and answer personal questions. May Allah Ta ala continue to bless and guide the al-maqasid family. BAYYINAH MUHSIN an overview
VOLUNTEERING 26 Part of our ethos at Al-Maqasid is to encourage everyone to engage in service. We are always looking for new volunteers to help us grow. If you are interested, please contact us at: volunteering@almaqasid.org al-maqasid
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DONATING TO AL-MAQASID Foundation building requires immense sacrifice and effort. We simply cannot accomplish our goals without your support. We encourage you to take part in this ongoing charity (sadaqa jariya) by making a generous one-time donation as well as by becoming a monthly donor. The Prophet Muhammad said, Charity will be the believer s shade on the Day of Judgment. May Allah grant us all tawfiq. 29 donation information online: paypal: checks: www.almaqasid.org/support paypal@almaqasid.org please mail to the address below We are a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (ID # 46-2025727) contact info Al-Maqasid PO Box 99 Macungie, PA 18062 If you have any questions, please email us at: almaqasid@almaqasid.org an overview
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