Shabaan 1439A.H. May 2018 Newsletter #4/2018 Assalam Alikum KSIJ Melbourne committee would like t o w ish all our members and momineen around the world a blessing and spiritual Holy Month of Ramadhan. May this Holy month of Ramadhan brings loads of happiness and prosperity to you and your family. According to the astronomical data available, in Australia, sighting of crescent is most probable to be on evening of Wednesday the 16th May 2018. The confirmed news of actual sighting/non sighting will be confirmed by the respected Ulema in Australia and will be shared with the community. Confirmed moon sighting news will be emailed and provided on KSIJ Melbourne website and facebook. Last few days of Shabaan Abu Al-Salt Al-Harawi said: I came to Imam Al-Reza (as) in the last week of Shaaban, so he said to me: "O Abu Al-Salt, most of Shaaban had passed and this is its last week. So, make up for your negligence in its days that passed with the rest of its days. You must perform what will aid you and frequently plead Allah, ask for forgiveness and recite the Quran. Repent of your sins to Allah, so that you would welcome the Month of Ramadan being faithful to Allah Almighty. Return every entrustment you are responsible of, strip your heart of any spite you have against any believer, quit every sin you had committed, fear Allah and put all your trust in Allah in secrecy and public. Repeatedly say during the rest of this month: O Allah, if you hadn t forgiven us in the days that passed of Shaaban, forgive our sins in the rest of it! For, Allah frees in this month many people from Hell for the sanctity of this month. (Wasaaelush Shia) Exciting News Management Committee Comments..1 Did you know... 2 Marhoom Mulla Asghar...... 3 Preparation for Ramahdan....4 Points of Interest Religious Dates During the Month..5 Upcoming Events... 5 Quiz....5 Page 1
KSIJ Melbourne Serving ALL Shia Muslims KSIJ Melbourne s services are available for the benefit of ALL Shia Muslims. Jamaat strictly does not discriminate or restrict its services based on a momineen s cultural background or country of origin. KSIJ Melbourne Jamaat was established on the Shia Islamic principles on establishing services for the betterment and spreading of Shia Islamic faith. KSIJ Melbourne Membership open to ALL Shia Muslims KSIJ Melbourne s member is open to ALL Shia Muslims. In fact, 20% of KSIJ Melbourne members do not belong to the Khoja cultural background. Become a member and join the KSIJ Melbourne journey in Melbourne. KSIJ Melbourne Future planning with 2050 vision KSIJ Melbourne is not just working on establishing a strong foundation, it is also looking into the future and beginning discussion about what kind of future we want for our future generations. The success of any organisation is in its ability to look ahead of time and work together towards a joint goals. After member and community consultation the first version of the KSIJ Melbourne 2050 Vision Paper has been created Click Here KSIJ Melbourne Khums Ijazah KSIJ Melbourne has Khums Ijazah directly from Ayatullah Al-Udhma Al-Sayyid Al-Seestani's office. The khums ijaza gives Khums permission to collect 100%. Utilise 50% towards building mosque/imambargah and remaining 50% to be forward to Agha Seestani office. KSIJ Melbourne Islamic Education for kids KSIJ Melbourne embarked upon the madressa project as a priority with the aim to provide Islamic education in a fun and inspiring environment using modern teaching methods. KSIJ Melbourne believes the as a community we need to focus all our energy and resources towards our future generation especially living in the west. KSIJ Melbourne has received overwhelmingly extremely positive response from parents regarding the Summer holiday program. KSIJ Melbourne Supporting new migrants KSIJ Melbourne aims to fill the gap by focusing on providing services for the Shia momineen. One such much needed service in Melbourne is the new migrant Settlement service. KSIJ Melbourne has created a service where new migrants gets full support with advice and guidance pre-arrival, pick up from airport, accommodation support and much needed guidance during the first few weeks in Melbourne. Page 2
Marhum Mulla Asgharali M. M. Jaffer Eighteen years have passed since the passing away of Marhum Mulla Asgharali M. M. Jaffer. Marhum Mulla Asghar was renowned in the Muslim world for his learning, piety and the charitable work he conducted throughout his lifetime. He was an effective and visionary leader, a distinguished religious scholar, an inspirational pioneer one who was widely admired and loved by whoever path he crossed. March 21 marked the anniversary when the Shia world lost a pioneering personality in the year 2000. He was a person known for his visionary leadership and exceptional mobilization and organizational skills. He was such an exemplar champion on community service and welfare that his welfare projects benefited people far beyond the Shias of the Asian subcontinent descent that included Sunnis, Zoroastrians, and Hindus. To this day, his legacy and social welfare institutions that he help build continue to benefit Shias and non-shias in India, Pakistan, Iraq, Iran, Syria, Europe, and North America. This legendary person was Mulla AsgharAli M M Jaffer, founder of the World Federation of Khoja Shia Ithna-Asheri Communities, based in London, UK. He was an effective and visionary leader, a distinguished religious scholar, an inspirational pioneer one who was widely admired and loved by whoever path he crossed. A testament to his legacy can be seen in the numerous medical, welfare, socio-economic advancement, educational and academic works being carried out till today under institutions that he set up. His zeal for helping the community can be very aptly summarized in his famous quote, I don t pray for His acceptance of my amaal as much as I pray for the opportunity to serve. And the day He grants me a new opportunity to serve, I believe the previous ones have been accepted. And I hope till my last breath the opportunities are there and when the Almighty calls me back, I will be able to tell my Lord, Thank You for giving me life, Thank You for giving me life. Indeed did Mulla Asghar serve till his last breath, leaving this temporary world while sitting at his desk at the World Federation office on Monday, March 21, 2000. Marhum Mulla Asgharali M M Jaffer, religious and community leader. Born April 14 1937; Died March 21 2000. Please remember him with a Sura al-fatiha. Page 3
Ramadan Preparation: tips to prepare your family for Ramadan 01. Buy all necessities for the month of Ramadan before Ramadan so you can spend less time during the holy month rushing around. You can be more focused on your religious rituals and spiritual development. Everyone in the family, even the kids, can participate, writing a shopping list, preparing some meals to be stored in the freezer. 02. If you have gotten into bad sleeping habits throughout the year, start readjusting now so you can wake up for Fajr prayer at awaal e waqat. 03. Reduce TV watching and prepare the family for the new spirit of Ramadan. Engage with your kids more and more in creative activities that remind them of Ramadan. (Suggested activities including reading the moral story books in group). 04. Plan ahead for the time you are spend at home in order not to lose the balance between your responsibility as a parent to supervise the children's studies and your engagement in religious practices such as reading Quran and praying Salat. 05. Prepare your kids before Ramadan that they have to help you more in housework and in setting the table and preparing the Iftar. Relate their action with the notion of Sadaqah and good deeds. Remind them that the reward of their good deeds is multiplied during Ramadan. A Quick Checklist for the month of Ramathan 1. Make a resolve to win the maximum favour of Allah by performing daily amaal, making frequent Du'a and increased remembrance (Dhikr). 2. Try to recite some Qur an after every Prayer. In fact if you read 3-4 pages after every Prayer you can easily finish the entire Qur an in Ramadan! 3. Study the Tafseer (commentary) every morning. 4. Invite a person you are not very close with or your relatives to your home for Iftar, at least once a week. You will notice the blessings in your relationships! 5. Bring life to your family! Everyday, try to conclude the fast with your family and spend some quality time together to understand each other better. 6. Give gifts on Eid to at least 5 people: two to your family members, two to your good friends, and one to a person whom you love purely for the sake of Allah. 7. Make commitment to join Islamic study circles to learn more about Islam and improve your own knowledge. 8. Donate generously to the masajid, Islamic organizations, and any where people are in need or oppressed. "This is a month of sharing!" 9. Share Ramadan and its teachings of peace and patience with your neighbours. 10. Sleep little, eat little! Make sure you do not defeat the purpose of fasting by over-indulging in food and being lazy. 11. Seek the rewards of 'the night better than a 1000 months (Laylatul-Qadr). 12. Weep in private for the forgiveness of your sins: It is the month of forgiveness and Allah's Mercy! It's never too late. Page 4
RELIGIOUS EVENTS DURING THE HOLY MONTH OF RAMADHAN 1439 10 - Wafat Sayyida Khadija s.a. 15 - Wiladat 2nd Imam Hasan a.s. 19 - Shab e Zarbat 1st Imam Ali a.s. & Laylatul Qadr 21 - Shahadat 1st Imam Ali a.s. & Laylatul Qadr 23 - Laylatul Qadr EXPECTED ISLAMIC DATES Date Day 1st Ramadhan 1439 Thursday 17th May 2018 1st Shawaal 1439 Saturday 16th June 2018 1st Dhul Qadah Sunday 15th July 2018 Rattle your brain Choose the correct answer to test your knowledge. Answers will be publish in the next month s edition. Question 1: When was Imam Mahdi (atf) born? A) 13th Rajab B) 15th Shabaan C) 3rd Shabaan Questions 2: In which city was Imam Mahdi (a.s) born? A) Samarra B) Karbala C) Mecca Questions 3: Who is the mother of Imam Mahdi (atf)? A) Bibi Narjis (s.a) B) Bibi Hakima (s.a) C) Bibi Zainab (s.a) D) Bibi Zehra (s.a) Question 4: What is the Kunniyat of Imam Mahdi (atf)? A) Abu Abdullah B) Abul Hasan C) Abul Qasim D) Mujtaba Newsletter #3:2018 Answers Question 1. Which is the second longest surah in the holy Quran after surah baqarah? B) Surah Ash-Shuara Question 2. What is the mosque in which if you spend 40 consecutive Tuesday nights, you get the honour of meeting the 12th Imam (atf)? C) Masjid e Sahla Question 3. Who was the wife of the Holy Prophet (saw) from whom He (saw) has a son called Ibrahim? A) Maria Kibtia Page 5