Wednesday 20 November 2013

Recreation, Leisure and Entertainment - The Islamic Perspective



Cambridge Islamic Sciences Seminars London Presents
Recreation, Leisure and Entertainment
The Islamic Perspective

By Shaykh Dr Mohammad Akram Nadwi (Oxford)

A full-day seminar on the concepts of recreation and leisure in Islam and the Islamic view on modern day phenomena such as music, entertainment, television, movies, games, sports, “weekends”, holidays, shopping, fashion, socialising and celebrations.

When: Saturday 14th December 2013     Time: 9.30AM - 6PM

Venue: Queen Mary, University of London, Mile End Road, London E1 4NS

Online: Worldwide - Live & Recorded Access

This Seminar Covers:
  • The meaning and purpose of recreation & leisure in the modern world
  • The meaning and purpose of recreation & leisure in Islam
  • The need for rest and relaxation
  • Prophetic advice on recreation & leisure
  • Recreation & leisure at the time of the Prophet (SAW) and companions
  • The history and evolution of “Islamic Entertainment”
  • The status of “Islamic Entertainment” today
  • Advice on recreation & leisure for children, men and women
Features: Course notes, crèche/childcare, refreshments, free parking

The End of the World is in Sight - What Have You Sent Forward?

<<When the sun is wrapped up [in darkness], and when the stars fall, dispersing, and when the mountains are removed, and when full-term she-camels are neglected, and when the wild beasts are gathered, and when the seas are filled with flame, and when the souls are paired, and when the girl [who was] buried alive is asked for what sin she was killed, and when the pages are made public, and when the sky is stripped away, and when Hellfire is set ablaze, and when Paradise is brought near, a soul will [then] know what it has brought [with it].>> [Surah Al-Takwir 81:1-14]
<<When the sky breaks apart, And when the stars fall, scattering, and when the seas are erupted, and when the [contents of] graves are scattered, a soul will [then] know what it has put forth and kept back. O mankind, what has deceived you concerning your Lord, the Generous, who created you, proportioned you, and balanced you? In whatever form He willed has He assembled you.>> [Surah Al-Infitar 82:1-8]

Surah Al-Takwir and Surah Al-Infitar are two surahs which form a pair in the Qur'an describing the end of time in graphic detail. These two surahs give a clear reminder to mankind that every soul will come to know what it has put forth or brought with it for the Hereafter and what it has kept back. 'Sending forward' must be central in the life of every human being as only what is sent forward has any value when the world and the entire universe will come to an end. This reminder is even more important for us living at this time because the thought of sending forward is virtually non-existent today; rather everyone seeks to hold on to things. These two surahs of the Qur'an will help us to renew our direction and objectives in life as it helped the early believing community.

Please book your place today.

Surah Al-Takwir & Surah Al-Infitar
What Have You Sent Forward?

By Shaykh Dr Mohammad Akram Nadwi (Oxford)

When: Saturday 23rd November 2013

Time: 9:45AM - 6:00PM    Coffee & Registration: 9:30AM

Venue: Cambridge University + Live/Recorded Online Worldwide

You can either register for individual sessions or apply for an annual pass with 50% discount.

Individual Seminar Registration: http://courses.meoc.org.uk/p/register.html

Series Registration: http://courses.meoc.org.uk/p/juz-amma.html

Friday 8 November 2013

Throw Away Your Veils This Saturday with Ibrahim (AS)

Shaykh Dr Mohammad Akram Nadwi says:

"This man, whom God Himself has praised in the Qur’an as His khalil, is the exemplar of perfected determination to know God, to be fully in His presence. This determination is expressed in what we may call, figuratively, the opening of various curtains (or veils):
  1. The Cultural Curtain: seeing through the world of his father and his people generally, who are worshippers of natural phenomena (his challenging and breaking of the idols, and demonstration of their falsity);
  2. The Natural Curtain: seeing through the scale and majesty of natural phenomena, which are impressive yet bounded within large conditions, like time and space, whereas the God that Ibrahim seeks is unbounded (his discontent with moon and stars and sun, “I love not those that set”);
  3. The Human Curtain: seeing through the fear of what the world or other people may do to him on account of his faith in God (the rightness of that faith is demonstrated when the fire (literal fire, and the fire of the human rage against him) is rendered powerless to harm him);"
    The above quotation is an extract from the notes to the extraordinary seminar on Ibrahim (AS) coming up on Saturday in Cardiff and Online Worldwide InshaAllah. The day long seminar will include the following topics:

    Session 1: Introduction to the Seminar

    - Importance of Studying about Ibrahim (AS)
    - Why is he the Greatest Thinker ever?
    - Ibrahim (AS) and Other Thinkers and Philosophers

    Session 2: Biography of Ibrahim (AS)

    - Myths and Facts about Ibrahim (AS)
    - Ibrahim (AS) in the Bible and in the Qur’an
    - Other historical details about Ibrahim (AS)

    Session 3: The Millah (Creed) of Ibrahim (AS)

    - What is the Millah of Ibrahim?
    - Why is it highlighted in the Qur’an?
    - What is its significance to the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad (SAW)?
    - Ibrahim (AS) as the imam (leader and example) of iman - faith and belief

    Session 4: Hanifiyyah & Muslim

    - The meaning of “He named you Muslim”
    - The meaning of “Ibrahim is a Hanif”
    - Ibrahim (AS) as the imam (leader and example) of islam - submission to God
    - How does this relate to us?

    Session 5: Major Components of the Legacy of Ibrahim

    - Prophet Muhammad (SAW)
    - Salah - The Daily Prayers 
    - Hajj or Pilgrimage to Makkah

    Session 6: The Will of Ibrahim & Yaqub (AS)

    - What is the Will of Ibrahim?
    - What is its significance to the modern world?
    - Conclusion


    Sign up today for this extraordinary seminar on Ibrahim (AS) by one of the foremost thinkers and scholars of the Western world today. If you cannot attend in person at least sign up for online access. This is an essential seminar for every Muslim (and non-Muslim too).

    Cambridge Islamic Sciences Seminars Cardiff and Muslim Council of Wales Present

    THE LEGACY OF IBRAHIM (AS)

    The Universal Model for Families and Nations

    By Shaykh Dr Mohammad Akram Nadwi (Oxford)

    Date: Saturday 9th November 2013 Time: 10AM - 5PM

    Venue: Cardiff University, Wallace Lecture Theater
    South Wing Entrance, Main Building, Park Place, Cardiff CF10 3AT

    Online: Worldwide Live & Recorded Access

    Tickets: Attendance: £10 (including lunch) | Online Worldwide: £25

    Special Offers: 
    1. Free Entry for University Students (prior registration & student ID required)
    2. Free Recorded Online Access when you sign up for Live Online Access (save £25)
    3. Reduced Price for iLEAD - Muslim Council of Wales Delegates

    AkramNadwi_ProphetIbrahim_Cardiff_PosterA3.jpg (842×1191)

    Thursday 7 November 2013

    Ibrahim - The Greatest Thinker & Activist of All Time

    There never has appeared in the history of mankind a thinker and an activist of the caliber and the quality of Ibrahim (AS). No other thinker, scientist, philosopher or activist (including the notable ones such as Aristotle, Plato, Ibn Sina, Al-Farabi, Confucius, Newton, Darwin, Einstein, Faraday, Freud, Marx, Goethe and Gandhi) can come close to the level of Ibrahim (AS). Shaykh Dr Mohammad Akram Nadwi says that (quoting some poetry) these notables despite their apparent greatness in thinking will not even be admitted to the elementary school of Ibrahim (AS) because their level of thinking compared to that of Ibrahim (AS) is less than elementary! This is because these notables are veiled in their thinking by their time and space whereas Ibrahim thinks beyond any time and space.

    So what makes Ibrahim (AS) such a great thinker and activist with no parallels? Why is he a model for thinkers and activists in the Qur'an? Why had even the greatest of human beings - The Prophet Muhammad (SAW) - been commanded by God to follow Ibrahim (AS)? Why has Ibrahim (AS) been uniquely addressed as the intimate friend of God (khalilullah)?

    As we will hear from Shaykh Akram Nadwi, thinking and belief (iman) are inseparably linked together, i.e. one cannot be a good believer unless he or she is a good thinker. Therefore it goes without saying that one cannot be a good believer unless they know and follow the thinking and the way of Ibrahim (AS).  As he is the leader (imam) of belief (iman), he is also the leader of submission (islam) in the Qur'an. His activism is based on unconditional submission to God, as we will hear from Shaykh Akram Nadwi. Therefore it goes without saying that one cannot be a good Muslim (one who submits to God) unless they know and follow the activism of Ibrahim (AS).

    <<So follow the way (millah) of Ibrahim, the upright>> [Qur'an 3:95]. 

    <<Indeed there has been an excellent example for you in Ibrahim and those with him>>
     [Qur’an 60:4]


    <<When his Lord said to him, "Submit", he said "I have submitted [in Islam] to the Lord of the worlds.">> [Qur'an 2:131]

    Sign up today for this extraordinary seminar on Ibrahim (AS) by one of the foremost thinkers and scholars of the Western world today. If you cannot attend in person at least sign up for online access. This is an essential seminar for every Muslim (and non-Muslim too).


    Cambridge Islamic Sciences Seminars Cardiff and Muslim Council of Wales Present

    THE LEGACY OF IBRAHIM (AS)
    The Universal Model for Families and Nations

    By Shaykh Dr Mohammad Akram Nadwi (Oxford)

    Date: Saturday 9th November 2013 Time: 10AM - 5PM

    Venue: Cardiff University, Wallace Lecture Theater
    South Wing Entrance, Main Building, Park Place, Cardiff CF10 3AT

    Online: Worldwide Live & Recorded Access

    Tickets: Attendance: £10 (including lunch) | Online Worldwide: £25

    Special Offers: 
    1. Free Entry for University Students (prior registration & student ID required)
    2. Free Recorded Access when you sign up for Live Online Access (save £25)
    3. Reduced Price for iLEAD - Muslim Council of Wales Delegates

    AkramNadwi_ProphetIbrahim_Cardiff_PosterA3.jpg (842×1191)