Read Madinah and Bab Report (2014)

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Madinah &
Bab al-Ilm 2014
SHORT SUMMER COURSES IN IRAN - ANNUAL REPORT
T: +44 (0)20 8954 9881
E: madinahbabcourse@world-federation.org
www.world-federation.org
Registered Charity (UK), No. 282303
Contents
1. Introduction
4
2. Course Preparation
4
3. Venue
5
4. Course Details
5
5. Gender Allocation of Participants
6
6. The Arrival
7
7. The Course Outline
8
8. Qum - Academic Programme
8
9. Qum - Cultural/Recreational Program
12
10. List of Place svisited
12
11. Trip to Hamadan
14
12. Tehran
16
13. Mash’had
17
14. Nishabur
18
15. List of Place svisited
18
16. Closing Ceremony
19
17. Farewell
19
18. Participants Feedback
20
The World Federation
Madinah & Bab al-Ilm Report 2014
Haram of Sayyida Fatima al-Ma’sumah (sa)
Introduction
The Madinah and Bab al-Ilm summer courses are a regular feature on The World
Federation calendar. For 3 weeks every year, youths from various parts of the globe
gather together in the Islamic Republic of Iran in pursuit of education, cultural
appreciation, spirituality and recreation.
The aim of the course is to serve as a post-Madrasah education initiative, integrating
academic scholarship with an experience of the cultural relevance of Islam in the
modern age. It is hoped that the experience will bring about a sense of enhanced
self-knowledge and understanding leading to higher levels of spirituality and as a
result, greater service to humanity in worship of the Almighty Allah (swt).
Course Preparation
This year, the World Federation of KSIMC – Qum Office had the honour of hosting a
group of approx. 50 participants from three continents and from a variety of academic,
familial, geographic and linguistic backgrounds. The course planning began almost 6
months prior to the landing of the participants in Iran and was backed up by the
constant and selfless administrative and logistical support of the Islamic Education
Board Office and the regional bodies: AFED, COEJ, Dubai and other Islamic centers.
Three-day mentor training sessions were held for the third consecutive year in Dar al
Zahra (sa), Qum. These were facilitated by Sh. Abbas and Qasim Gulam Husain.
Sh. Khalfan contributed as a guest speaker in one of the sessions.
4
Venue
The first two weeks of the course were set in the spiritually-charged city of Qum
al-Muqaddasah. The brothers resided at Dar al-Zahra (sa) while the sisters stayed at the
pristine Jamia al-Zahra (sa) campus.
During their stay in Qum, participants took part in many activities within the city and in
the suburbs where they visited historical, natural and pilgrimage sites. The last week of
the camp was spent in the Holy city of Mash’had for the ziyarat of the beloved eighth
Imam (as) where various spiritual and academic programs were conducted.
Course Details
Dates:
4th August 2014 (Monday) – 24thAugust 2014 (Sunday)
Student allocation:
Bab al-Ilm participants (ages 14-17) = 21
Madinah al-Ilm participants (ages 18-24) = 17
Mentors = 9
Sh. Khalfan delivering a lecture for mentors: Importance of mentoring in Islam
5
Gender Allocation of Participants
13
10
Madinah Boys
Madinah Girls
Bab Boys
4
11
Bab Girls
Madinah al-Ilm
6
Bab al-Ilm
Girls
Boys
Girls
Boys
AFED
4
2
2
2
COEJ
6
2
5
8
Bosnia
2
/
/
/
Dubai
1
/
4
/
Total
13
4
11
10
Mentors and participants listening to Sh. Kumail
The Arrival
On the 4th of August 2014, the first group of participants arrived and they were received
at the airport by Qum Office staff members. The long flight and the overnight lag had
not dampened the spirits of the participants whose faces were lit up with excitement for
a journey of a lifetime!
The students settled into their residences and rested for most of the morning. An
opening ceremony was held at WF Qum Office, Dar al Zahra (sa), where Sh. Kumail
Rajani welcomed them and described the core philosophy of such courses and explained
the concept of servitude.
After this, they were briefed about the goals and expectations of the course and its
management and were advised on health and logistical tips for the duration of their stay
in Iran. Later, the participants were driven for their very first emotional Ziyarat to the
Haram of Sayyida Fatima al-Ma’sumah (sa) and Maghribayn Salaat. Tears and emotions
were clearly visible on the faces of this young generation.
7
The Course Outline
The 3-week course was organized in a way that would facilitate personality development based on Islamic values and principles, all the while maintaining resemblance with
the Hawza style of living.
The programs, both in Qum and Mash’had, were fully planned and scheduled, while a
scope of flexibility was built in, to avoid rigidity and maintain buffer for adaptability
and change. In Qum, the young people were encouraged to settle gradually into the
schedule and the same pattern was
extended to the Holy city of Mash’had, resulting in
maximum benefit for the participants.
Qum – Academic Program
The academic component was geared towards the intellectual faculty of the participants
and aimed towards furthering a study of Islam through its primary sources – the Qur’an
and the Ahl al-Bayt (as). It consisted of the morning program beginning with Fajr Salaat
followed by the recitation of Qur’an and a short inspiring tafsir of one of the verses by
Sh. Kumail Rajani.
Sometimes, participants began their day with Fajr prayers at the Haram of Sayyida
Fatima al-Ma’sumah (sa). Despite of the busy and hectic schedules of the long summer
days, the passion for ziyarat was obvious in the youth who were awake and ready to
take part in Salat al Layl in the haram of Sayyida Masuma (sa)!
Salaat at Haram of Sayyida Masuma (sa): It means a lot!
8
Classes started after the breakfast at 10 a.m. English-speaking scholars would dedicate
instructional time to the participants every day and discuss issues regarding the
meaning of life and its practicality, knowing one self, tawheed, Qur’anic principles and
the philosophy of fiqh (Practical laws and Principles). Participants benefitted from
learning opportunities beyond the classroom as well, through informal discussions with
teachers outside class time and in informal gatherings.
INSTRUCTORS
SUBJECTS TAUGHT
Sh Miqdad Rajabali
Islamic way of life
Sh Shoaib Muhammad Ali
Tawheed and its practicality
Sayyed Kazmi
The causes of human decline
Sh Kumail Rajani
Knowing self
Sh Khalfan
Quranic principles of life
Sh Kumail
The reality of Nafs
Sayeed Shabbar
Biography of Imam Raza (as)
Sis. Sajeda Daya
Biography of Bibi Masuma (sa) and aulama buried in haram
Sis. Najiya Shabbar shah
Reality and goal of life, Imam Mahdi (atfs) and Wahhabiyat
Having Lunch in traditional style with famous Iranian bread “Sangak”
9
Mentors in close co-ordination with participants in an open-aired session
Dua e Tawassul at Jamkaran
10
Shaykh Kumail explaining the importance of the hadith literature at Ibn e Babway’s grave
Mount Khizr: Sh. Kumail discussing the concept of Mahdaviyyat. A non Muslim Hungarian
participated in the discussion group
11
Qum – Cultural/Recreational Program
The primary aim of the cultural program was to provide the participants with a
perspective on ‘living Islam’ and its manifestation in our day-to-day life. This consisted
of performing Ziyarats of the progeny of the Imams (as) buried in Qum, visiting the
Jamkaran Mosque, meetings with high-ranking scholars, informal gatherings in the
parks and also taking part in various recreational activities such as hiking at Mt. Khizr,
swimming and sports.
List of Places Visited
· Tour of Haram and resting place of many great Scholars & Maraje
· Masjid-e-Jamkaran (Dua-e Tawassul on Tuesdays)
· Bait al-Noor: The worship place of Sayyida Ma’sumah (sa)
· Mt. Khizr (as)
· House of Imam Khomeini (ra)
· Swimming
· Soccer and cricket at local fields
· Ansariyan bookstore
· Dua-e Kumail program in Haram (on Thursday nights)
· Salaat al Jum’ah in Haram
Participants at historical places of Qum
12
Ansariyan publication: Books are the garden for scholars
Football: The game participants wanted to have every day!
13
Trip to Hamadan
After spending few days in Qum, a trip was organized to visit one of the most beautiful
and historical place of Iran - Hamadan. Although far from Qum, it was worth the travel
to explore the amazing wonders of Allah (SWT)'s Design. Waterfalls, hiking up the
mountain for hours, rope-ways and boating were some recreational activities of the day.
After spending a night in one of the hotels of Hamadan, participants headed towards
the world's biggest water cave - Ali Sadr Cave - where they were enthralled by the
beauty of this magnificent creation of Allah (SWT). They found no better words to
express themselves with than Alhamdulillah and Mashallah!
Boating in Hamadan
14
Enjoying at the waterFall in Hamadan
The cave of Ali Sadr
15
Tehran
The capital of the Islamic Republic was the last destination before heading to Mash'had.
The day consisted of
memorable events: from visiting the shrine of Imam Khomeini (ra) to visiting graves of
martyrs and victims of terrorist attacks at Behishte Zahra (sa) cemetery and finally to
soothe the nerves, the Ziyarat of the Grand Sayyid – Abdul Azeem al-Hasani (ra) and
others from the progeny of AhlulBayt (as).
Overall, the Tehran trip was quite successful. Students could not keep their excitement
hidden as they moved from one event to another. Apart from the spiritual program, the
participants visited Burj Milad, one of the tallest towers in the world from where the
beauty of the entire landscape could be seen.
Tehran: Shah Abdul Azim Hasani
16
Burj Milaad, Tehran
Mash'had
Qum being the preparatory grounds, the participants charged with energy finally
started their journey towards the essence of the program, ready for more knowledge,
classes and spirituality.
With a clearer perspective that the true understanding of religion is the essence for
gaining closeness to Allah (SWT), the aim was to gain a bit more of this closeness by
establishing a special connection with Imam Raza (as).
The program was packed with ziyarat, classes, activities, visits to local sites and a lot of
bonding sessions. Participants arrived at Mash’had at night via flight from Tehran,
ready for their life-changing journey.
The average day in Mash'had would begin at 9:00 am followed by a buffet breakfast at
the hotel and classes inside the haram till the afternoon. Zohr salat would be prayed in
the haram and after a good Iranian lunch, the next activity was shopping during which
the young people spent time buying gifts for their parents, relatives, siblings and friends
back home.
At the end of the day, the group would flock back to the haram to rest and indulge in
some personal meditation before heading to the hotel to rest for the next day.
On one of the nights, Shaykh Kumail took the group for a three-hour tour of haram
which was an amazing educational experience.
17
Nishabur
After the ziyarat of Imam Raza (as), the students were taken to Nishabur to visit the
place where the foot prints of Imam Raza (as) are to be seen, Shrine of Bibi Shateetah (as)
and the shrine of Imamzadeh Mahrooq and others from the progeny of Imams (as).
On the way, participants would recite poems in Urdu and English and sometimes
Nawhas followed with typical Indo-Pak wah wah's, Subhanallahs and naare Haideris!
Sayyed Shabbar: Briefing at Qadamgah of Imam Reza (a.s.) Nishabur
List of Places Visited
· Tour of Haram and Museum inside haram
· Nishabur
· Dua-e-Kumayl, Dua e Tawasool and Namaz-e-Jum’ah
· Graves of the Ulema buried around the haram
· Bazar e Imam Raza
· Water Park
· Local Shopping malls and Bazaars
18
Closing Ceremony
At the end of the week in Mash’had, the participants began setting their minds and
spirits towards preparing for the climax of the whole course. At this ceremony, the
participants were invited to share their thoughts and feelings about the camp and the
student representatives spoke about their experiences on behalf of all participants.
Mash'had: Closing Ceremony
Farewell
On Sunday, 24th August 2014, participants headed back to the airport from Tehran for
their final journey back home after spending memorable weeks together; making
life-long friends, learning about their faith and exploring their inner selves along the
way.
A few of the participants did not miss the chance of their last ziyarat of Qum as they had
some time left for their flights. Participants were tearful as they separated from one
another and boarded their respective buses.
The Qum Office staff and volunteers felt blessed to once again be part of these
successful summer courses, Alhamdulillah. Soon after the course, the participants were
in touch with each other through social media, recollecting the memories of their
spiritual journey and updating each other on different events at their local jamaats.
The WF-Qum Office would like to thank and sincerely appreciate the efforts of all the
office bearers and regional jamaats involved to make this course a success and we pray
for the continued progress of all towards the source of all Perfection (SWT), insha'Allah.
19
Participants Feedback
Madinah & Bab 2014 was truly a
life changing experience for me Alhm.
InshA more youths will take advantage of
this beautiful platform.
Maleka Abbas
Bab & Madinah Iran 2014 was an
amazing experience definitely going
back as a mentor iA.
Adeela Zahra Shah
Thank you for the amazing work
you did at the bab/madinah course. My son
is back all smiles! May Allah bless you all.
Rizwan Hameer
In the Name of our Great Lord Allah
SWT – we truly gracious and grateful for
the effort the mentors and organisers at
have put in to make Hassan feel at home –
we prayer for all involved and may Allah
SWT’s send his glorious Blessings for all
this world and hereafter – Duas and
prayers …
Andy Rubbani
20
"Making a connection with Bibi Masuma (AS), Imam Ar-Redha
(AS) and our Living Imam (AFS) is an experience of its own
which no words can explain it, but the closest I can get to
describing it is the feeling that you've been born again. And that
is why anyone who hasn’t participated in this journey should
experience it themselves!"
Amina Shabar from Bosnia

Read Madinah and Bab Report (2014)

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