ALIM SUMMER PROGRAM 2001

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ALIM SUMMER PROGRAM 2001
jannah
01/12/01 at 12:19:04
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___________________________(*_____________________________


    The American Learning Institute for Muslims (ALIM) presents

                           the 4th annual...

    *****************************************************

               2 0 0 1  S U M M E R  R E T R E A T

                                for

                   I S L A M I C  S T U D I E S

               Madonna University Southeast Michigan
                            July 24-Aug 19th
                              $1000/person
                 (Tuition includes room and board)
     *****************************************************

                               QUOTE
"The ALIM program, in my opinion, is the most serious effort to educate
Muslim American Youth on the relevancy of their Din within the context
of North America."  (ALIM 99 participant)

                              ABOUT US

The ALIM Summer Retreat for Islamic Studies is an established program
in North America committed to bringing participants closer to Allah (SWT) by empowering Muslims with knowledge of the basic Islamic Sciences as well as essential analytical and critical thinking skills.  Our scholars are among the best in this country and they have made a long-term commitment to our program.  This is an institution in its fourth year of operation Alhamdulillah.  Every year has been an improvement upon the last and, Allah willing, we are dedicated to continuing this tradition.  Become a part of this institution and help make it a place of learning for years to come Insha-Allah.

  INSTRUCTORS:

           Sheikh Ali Sulaiman Ali
           Dr. Jamal Badawi (Tentative)
           Imam Muneer Fareed
           Sheikh Abdallah Idris
           Dr. Abdul Hakeem Jackson
           Imam Mokhtar Maghroui
           Imam Siraj Wahaj
           Dr. Sulayman Nyang (Tentative)

TOPICS: Fiqh, Shari'ah Sciences, Qur'anic Sciences, Hadith Sciences,
          Seerah, Muslim Character & Spirituality, Islamic History, Da'wah
          and much more.


HIGHLIGHTS:  

*OVER 200 HOURS OF INTENSIVE EDUCATION-EQUIVALENT TO A FULL SUMMER SEMESTER OF CLASSES!

*TOP QUALITY INSTRUCTION BY SOME OF THE NATIONS LEADING SCHOLARS AND PROFESSORS

*LOW STUDENT FACULTY RATIO-HIGH LEVEL OF ACCESSIBILITY

MORE INFO:
               e-mail: alim_info@yahoo.com
               Phone:  Amera Ahmed (734) 397-8173
                          Haaris Ahmad (217) 367-6020
                          Yusuf Hai (734) 678-3657
                          Shirin Khan (202) 271-4753
                          Saqib Masood (734) 377-4708
               Fax:    ALIM at (734) 394-5669
               Web:    www.msa-natl.org/alim

  SPONSOR:      Muslim Students Association of the US and Canada
  COSPONSORS:   ISNA, ICNA and PeaceNet

*********REGISTRATION FIRST COME FIRST SERVE*************

******ONLY 50 SPOTS AVAILABLE-REGISTER NOW!!!!!!!*******

Here is your opportunity to gain quality Islamic education right here
  in the U.S.  Don't miss this chance to learn from these excellent scholars.  The scholars will reside on site so participants will have plenty of time to discuss issues with them on small group or one-to-one basis!

    PLEASE REGISTER & GET MORE INFO THROUGH OUR HOMEPAGE AT:

               http://www.msa-natl.org/alim

 Application Instructions:

 * The deadline for applying is June 31, 2001 but there are only 50 spots!

 * Applicants must submit two essays by the same date.  Essay
questions and registration form can be filled out on the web site.

 Fee:
 * The fee is $1000 (USD).  Applicants must pay $500 by June 31, 2001
    to reserve a spot.  Balance must be paid in full by July 15, 2001*

 * Make all checks payable to: ALIM

 * If you are a local, please contact one of the organizers for further
   info.

 * Please pass this on to others!

Re: ALIM SUMMER PROGRAM 2001
se7en
01/12/01 at 11:26:11


as salaamu alaykum wa rahmatAllahi wa barakatuh,

ok y'all.. I attended the ALIM program this past summer... and it was PHAT beyond belief.. subhanAllah it was so amazing... man... just thinkin about it brings back memories..

I have to tell you guys all about it...
Re: ALIM SUMMER PROGRAM 2001
se7en
01/12/01 at 12:13:43

... I was just looking through my alim stuff and just thinking about it makes me wish I could go back to it...  I remember the last night we were there, all fifty of us sitting in the basement of one of the organizers, and we each said something about the program... we left around fajr time... ahhh it was so amazing, subhanAllah, if you have the opportunity, go, go GO!  InshaAllah you won't regret it at all and you will be forced to change for the better.  There were fifty of us, so it was small enough to be intimate but large enough to feel like you're surrounded by good people.. the classes all day, the salah outside, the taking over an entire bus on the way to jummah, the people, the wisdom and advice given, the bond with all of the participants and the organizers and the teachers.. man I can't even describe it..

At the end of the program we each had to answer the question "What did ALIM mean to me?"... then we each got a little booklet in the mail that had everyone's answers anonymously.. I'm going to post a couple inshaAllah..


---

Most of the sahabah have said that knowledge without practice is not knowledge.  At ALIM, I was able to take the knowledge that I gained from the practice and immediately put it into practice.  Brothers like Kyle forced me to think of my Arabic prayers in English to know what I was saying.  Abdur Rahman showed that true wisdom is seen in humility and patience.  And sister Nada made me realize that our mission in life is not to become great leaders, but to make sure that our great leaders have great followers.  In one way or another, I learned not only from the different shuyookh who came to visit and spend time with us, but most importantly, I learned from my peers, students of Islam.  They taught me more about this deen with their actions as true Muslims than they could ever imagine.  And for that, I am truly indebted to ALIM 2000.

The friendships we have formed are many and the bonds of brotherhood and sisterhood have become forever sealed and will inshaAllah continue to grow in years to come.  For me personally, the program was more than simply learning and practicing our deen; it was about befriending fifty of some of the most active Muslim student leaders in America today.  Each person contributed to my personal growth and iman in various ways and that means a great deal to me.

Finally, the program simply would not have meant as much without our awesome scholars.  Whether trying to "school" us in basketball, or explaining the subtle differences between sahih and hasan hadith, the scholars were constantly teaching us.  They showed me that the true beauty of Islam lies not only in it's simple congruity, but in its differences as well.  Our mission as youth, students of Islam, in America is to keep this ummah united in the face of adversity and the only to do that is to recognize and respect our differences, as Imam Jackson blatantly pointed out.  

All else aside, this program has meant a great deal to me and is one of the best experiences I've had.  If you got the time, you must come, and if you don't have the time, make some.  It'll be worth it to gain knowledge, gain brother and sisterhood all for the sake of Allah.  JazakAllahukhair.

===

I came into this program with my young hijabed brain on overdrive, my heart hard and my iman the lowest it has ever been.  I came into this program desperate, hurting, grieving.  I wanted to heal, I wanted to learn, I wanted to be like the ennobled scholars of our past - I wanted to shine with the beauty and noor of yaqeen and a faith unshakeable.

I came into this program the lowest I've ever been and I leave it feeling honored, purified.  I came into this program arrogant, self righteous, and I leave humbled by the soaring heights of scholarship to whcih we must bend our heads in wonder, and humbled by the sincerity mercy kindness and strength of my Muslim brothers and sisters, may Allah have mercy on us all.

ALIM means to me a time of growth, repentance, and remembrance of our true goal in this life.  It means one month of one summer of my life that turned me upside down, inside out, and having to face who I really am and where I really stand with Allah.

How were we not supposed to change?  With the most brilliant minds in the country nurturing us throughout the day, a bond of fifty struggling Muslim youthalah with adhaan ringing to the skies, dua in the grass with the fireflies floating, Quran in the depths of the night, salatul fajr in the chilly morning air before the dawn extinguishes the darkness.  It is impossible for a heart to be confronted with these things and not soften, and not submit.  It's impossible not to hope and pray and resolve to become better servants of Allah.

This is what ALIM did to me.  It allowed me, for the first time, to understand what turning to Allah really means.

===

Alhamdulillah, ALIM 2000 surpassed my expectations as far as course and content and level of instruction.  It's definitely not easy to sit through a 3-3.5 hour lecture, much less two of them for almost 30 consecutive days.  When I first came, I wanted to just establish a core knowledge base in the Islamic sciences, but didn't expect to have my level of spirituality, contact with other ALIM brothers and non-academic experiences to affect me in such a profound way.

I just graduated from collee and am starting medical school in two weeks; it recently struck me as a scary notion that the next 10 years of my life are fairly locked in.  I was very involved with my college MSA, was politically active, and went round the clock balancing school with extracurricular activities.  As my only "summer off" in 5 years, I wanted to be as passive and relaxed as possible.  I came not to share my infinite opinons and question anything that didn't make sense.  Rather, I wanted to acquire the role of the symbolic sponge - absorbing as much as I could from others questions and experiences, as well as from the knowledge and lives of the professors that taught us.  

Now that the program is almost over, I can truly see that the ALIM program has strengthened my iman and has heightened my sense of purpose in this dunyaa.  This program turned out to be so much more than the purely academic experience that I wanted.  I also learned that acquiring a passive role by choice is something that I cannot handle.  Though I was relatively quiet in the lectures, I voiced my approval/disapproval, opinions, etc.  outside the classroom with my usra and the rest of the brothers.  

I have to admit Dr. Fareed and Dr. Jackson were excellent.  The Michigan community is very lucky to have these scholars whose insight and breadth of knowledge affected my heart and mind.  I especially liked how they would take time out from the lectures to discuss a particular topic or conflict that would emerge from the students.  

In my prayers, I thank Allah swt for blessing me with such a comprehensive and encompassing experience.  The true test will be continuing this mode of life and to review my notes inshaAllah when the program is over.  I feel a sense of purpose in what I have accomplished and what I have to learn.  InshaAllah, I hope to start immediately and pursue this desire to learn about my deen for the rest of my life.


===
I came here July 1st to decide if I wanted to become a practicing Muslim.  I had not grown up in an Islamic environment - I was one of those Muslims who steered away from the things forbidden in Islam without doing the things required.  I came here to give Islam a fair chance.  On July 4th, during the evening lecture, I took shahada.

During the previous month, I had been slowly opening up psychological space so that I could give Islam a fair chance.  I reached towards Allah and when I arrived at the ALIM program, He blessed me by opening up my heart to Islam.  I feel like a convert and I am grateful to Allah for giving me the chance to find Islam.  I had known for a long time that if any religion was the right one, it would be Islam, but I had not been able to build the faith necessary to become a practicing Muslim.  Allah was testing me, and when I reached out to Him, He showed me His mercy.  I have found joy in worshipping Him, and I will no strive to worship Him to the best of my ability.  There is so much work to do so much to learn so much to do for the ummah.  I will not let it overwhelm me though inshaAllah.  I realize that this is a lifetime's work, and I just need to consistently strive to please Allah and remember that there is no despair in Islam.

---


I hope that inshaAllah this has given you an understanding of what this program can do for a person.  These answers are very intimate, very private, and I hope that inshaAllah I haven't shared with you all something I shouldn't have.  I just want you to see what this program has done for people.

Any questions you might have, just lemme know...



wasalaam.


Re: ALIM SUMMER PROGRAM 2001
Nurain
01/13/01 at 17:53:05
Bismillah arRahman arRahiem

Salaam alaykum wa Rahmatullah wa Barakatuhu

Se7en, your post has motivated me to want to sign up for this program, it sounds very beautiful! I looked at the website and it says that when you want to apply, you have to write 2 essays. One should be about what challenges the muslims in america face, does this mean this program is only for americans? I live in europe and would really like to participate in this program, it seems a good way to strenghten your eemaan and discuss Islamic topics with others. I have been surfing the net to find programs like this in other countries but haven't been very succesful, do you know of any other events like this? Also, i looked at the daily schedule of the program, it seems like you're learning things about Islam almost for the whole day...do you learn something new everyday or do they also repeat certain subjects? In the description it says that one of the topics is Muslim character, can you tell me if thats an important topic within the program and what kind of things they discuss?

Ma3a Salama,
Nurain.
Re: ALIM SUMMER PROGRAM 2001
se7en
01/14/01 at 22:06:51
wa alaykum as salaam wa rahmatAllahi wa barakatuh,

I think the program is mostly for students in the United States, but when I attended there were a few people from Canada and I think one brother from Pakistan.  I don't think it would be a problem as long as you speak and understand English.  The only thing is, a lot of the issues we addressed were things we encounter as young Muslims in America - community problems, political involvement, lack of scholarship here, etc etc.  It might be good to talk to some of the organizers about this, sr. Shirin can definitely help you out :)

As for the topics of the program, they're basically like an introduction to each science.  They teach some very basic things in each topic, so it gives you a taste of what it would be like if you were to continue studying in that area.  What the program did, for me at least, was give me a really good understanding of the different topics of study, but the organizers themselves say - this program is to give you a start, an understanding, a foundation, so that when you go back home you can begin to study these things more seriously and intensely.

About the topic of Muslim Character, from what I remember I think they discussed basically akhlaq and adaab, like the conduct and manners a Muslim should have.  That wasn't one of the larger topics, but I'm pretty sure it was covered.

Another really good thing about the program is that all the scholars have different methods of teaching, and because their methods are so different you most definitely find a teacher that appeals to you personally.  Like me, I've grown up with br. Mokhtar Maghroui as my teacher, so I'm very use to the traditional serious sessions of 'ilm.  But at the program I came across teachers like br. abdul hakeem jackson, who are knowledgeable as well but with a completely different approach to teaching.

Man I could go on forever..

Hope that's helped inshaAllah.

:)

wasalaam.


Re: ALIM SUMMER PROGRAM 2001
Nurain
01/22/01 at 06:10:17
Bismilah arRahman arRahiem

Salaam alaykum wa Rahmatullah wa Barakatuhu

Se7en,

Thank you for all your information, it gave me a good idea of what this program would be like. I still think it would be very interesting, so i'm going to give it some more thought and try to get information about if this program would suit me since i'm not american as you suggested. Shukran!

Ma3a Salama,
Nurain.
Re: ALIM SUMMER PROGRAM 2001
writeamir
01/23/01 at 21:20:12
Assalaamulaikum Brothers & Sisters. I was at the ALIM Program also and I recommend it to people but with some reservations. First of all, I do not think a brother should go unless they have finished high school. I think that a number of the high school kids were not able to handle the freedom of being away from home. It takes a certain maturity level that most brothers in high school do not seem to have. Also, if you go, plan on working hard. The days are very long. If you stay focused though, it is amazing how much you can learn. It is a humbling experience.

All my comments here are directed at brothers because I have no idea what it was like for sisters. The younger ones may have handled things fine. I am just talking about my experience living with the brothers.

Now, if you can't go, there is something you can do to help. Last year, there was only one African American brother who attended. Even though Detroit is so close by and has hundreds of thousands of Muslims, not a single brother came from Detroit. How could this be? It comes down to money. While the $1000 fee is a good deal, many people can't come up with that kind of money. Thus, the program was filled with middle class Muslims and none of the more economically disadvantaged ones. My goal is to change that.

This is what I am hoping for. I want to raise enough money so that Imam Siraj can pick a deserving sister or brother to go to the program who normally would not be able to go. I also want to send Shaykh Ali in Detroit a check for $1000 so he can send someone he feels is deserving. It would also be great if there was enough to send someone from the south side of Chicago, etc. Through the tutoring I do along with my frequent flyer tickets, I am pretty sure at least one person will be able to go. I am asking you guys to chip in. So little money is needed that even if you send $5, it will make a difference. It would be great to send checks out to Imams across the country. If you are interested in helping to raise money for this, send a check to

Masjid At-Taqwa
1266 Bedford Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11216

PLEASE WRITE "ALIM 2001" IN THE MEMO PART OF THE CHECK.

Amir
Re: ALIM SUMMER PROGRAM 2001
Anonymous
01/24/01 at 13:43:42
Bismillah

What level of educational intensity would you say the information at ALIM is at? beginngers, intermediate, advanced? Jazakum ALlahu khairan.
NS
Re: ALIM SUMMER PROGRAM 2001
se7en
01/24/01 at 14:04:31

Hm your level of knowledge definitely does not have to be very high.

Check out the Frequently Asked Questions page:  [url]http://www.msa-natl.org/alim/faq.html[/url]

Here's what they say:

Q: How much do I have to know?


A: While there is no set level of knowledge, it is necessary to have at least a basic understanding of Islamic principles. This means that one should know the basics of prayer, be familiar with the meaning of the Qur’an, know the general life of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), and be familiar with at least a few common hadith. This program will assume at least this basic knowledge and it is unlikely that one would benefit without this level of exposure. If you are not sure you meet this level please contact one of the listed resource people (located on homepage) and insha-Allah they can help.


wasalaam.
NS


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