MSA

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MSA
se7en
05/09/01 at 22:06:18

as salaamu alaykum wa rahmatAllahi wa barakatuh,

Aiite y'all, time to teach the younguns something :)

I'll be attending college next year, inshaAllah, and will most likely be seriously involved in the MSA.

Those of you who are experienced in msa work, what advice can you give me?

Re: MSA
zeyn
05/10/01 at 12:04:29
as salam o alaikum
i would suggest do not volunteer for every activity the msa may plan.  It is easy to start taking on so much work that you would lose focus on school. As there is often a difficult adjustment to Univ..other then that enjoy the first year at univ, as msa will suck you in ....
Re: MSA
Laboogie
05/10/01 at 12:50:42
[slm]

Remember to keep your cool, ( be patient) ;) and have fun!
Re: MSA
Barr
05/14/01 at 11:37:21
Assalamu'alaikum :)

MashaALlah! :) Congratulations, mabrook !:):):):)

Well... U'll be heading for one of the most fruitful, wonderful and sweetest time of your life... well... that's what happened to me... it's no wonder why I wanna go back to uni! :)

Subhanallah... I'm starting to remember all of those years...

Ukhti... I'm so glad that U would want to be involved in the MSA, alhamdulillah! Though I've not actually experienced being in an AMerican MSA... but I think the British ISoc is close enough, inshaAllah ;)

And I would recommend for those going to unis to be an active member of the MSA.. coz, to me, uni is not just about getting that flat hat scroll ;)... it's more than that... it is a place where we learn, grow, mature... a training ground to prepare us for the real battle field, when we graduate... coz, uni is like a small replica of the society.... Ukhti, we either be the ordinary student/graduate, or the extra-ordinary student/graduate who can contribute positive changes to the society. And that, one can't just learn in the lecture theatres. We need to go out... get active, learn... meet and interact with people, organise events... feel the pain and sweetness....

Reading, your posts, ukhti, I think a lot can benefit from you, mashaAllah... and where Allah has placed you, is not merely due to chance... and even if we're just learning about Islam.. well, we'll take things at our own pace but always know that each of us have got something to contribute.... the question is... how do we optimise the position that Allah has given us, no matter how small it is?

Let us also strive to get not only a good degree... but a blessed degree... a degree with barakah... Some may say... one may be too busy with work, we've got to concentrate on studies and the like... but ALlah promised in SUrah Muhammad that He would make our steps firm if we help in His cause. And Allah never breaks His promise....At the end of the day, it is ALlah that would give us the barakah of time, the barakah of thought, and barakah in our work. It's different when someone passes with a first class without barakah and someone who does... even if he/she gets a a grade lower... I'm not saying that we neglect our uni work.. no... not at all....

But...it's about time management, working hard and smart, and a strong iman to ALlah... and uni is the place to build our iman, take stock on our experiences and observations, build our character.... Frankly, when we're students, that is the time, when we have LOADS of time in our hands.... after graduation, we would be busier... and once we get married... have children... most of our time would be channelled to other activities. Cut down on TV, internet (this is a tough one, ain't it? ;)), idle chit chat... and you'll see the amount of time you'll have, mashaALlah....

Ukhti... we know that da'wah is fardh... and we talk/ read so much about sacrifice... but sacrifice is not about "reading/ talking the talk".... it's walking it. Sacrifice is something felt... and with Islam in your heart, and the knowledge of following the greatest sunnah of the prophets (ie. da'wah and struggling)... the MSA, is a good platform to channel our ideas and energy to.... yes, it is VERY important for us to excel academically... but let us also have our priorities straight as well... development is not just in excelling our acedemic life... but it's more than that.
 
Plus... uni is a place where the "intellectuals" the "creme de la creme" of the society go to... people who think, people who will be future leaders, people who will have the influence to effect the society... Be a part of those who are developed by their involvement in seeking knowledge and experience and be a part of those who help develop other people... Let us raise above our own standards and don' underestimate ourselves! :)

I think, I've been rattling for too long... I'm sorry... U just touched a real passionate topic of mine, mashaALlah....

All the best ukhti... and keep strong :)
Wallahua'lam... :-)

Re: MSA
sis
05/14/01 at 18:59:05
wa alaykum alsalam wa rhmat Allah wa barakatuhu

masha'Allah:-)  ... sis Barr took all the words outta my mouth so my words of wisdom are 'what she said'

but one thing to stress as well ... time management is essential... studies are important (thats why ur in uni right?)but when u don't stay on top of things-u begin to panic..and this is where the MSA seems to lose support...ppl panic and decide not to help out,  but as sis Barr said,  u lose the barakah,  and just as important,  u make it tougher for those who have to carry the load...i've heard many ppl say that the MSA is fueled by its volunteers -the more people that help out-the smoother things go and the work gets spread out more.  

But the time management goes for everything-ur studies, msa work, employment, etc...there should be a balance...the best way to do this is to take advantage of any free-time u have, to start early on studying for an exam,  or preparing for Islam Awareness Week (start as early as possible for this or else hmm well lets say 'all nighters' aren't something unusual)

oh and THE MOST IMPORTANT THING ..constantly keep ur intentions in check..if ur doing something and ur intention is for other than pleasing Allah - u risk losing the blessing and reward....

MSA is a unique experience that i really encourage.....if anything you come out as a better muslim insha'Allah.  And you form a muslim family - kinda like a mini-ummah...the type of people where u always feel the sweetness of faith when ur in their company ...subhan Allah:-)

the youth of today are the leaders of tomorrow insha'Allah..pls seize the opportunity - not many people have this type of chance..alhamdulillah we do

walsalamu alaykum wa rhmat Allah wa barakatuhu
Re: MSA
Zahra
05/15/01 at 13:40:42
Remember that  your working with a team of people and that you all are working together for a common goal, fisibilellah.  Keeping your intention straight is hard to do, I find, when working with MSA because, naturally, you get so caught up in things and it's exciting.  I also found while working with my MSA that members have a tendency to get "comfortable" with one another.  This is cool and everything but when brothers and sisters get too comfortable, it can lead to some sinning (I'm talking minor things, insha'Allah, people working in MSA wouldn't commit anything major).  Remember, for example, that the Prophet, sallahoo alayhe wa salam, said, "The brother-in-law is death" because brother-and-sister-in-laws see each other more, talk more to one another, and thus, tend to become more lax with one another in their manners and speech.

Keep sisters involved-for some strange reason, they always have a tendency to creep out of involvement. I don't know how developed the MSA is where you'll be attending college, but make sure you guys know your rights as an established club.  Many schools can fund thousands of dollars to these clubs but MSA's don't take advantage of it because they just don't know-and of course, no one is gonna tell you if you don't ask... Stay organized, dedicated and committed, and take it seriously.  Be open and inviting to all Muslims and don't be critical...insha'Allah working with MSA will be a great learning experience for yourself and those around you.  
Re: MSA
Ruqayyah
05/15/01 at 18:23:14
[slm]

I had a question about an issue that's come up in our Muslim group on campus. Alhamdulilah we've been able to have jummah in one of the conference rooms on our campus each week, and each week we all take turns doing the khutbah. The issue that arose, was if it was alright for the sisters to take a turn and say a few words or read something they found to be beneficial. I have tried looking online for some answers but haven't come up with anything. Does anyone here know if it's permissible for a sister to do the khutbah for jummah?

[wlm]
Re: MSA
Arsalan
05/15/01 at 19:15:34
[slm]

Good question Ruqayyah!

And let me add ...

If the answer is "no" then "why not?"
Re: MSA
Zahra
05/15/01 at 21:42:58
I'm just guessing that it's probably not permissible for a sister to do the khutba because the one leading the prayer is the one who does the khutba and that is the imam.  And a woman can not be an imam for men.  If sisters are doing their own jumuah prayer w/out brothers, then that would be another story, I think.  W'allahoo Alam.  Could you do some other type of event where sisters could read passages of literature or talk about something?  
Re: MSA
zeyn
05/16/01 at 08:15:50
actually the person who does the khutba does not have to lead the prayer
Re: MSA
Arsalan
05/16/01 at 12:58:24
[slm]

Zeyn's right.  We've had some guest speakers come into our town who refused to lead the prayer after finishing the khutbah!  They wanted our imam to lead the prayer.  One of them was Ahmad al-Katib of IARA.
Re: MSA
se7en
05/16/01 at 14:43:15
wa alaykum as salaam wa rahmatAllahi wa barakatuh,

jazak Allahu khayran for the advice given so far. :)

[quote]Does anyone here know if it's permissible for a sister to do the khutbah for jummah? [/quote]
I think the question here is whether the jummah khutbah is actually a part of *prayer* or not.  I don't know the answer though, perhaps this is something you should take to your local imam or someone knowledgeable in your commu re: no classes fri and sun ?!

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re: no classes fri and sun ?!
jannah
05/07/01 at 23:11:03
[slm]
yasir wrote about this in the bebzi stand so i'm just continuing the albany part of the thread here inshaallah

yeah so what up wid dat?? remember when we were kids and we *had* to go every friday and sunday even in summer!!

i remember it being the funnest in summer, hanging out on warm friday nights and stuff...

but i guess there's alot that went into this decision.. first br mokhtar needs a break and is gone all summer anyway.. so who else would teach?? then right now our accomodations at the troy mosque suck, i had like 35 kids in one room and it was 88 degrees OUTsidE you can't imagine how hot it was inside... or maybe you can from downstairs! so it would be virtually crazy to have that all summer. and everyone goes on vacation and difwidth="80%" border cellspacing=0 cellpadding=5>
Re: MSA
Ruqayyah
05/16/01 at 17:08:55
[slm]

Thanks to everyone's input and advice:) I agree that ideally it would be best to have someone knowledgable come in and do the khutbah, but I am not sure how feasible that would be for us. Although to be honest, we haven't really explored that option, but it's definitely something to think about. Taking turns has worked well for us so far, especially since it gives each one of us an opportunity to go back and think about some aspect of Islam that is important to us or something that we have learned or has touched us, that we can then share with everyone else. Our khutbah's haven't been very long or extensive, usually someone will read something from a book they found or an article. So far I have taken my turn twice and someone else will do the dua at the end and then lead prayer.  We have the best intentions and I hope that we haven't done anything wrong, if we have may Allah have mercy on us.

I don't know the local Imam, but perhaps someone can pose this question to someone more knowledgable than us?

[wlm]
Re: MSA
meemo
06/11/01 at 19:31:29
salaam,

i have no msa on my campus (community college, but its pretty big). id like to start one...but from the impression i received from the other muslims on my campus...im pretty sure that msa wouldnt be islam based, it would be a not-so-halaal hangout.

is it still worth a try?
Re: MSA
jannah
06/11/01 at 23:48:46
[slm]

definitely worth a try, inshallah. there are usually tons of muslims on campus's that come out of the woodwork if you have the right kind of motivation for them. inshallah if you set the right tone in the beginning it will carry through... there's just a fine line with keeping a purpose and not letting it degenerate to a hangout club...so program alot of islamic activities that have goals and a specific purpose in mind.
Re: MSA
shadow493
06/14/01 at 11:46:02
[slm]

pika.. its definatly worth it... right now we're trying to revive the MSA inshaAllah over here... it'll take time and a few ppl's work... but inshaAllah if the intention do it is for only Allah (swt) alone... then noone and nothing can stop ya :)

[wlm]

yo bro... adami...;-D
meemo
06/16/01 at 00:34:29
wazzaaaap ADAM, bro *cool*
what'd u put the "i" in adami for?

===

a friend of mine had an MSA that was started in a highschool and it had the same blend of people...it has the mashaAllah strong ones, the not so strong ones, the hidden ones, etc (not that i am one to judge)

the not-so-strong ones and hidden ones took over, and every msa meeting was just talking and laughing and playing, nothing was done

now i dont see anything wrong with a social hour within halaal bounds, but when it comes to organizing an islamic event or listening to/participating in an islamic halaqa/lecture - they just cant seem to do it-- they dont want to.

i think this is the reason: i know many muslims that feel that just because they are "bad", they arent worthy of the title "muslim" or islamic acts. u know, they think, well im a bad muslim anyway, its not worth it if i pray. ive met ppl who say this...

it isnt enough to tell them that "it isnt the fact that you are a 'bad' muslim that you sin, it is the act that you do that makes you 'bad'." (i put "bad" in quotes because that's how they refer to themselves and the acts they do)

how would you talk to someone/some people who thought this way?

JAK

~meemo
Re: MSA
zia
06/17/01 at 00:30:44
salaams sis

Well having just left  college and the MSA (I held office three yrs) that was very dear to me.
Adding to and reiterating what some of the others have said..
MSA was an incredible experience.My closest and truest friends came out of it.
I think its important to keep a balance too much of anything is too bad.
Enjoy it...Learn to forgive and do not be judgemental
you'll meet all kinda of ppl and learn from them and teach them
Always be organized and presentable as an individual and as a group
Ppl will base a lot of judgements about Islam by ur actions, reactions and poise, so things like dress, good communication skills are a plus.
Im a desi and as desis sometimes we tend to be lazyy and act without class and sophistication. Dont do that.

That my 2 cents of advice


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