March 2024 Newsletter
Asalamualaikum and welcome to the March 2024 newsletter!
In the newsletter, we cover things such as:
(Quick Note)
We are also taking articles written by the community. Submissions can be anything from essays, poems, think pieces, art, etc. Topics can also be diverse as long as it is masjid appropriate. Submissions can be sent to the following email: [email protected]
Inshallah Ramadan is finally here, and it's important to understand its beauty and the virtues it brings. Ramadan is known to be the holiest month of the year as the Quran was revealed to Prophet Muhammad (Pbuh) during this time. One of the main aspects of this month is fasting from dawn to dusk, along with that this month is a time to reflect on our internal aspects as well. It's the perfect time to develop a true connection with Allah (SWT). The three most important aspects of this month are reading the Quran, making Dua, and giving Sadaqah.
Making dua is vital as it is important in having a connection with Allah (SWT) and communicating with him. Duas are beneficial to both ourselves and others, as they are supplication for Allah's (SWT) mercy. There are certain Duas that are recommended to be recited during Ramadan. It is important to know what these duas are and to recite them when needed.
Dua for breaking fast:
ذهب الظمأ وابتلت العروق وثبت الأجر إن شاء الله
Dhahaba al-dhama’ wa abtalat al-‘urooq wa thabata al-ajr insha’Allah. "Gone is the thirst. Moist are the veins. And, God willing, established is the reward."
Dua for Suhoor:
وَبِصَوْمِ غَدٍّ نَوَيْتُ مِنْ شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ
Wa bisawmi ghadinn nawaiytu min shahri ramadan. “I intend to keep the fast for tomorrow in the month of Ramadan”
Dua for Laylatul - Qadr:
اللهم إنك عفو تحب العفو فاعف عني
Allaahumma innaka ‘afuwwan tuhibb ul-‘afwa fa‘fu ‘anni. "O Allah! You are all-pardoning. You love to pardon. So pardon me."
May this Ramadan be a time of spiritual renewal, reflection, and growth for all believers. Let us immerse ourselves in the beauty of this blessed month, strengthening our connection with Allah (SWT) through acts of worship, supplication, and generosity. May our fasting, prayers, and charitable deeds illuminate our hearts and bring us closer to His mercy and forgiveness. Ameen.
Daily Taraweeh after Isha Prayer
Babysitting During Taraweeh (Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays)
Daily Iftar-Dinner For Families
To Sponsor - Contact Brother Adil - (503) 875 - 2725
Beaverton School District Iftar - Friday, March 15th
Girls Itekaf - Saturday, March 23rd - 5:30 pm to 6:00 am - Ages 13 to 19 years old - For more information contact:
Rabia Kanan: (971) 344 - 7909
Faiza Kareem: (503) 784 - 2657
Hina Malik: (503) 720 - 5397
Muslima Day at Bilal Masjid - Tuesday, March 26th - 1:30 - 8:30 pm - Ages 9 to 12 years old - For more information contact:
Rabia Kanan: (971) 344 - 7909
Faiza Kareem: (503) 784 - 2657
Hina Malik: (503) 720 - 5397
Qayam-ul-Lail - Last 10 nights - 3:30 am - Suhoor is provided
Quran Memorization Contest - Elementary, Middle, High School - Boys and Girls - Sunday, March 31st
Khatam Quran - Friday, April 5th night - (27th Ramadan)
For more information contact: [email protected]
Homeschool Gatherings - (10:00am - 2:00pm) - (March 14th, 21st, 28th)
Arabic Battle of The Books - (4:00pm - 7:00pm)
Imam Toure's Tafseer Class - (6:15pm - 7:00pm)
In the past few weeks, we have had a few events such as the Bilal School Annual Project Fair, the First Islamic Literary Festival of Oregon, and the Bilal Sunday School's Trip to the OMSI.
Bilal Sunday School held its annual project fair at the BMA center on Feb 11, 2024. Students from all grades picked a topic of their interest, performed in-depth research and presented their learnings in the form of 3-D models and poster boards. Judges interviewed the students on their knowledge and effort. The award for best project went to Muaaz Zeshan and Mustafa Kakkar for their work on "Signs of the Day of Judgement". Click here to take a look at the hard work of our students!
The first Islamic Literary Fair of Oregon was held at Bilal Masjid on 2/18/24. Organized in collaboration with Br. Flamur Vehapi, the fair had workshops on book writing and publishing. Br. Brandon Mayfield launched his new book ‘Atheism vs. Belief’ at the event. , a Portland based author, showcased her collection of books geared towards young readers. Representatives from Bilal Islamic Library and ICCH's Journey Literacy Center were also present helping visitors with registration and membership. Vendors from ISGP, Crescent Books and Islamic Book Cafe brought their amazing collections of books to sell. Visitors had a great time attending workshops, meeting with authors, and getting books of their interest. Thanks to volunteers from Bilal Sunday School for making this event a huge success. Click here for more pictures.
On Feb 25, 20204, Bilal Sunday School had a field trip to the science museum OMSI. More than 100 students spent the whole day visiting various science exhibits and having fun with hands-on activities. The iMax movie was a great hit! Thanks to all organizers, teachers and chaperones for making this educational experience fun and safe. Click here for more pictures.
Interfaith at St. Luke by Aisha Siddiqui
On Sunday, February 4, 2024, Bilal Sunday School Level 8 and above had an interfaith meeting at St. Luke Lutheran Church. BSS students got to meet the Sunday school group at St. Luke and learn more about the Lutheran faith. There, we had icebreaker activities, donuts, a tour of the church, and were able to watch the prayer and blessings at the end of the Sunday service.
There was a part in the icebreaker activities where we were able to split up into groups and talk about current events that meant the most to us. Some examples included homelessness, the environment, food insecurity, gun violence, and much more. This activity allowed us to look past our religions and find some common ground that we all agree on, which was really helpful in getting to know each other better.
One of the Sunday school teachers explained to us about the prayer and blessings that occurred at the end of the sermon at St. Luke. The blessing was food and a drink, which Bilal Sunday School students were welcome to receive if they felt comfortable. When receiving the food and drink, the pastor would say “Jesus blesses you”, however the Bilal teachers had requested beforehand that the pastor say “God blesses you” for the Muslim students that felt comfortable receiving the blessing.
The interfaith meeting was a memorable experience for both the students at Bilal as well as St. Luke. It was fun to learn about another faith and be able to meet people of that other faith, as well as get to know them better to build meaningful connections. Bilal Sunday School and St. Luke Lutheran Church have an interfaith event each year, which makes a huge impact in both communities.
A Blurb Regarding the Islamic Fair by Ammar Fahim
Dear brothers and sisters, this Islamic fair has been a blast! It was an amazing opportunity for kids to show their knowledge and creativity in an educational setting with these types of arts and crafts projects. The projects take a closer look for students to explore the foundations of Islam and promote learning and understanding for everyone. The effort all families and kids put into the posters, designs, and descriptions was all worth it. Whether it’s a presentation on Laylatul Qadr, the significance of Islam, a prophet’s story, a display of Islamic art, or a model of a historical mosque, each project is exquisite and promotes a passion for young kids to learn about Islam. When children are doing these types of projects, they not only develop a deeper understanding of Islam but also initiate crucial skills like creativity, research, and public speaking. May we continue these types of projects to create a closer connection to our religion, and encourage our kids to keep doing such things. Alhamdulillah, we are proud of all the kids.
During Feb 2024 we collected $7,240.74 in zakat funds. We disbursed $6,476.72, 12 from the Zakat funds during the month. We helped 9 families with their rent, utilities, and other expenses this month. We collected $16,209.25 in general or sadaqah donations. We spent $14,730.89 on masjid expenses during this period. This includes regular expenses like insurance, utilities, and cleaning expenses as well as Ramadan preparation expenses.
Dua for forgiveness:
۞ رَبَّنَا آتِنَا فِىْ الدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةً وَفِىْ الآخِرَةِ حَسَنَةً وَّقِنَا عَذَابَ النَّارِ
The Islamic Library on Bilal campus is open for check-out on Sundays before Duhr prayer. More information is on the library's website: pdxil.librarika.com
Sources:
For Prayer times, please visit Daily Prayer Times
Bilal Masjid Website: bilalmasjid.com \
For any comments, questions, or suggestions, please email us at [email protected]
Written by
Mahnoor Ali