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May 2024 Newsletter

Bilal Masjid
MasjidPlus AI
1 year ago

BILAL MASJID NEWSLETTER

MAY 2024

 

Asalamualaikum and welcome to the May 2024 newsletter!

In the newsletter we cover things such as: 

  • Events and activities that are ongoing in Bilal Masjid
  • Have the youth share their research and write about their experiences
  • Talk about our community 
  • Talk about what's happening in the Islamic World

(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] 

Dhul Qadah

 

According to the Islamic Calendar, we are currently in the month of Dhul Qadah. This marks the 11th month of the Islamic Calendar and is one of the four sacred months ordained by Allah (SWT). During this month, the initiation of fighting is prohibited, as well as in the three other months Dhul Hijjah, Muharram, and Rajab. This year, Dhul Qadah began on May 9th, 2024 and it is the month that follows Shawwal. 

An Ayah that describes this month in the Quran is:

إِنَّ عِدَّةَ ٱلشُّهُورِ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ ٱثْنَا عَشَرَ شَهْرًۭا فِى كِتَـٰبِ ٱللَّهِ يَوْمَ خَلَقَ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضَ مِنْهَآ أَرْبَعَةٌ حُرُمٌۭ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ ٱلدِّينُ ٱلْقَيِّمُ ۚ فَلَا تَظْلِمُوا۟ فِيهِنَّ أَنفُسَكُمْ ۚ وَقَـٰتِلُوا۟ ٱلْمُشْرِكِينَ كَآفَّةًۭ كَمَا يُقَـٰتِلُونَكُمْ كَآفَّةًۭ ۚ وَٱعْلَمُوٓا۟ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ مَعَ ٱلْمُتَّقِينَ ٣٦

"Indeed, the number of months ordained by Allah is twelve—in Allah’s Records since the day He created the heavens and the earth—of which four are sacred. That is the Right Way. So do not wrong one another during these months. And fight the polytheists together as they fight together against you. And know that Allah is with those mindful ˹of Him˺." (Surah At-Tawbah, Ayah 36)

Events

 

Previous Events:

  •  Breakfast every Sunday after Fajr at Bilal Masjid organized by Cool Islam

  • Every Saturday - Sisters Tajweed Halaqa (Bangla) and Illustrated Tajweed (English) 

  • 2nd and 4th Saturdays of the Month - Community Potlucks - ( April 13 and 27)

  • Every Sunday - Sunday School 

  • Every Monday - Ladies Support Group Halaqa 

  • Every Monday and Thursday - Bilal and Cool Islam Arabic School

  • April 11th - Homeschool meeting

  • April 18th - Homeschool gathering

  • April 25th - Homeschool gathering

  • April 26th - Imam Toure's Quran Tafseer class 

  • April 28th - Monthly book reading by Imam Toure

Upcoming Events: 

  • Every Sunday - Sunday School (10:30 am - 2:00 pm)

  • Every Monday - Ladies Support Group Halaqa (6:00 pm - 8:30 pm)- For more information contact: [email protected]

  • Every Monday and Thursday - Bilal and Cool Islam Arabic School (4:00 pm - 8:00 pm)  

  •  Every Saturday - Sisters Tajweed Halaqa (Bangla) (9:00 am - 10:30 am) and Illustrated Tajweed (English) (10:30 am - 12:15 pm)                                - For more information contact: [email protected]

  • 2nd and 4th Saturdays of the Month - Community Potlucks - (May 11 and 25)  (6:00 pm - 8:00 pm)

  • May 17th and 31st - Ladies Quran Halaqa (Arabic Speakers) (7:30 pm - 9:30 pm)

  • Homeschool Groups - Every Tuesday (10:00 am - 2:00 pm)

  • May 31st - Imam Toure's Tafseer Class (6:15 pm - 7:00 pm)

Our May 2024 book reading program will be held on May 26th at noon. During the book reading program  InshaAllah we will learn about Prophet Salih (AS) from Ibn Kathir's book "Stories of the Prophets". Imam Toure will lead the discussion and comment on Prophet Salih (AS).

Sunday School Contests

 

Last month at Bilal Masjid Sunday School, there was a competition for students in level 7 and above, with girls submitting pieces of writing and boys calling the adhaan. In the adhaan competition, the winners were:

- 1st Place: Ammar Fahim (Level 9)

- 2nd Place: Jamal Sadek and Ayan Masoud (Level 9)

- 3rd Place: Ehan Masoud (Level 9)

The winners of the girls’ literature competition were Zahra Khan (Level 7) with the best poem and Hadije Rahim (Level 9) with the best story. 

Here is the poem submitted by Zahra: 

In Ramadan, the moon's gentle glow,

Guides hearts to reflection, a spiritual flow.

From dawn till dusk, in prayer and emotion,

Fasting souls find peace, through devotion.

Through acts of good, light shines bright,

Breaking fast with loved ones, a joyous sight.

In Ramadan's grace, forgiveness takes flight,

A month of blessings, in darkness and light.

Here is an excerpt from Hadije’s story:

In the bustling city of Kabul, the liveliest city in all of Afghanistan, lived a pashtun boy named Hassan with his father, Abdullah and mother Zahra. Abdullah was a famous and very successful businessman, who owned multiple companies both in Kabul and Tehran. The three lived in a modest multi storied home at the end of the street, with a gated entrance, an elegant marble flooring on the inside and a beautiful rooftop where all of Kabul could be seen from it. 

Hassan’s hazel eyes were filled with many wonders, finding joy in the simplest pleasures. His favorite was flying kites, the most popular activity among the children of Kabul. There was something about the way the kites flew that always kept Hassan in love with kite flying, all the different colors soaring in the sky that filled Hassan with a sense of happiness. The skills involved to be the last kite standing when fighting was something he worked on everyday but most importantly, it was Hassan’s one dream to be a kite champion like his father once was. 

Abdullah, Hassan's father, a kind-hearted man always looked forward to Ramadan.  He had taught Hassan the importance of Ramadan, the virtues of patience, gratitude, and giving. Ramadan was special, Abduallah wanted to spend iftar, to gather at his place as a community and break their fast together. Every night of Ramadan, when the sun would set, everyone in the neighborhood would gather at Hassan’s house where they together observed the fast breaking it after hearing the imam’s call to prayer at the local masjid. Abdullah was always looking to share their home meals with anyone who might pass by their door. Hassan's father would always say “Hassan this is the blessed month, the month where giving away is most important. Allah (swt) has gifted us so much, to share, that is our duty in this world, to remind ourselves to give to those who don't have’. 

FINANCE

 

During April 2024 we collected $58,345.01 in zakat funds. This includes the 20,196.50 collected for Zakat-ul Fitra. We disbursed $31,483.63 from the Zakat funds during the month including the Fitra distribution. This month, we helped 16 families with their rent, utilities, and other expenses. 

During March 2024, we collected $69,742.71 in general or sadaqah donations. This includes the Ramadan fund and masjid improvement fund donations. We spent $95,974.26  on masjid expenses during this period. This includes regular expenses like insurance, utilities, cleaning, Ramadan, and Eid expenses.  

 

Dua for purifying the heart:

۞  اللهم طهر قلبي من كل سوء ، اللهم طهر قلبي من كل ما يبغضك، اللهم طهر قلبي من كل غلٍ وحقدٍ وحسد وكبر

Oh Allah, clean away all forms of evil from my heart. Oh Allah, clean my heart and remove everything that displeases you. Oh Allah, clean my heart of every form of bitterness, hard feelings, and jealousy.

BILAL MASJID ISLAMIC LIBRARY

 

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