Learning Arabic (speaking)

So I’m sitting in the Arabic class last night... I'm a bit tired so I'm finding it a bit hard to grasp everything that the imam is teaching us about ‘harf tawkeed’ which is words of emphasis/certainty. :S

Eg “InnAllaha qaadiron ‘ala kulli shayyin” - “Verily Allah is all powerful over all things” –

The “inna” in Arabic being the “verily” in English; but let me tell you this ‘verily’ does not describe the emphasis that Arabic does; the difference is that the emphasis in Arabic is much stronger than just ‘verily’, it means absolutely, without a doubt, certainly!!! Basically a very strong emphasis!

So you might be thinking so what’s so hard about that?!

Well nothing… until he goes on and tells us how to use this emphasis with each personal pronoun!! Innee (Certainly I…), Inna-naa (Certainly we …), Inna-ka (Certainly you …) and so on.

Ok Im surviving …

…hang on! the “inna” word of emphasis slightly changes if you want to use it in the middle of a sentence!! It becomes “anna [ah-nna]”.

So I'm telling myself, ok take it slowly, breathe... Arabic is beautiful… you can do it…

LOL there’s one more way to EXTRA emphasize what you want to say =O By using the “inna” previously mentioned and one more word “Li” in the same sentence

So eg. a verse from the Qur’an: “Inna shshirka ladhul-mon ‘adheemon” – The emphasis words being inna and la

And the meaning is “Most certainly (without a doubt), partnership to Allah (considering someone or something to be equal or greater than Allah) is a great wrong doing” - You can’t emphasize it more than that can you?! WRONG!!! In Arabic you can!

And here’s where I’m going, ok one more rule and I’m gonna stop breathing !!

… and the reminder as to why we’re here, learning Arabic, came just at the right time

Imam explained this specific verse, that I just mentioned above in more detail, but this detail made me go WOW!

So let me try and explain each word and hopefully you’ll go at least ¼ of the wow that I went.

“Inna shshirka ladhul-mon ‘adheemon”

Inna – as we already established means Verily/truly/certainly/ without a doubt

Shirk – partnership to Allah SWT

La – is a word of emphasis that is used with inna which gives more emphasis to the noun that follows it

Dhulmon – this word means wrong doing on a huge scale, imam explained it as oppression (absence of right) and if you add a letter ‘t’ (dhul-ma-ton) to the end of this word the meaning becomes “darkness”; so as we can see the word’s pretty harsh. Plus with the 'la' before it it's even harsher

‘Adheem – this word means GREAT/MAGNIFICENT

So basically every single word used in this verse is a word of strong emphasis. “Certainly shirk is most certainly a tremendous wrong”. Shirk btw is one sin that is not forgiven by Allah.

And then another inspiration to keep going with Arabic, that left me in awe of Allah’s Book

Imam explained verse 2 of surah al ‘asr

1. By the token of time,
2. Verily Man is in loss,
3. Except such as have Faith, and do righteous deeds, and (join together) in the mutual enjoining of Truth, and of Patience and Constancy

2. “ Innal insaana lafee khusr” – Verily man is in loss

As we can see the verse uses the word of emphasis ‘inna’ at the beginning and ‘la’ to add extra emphasis. So we most certainly are in a huge loss.

And look how Allah continues so beautifully, with the word ‘except...’ (illa) =)

It’s like Allah swears by time, that we are without a doubt in such huge loss – and this is where you freak out and go omg omg omg … but then He swt says "EXCEPT ..."

What a beautiful class mashAllah!! Alhamdulillah! =)

Essence of Islam

We just finished Essence of Islam class and for the millionth time I'm telling myself there's nothing more perfect than Islam. So simple yet... (im without words). MashAllah!
Topics discussed were Islam, Iman and Ihsan - what are they and what part each one plays under Islam. Islam being the outward actions and what we're supposed to do such as the five daily prayers; Iman being the why do we do it and Ihsan is the intention and doing it holistically, with excellence.
"Islaam provides a set of rules by which one is guided outwardly to fulfil one's responsibility to Allah. Imaan provides an understanding of who we are and why we ought to do what is asked of us. Ihasaan adds to both Islaam and Imaan, a clear orientation of the intention of the heart."

The main lesson I took out of this class was to know Allah is to reflect on His creation and understand the place of everything around you in relation to Allah swt.

From AGC Website:

The Fiji Islands was struck by a significant cyclone. A category 4 major storm, Cyclone Tomas had winds of up to 205 km/hr, affecting its 2nd largest island, Vanua Levu and many of the surrounding islands, including Kadavu and Taveuni. On Tuesday 16th March, 2010, the impact of the cyclone was evident as nearly 20,000 people fled to either evacuation centres or other shelters. The total population of Fiji’s 2nd largest island is approximately 130,000, thus affecting more than 15% of the total population of the island.

A significant number of homes have been destroyed, leaving many of the 20,000 people at the mercy of the elements and makeshift shelters due to the overcrowding at many of the evacuation centres. A cyclone of this nature also destroys the natural crops and makes much of the fresh water sources flooded, extremely muddied and not suitable as potable water.

Al-Ghazzali Centre already has its Humanitarian and Welfare program, The Ansaar Project (formerly known as the Crescent Project) in Fiji Islands by partnering with a reputable local sister organisation, Iqra Islamic Trust, based in Suva, Fiji. Consequently, through The Ansaar Project, we have undertaken a reconnaissance overview of the situation in Vanua Levu through our partnerships with local Mosque organisations, Macuata Muslim League. Through this feedback, The Ansaar Project is preparing to provide emergency assistance to the local efforts for short-term stabilisation of the human suffering due to the cyclone.

Al-Ghazzali Centre will coordinate financial assistance as well as a possible volunteer team comprising of skilled construction personnel from Australia, Rasheed Memorial Dawah Trust in New Zealand and Iqra Islamic Trust to provide short-term relief support to the key affected areas at this stage on Vanua Levu.

Our proposed forward planning at this early stage is:

Phase 1 (confirmed, current phase seeking your assistance)

• Iqra Fiji coordinate fundraising in Fiji and New Zealand (in collaboration with Rasheed Memorial Trust).
• Al-Ghazzali Centre coordinate fundraising in Australia.
• Iqra Fiji to finalise reconnaissance and needs checklist.
• Iqra Fiji to secure local transportation assistance.
• Iqra Fiji to place emergency packs order and arrange deliveries.

Phase 2 (Week 4 from current time)

• Pay for emergency packs in Fiji, transport by boat to Savusavu.
• Engage local transportation for on-location deliveries.
• Iqra Fiji to update on delivery timelines.

Phase 3 (Proposal only)

• Re-evaluate on-location and ground-zero situations for re-construction assistance.
• Estimate re-construction needs and assess our SWOT.
• ISurplus funds to be directed to any re-construction efforts.

Donations can be made by electronic transfer or using Pay Pal:

Electronic Transfer
Al-Ghazzali Centre
Bank: Westpac
BSB: 032024
Acc: 401251
Ref: TomasFJ

What is coming up at al-Ghazzali Centre??

Assalaam alaikum All,

There is always so much happening at AGC.

If you are interested in Islamic History, then Cities of Light DVD will be screening at out next xpresso event. April 17th at AGC in Sydney - 7pm. You will need to register online if you would like to go!

If e-learning is more your style, then register for The Creed of Islam. This way you can learn at your own pace from the comfort of your home. Starting May 1st.

Every month Sisters and Brothers (Separate evenings) Dhikr nights are held. Please check out the al-ghazzali website for more information on those evenings.

There is heaps more happening in Sydney, ADL, Melb, with the help of our partner - Ayn Academy. So keep checking back here and the website for more!

Peace!