Episode 44: Hamza (ra) Accepts Islam and The Aftermath of The Migration to Abyssinia

The post Seerah – Life of the Prophet: Hamza (ra) Accepts Islam and The Aftermath of The Migration to Abyssinia appeared first on Qalam Institute.

Episode 43: al-Najashi: King of Abyssinia

The post Seerah – Life of the Prophet: al-Najashi: King of Abyssinia appeared first on Qalam Institute.

Episode 42: The Wisdom of the Migration to Abyssinia

The post Seerah – Life of the Prophet: The Wisdom of the Migration to Abyssinia appeared first on Qalam Institute.

Episode 41: The Migration to Abyssinia

The post Seerah – Life of the Prophet: The Migration to Abyssinia appeared first on Qalam Institute.

Episode 40: The Prophet, Utba bin Rabi’ah & Surah Fussilat

The post Seerah – Life of the Prophet: The Prophet, Utba bin Rabi’ah & Surah Fussilat appeared first on Qalam Institute.

Episode 39: A Diverse Community – Abu Dharr Ghifari & Dhimad Accept Islam

The post Seerah – Life of the Prophet: A Diverse Community – Abu Dharr Ghifari & Dhimad Accept Islam appeared first on Qalam Institute.

Episode 38: The Prophet stands up to Abu Jahl

The post Seerah – Life of the Prophet: The Prophet stands up to Abu Jahl appeared first on Qalam Institute.

Episode 37: The Torture & Suffering of the Early Muslims in Makkah

The post Seerah – Life of the Prophet: The Torture & Suffering of the Early Muslims in Makkah appeared first on Qalam Institute.

Episode 36: The Prophet Recruits Talented Young People

The post Seerah – Life of the Prophet: The Prophet Recruits Talented Young People appeared first on Qalam Institute.

Episode 35: Two Uncles with Different Responses – Abu Talib and Abu Lahab

The post Seerah – Life of the Prophet: Two Uncles with Different Responses – Abu Talib and Abu Lahab appeared first on Qalam Institute.

Episode 34: The Prophet Presents Islam & Appeals to Banu Hashim

The post Seerah – Life of the Prophet: The Prophet Presents Islam & Appeals to Banu Hashim appeared first on Qalam Institute.

Episode 33: A Community in the Making – Some of the early Companions (ra)

The post Seerah – Life of the Prophet: A Community in the Making – Some of the early Companions (ra) appeared first on Qalam Institute.

Episode 32: The Next 3 Converts: Ali bin Abi Talib, Zayd bin Harithah & Abu Bakr (ra)

The post Seerah – Life of the Prophet: The Next 3 Converts: Ali bin Abi Talib, Zayd bin Harithah & Abu Bakr (ra) appeared first on Qalam Institute.

Episode 31: The First Four Revelations & The First Convert To Islam

The post Seerah – Life of the Prophet: The First Four Revelations & The First Convert To Islam appeared first on Qalam Institute.

Episode 30: Divine Revelation and Inspiration: It’s Nature, Protection, Preservation, Types, and Interaction

The post Seerah – Life of the Prophet: Divine Revelation and Inspiration: It’s Nature, Protection, Preservation, Types, and Interaction appeared first on Qalam Institute.

Episode 29: Pause and Continuation of Revelation

The post Seerah – Life of the Prophet: Pause and Continuation of Revelation appeared first on Qalam Institute.

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The post Family Values appeared first on Qalam Institute.

Episode 28: Read. The Right Man For The Job: Aftermath of Revelation, Khadijah & Waraqah bin Nawfal

The post Seerah – Life of the Prophet: The Right Man For The Job: Aftermath of Revelation, Khadijah & Waraqah bin Nawfal appeared first on Qalam Institute.

Episode 27: Read. The First Revelation

The post Seerah – Life of the Prophet: Read. The First Revelation appeared first on Qalam Institute.

Episode 26: The Cave of Hira

The post Seerah – Life of the Prophet: The Cave of Hira appeared first on Qalam Institute.

Khutbah on Defending the Honor of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) and the current crisis in the Middle East.

The post Defending the Honor of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) appeared first on Qalam Institute.

Episode 25: Salman al-Farsi, Amr bin Murrah al-Juhani & Prophecies About the Coming of Revelation

The post Seerah – Life of the Prophet: Salman al-Farsi, Amr bin Murrah al-Juhani & Prophecies About the Coming of Revelation appeared first on Qalam Institute.

Episode 24: The Approach of Revelation

The post Seerah – Life of the Prophet: The Approach of Revelation appeared first on Qalam Institute.

Episode 23: Placing of the Black Stone and History of the Kabah

The post Seerah – Life of the Prophet: Placing of the Black Stone and History of the Kabah appeared first on Qalam Institute.

Episode 22: Muhammad the Family Man & Renovation of the Kabah

The post Seerah – Life of the Prophet: Muhammad the Family Man & Renovation of the Kabah appeared first on Qalam Institute.

Episode 21: The Prophet Marries Khadijah

The post Seerah – Life of the Prophet: The Prophet Marries Khadijah appeared first on Qalam Institute.

Episode 20: Muhammad The Businessman & A Marriage Proposal

The post Seerah – Life of the Prophet: Muhammad The Businessman & A Marriage Proposal appeared first on Qalam Institute.

Finding Faith and Community: Lessons from the story of Salman Al-Farsi

The post Finding Faith and Community: Lessons from the story of Salman Al-Farsi appeared first on Qalam Institute.

Episode 19: The Virtuous Pact of Social Justice

The post Seerah – Life of the Prophet: The Virtuous Pact of Social Justice appeared first on Qalam Institute.

Episode 18: The Sacrilegious War

The post Seerah – Life of the Prophet: The Sacrilegious War appeared first on Qalam Institute.

Episode 17: The Teenage Years

The post Seerah – Life of the Prophet: The Teenage Years appeared first on Qalam Institute.

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The post Mind the Gap: Improving Family Relations appeared first on Qalam Institute.

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The post Never Give Up Hope appeared first on Qalam Institute.

Episode 16: Bhaira The Monk

The post Seerah – Life of the Prophet: Bhaira The Monk appeared first on Qalam Institute.

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The post Why Should I Be Thankful appeared first on Qalam Institute.

Episode 15: With His Loving Grandfather & Uncle

The post Seerah – Life of the Prophet: With His Loving Grandfather & Uncle appeared first on Qalam Institute.

Episode 14: Death of the Prophets Mother

The post Seerah – Life of the Prophet: Death of the Prophets Mother appeared first on Qalam Institute.

A khutbah by Shaykh Abdul Nasir Jangda titled “The Ummah is Like One Body – Remebering Syria in Our Prayers”.

The post The Ummah is Like One Body – Remebering Syria in Our Prayers appeared first on Qalam Institute.

A lecture by Shaykh Abdul Nasir Jangda titled “Through the Good Times & the Bad”.

The post Through the Good Times & the Bad appeared first on Qalam Institute.

Episode 13: Splitting of his Chest

The post Seerah – Life of the Prophet: Splitting of his Chest appeared first on Qalam Institute.

A khutbah by Abdelrahman Murphy titled “Lessons from Surah Asr”.

The post Lessons from Surah Asr appeared first on Qalam Institute.

Episode 12: Halimah’s Blessing

The post Seerah – Life of the Prophet: Halimah’s Blessing appeared first on Qalam Institute.

The post Happiness in the Home appeared first on Qalam Institute.

A lecture by Shaykh Abdul Nasir Jangda titled “Being a Slave of Allah”.

The post Being a Slave of Allah appeared first on Qalam Institute.

Episode 11: The Women Who Cared for the Prophet

The post Seerah – Life of the Prophet: The Women Who Cared for the Prophet appeared first on Qalam Institute.

A khutbah by Abdelrahman Murphy titled “Life is Tough: Lessons from the Life of Musa”.

The post Life is Tough: Lessons from the Life of Musa appeared first on Qalam Institute.

Episode 10: Birth of the Messenger Pt 2

The post Seerah – Life of the Prophet: Birth of the Messenger Pt 2 appeared first on Qalam Institute.

Episode 9: Birth of the Messenger Pt 1

The post Seerah – Life of the Prophet: Birth of the Messenger Pt 1 appeared first on Qalam Institute.

Episode 8: The Prophets Parents

The post Seerah – Life of the Prophet: The Prophets Parents appeared first on Qalam Institute.

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The post Istikharah: How To & Why? appeared first on Qalam Institute.

Episode 7: Invasion of the Elephants

The post Seerah – Life of the Prophet: Invasion of the Elephants appeared first on Qalam Institute.

The Pursuit of Knowledge Lecture Series: Part 5 By Shaykh Abdul Nasir Jangda

The post The Pursuit of Knowledge Pt 5 appeared first on Qalam Institute.

Get hands on training for giving effective and relevant khutbahs! Sign up for the Khateeb Workshop!

Between 2 Worlds

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The post Khutbahs of the Prophet: Between 2 Worlds appeared first on Qalam Institute.

A lecture by Shaykh Abdul Nasir Jangda titled “In-Law Interference”.

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The Pursuit of Knowledge Lecture Series: Part 4 By Shaykh Abdul Nasir Jangda

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Get hands on training for giving effective and relevant khutbahs! Sign up for the Khateeb Workshop!

Let the Quran Be Your Guide

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The post Juma: Learn About One of the Khutbahs Given by the Prophet (s) Himself appeared first on Qalam Institute.

A lecture by Shaykh Abdul Nasir Jangda titled “Leadership Lessons from the Quran”.

The post Leadership Lessons from the Quran appeared first on Qalam Institute.

The Pursuit of Knowledge Lecture Series: Part 3 By Shaykh Abdul Nasir Jangda

The post The Pursuit of Knowledge Pt 3 appeared first on Qalam Institute.

A lecture by Shaykh Abdul Nasir Jangda titled “Parenting Lessons from the Story of Maryam”.

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The Pursuit of Knowledge Lecture Series: Part 2 By Shaykh Abdul Nasir Jangda

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*Sign up for Stand & Deliver – Khateeb Training Workshop!

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The post The First Khutbah of the Prophet (s) in Medinah appeared first on Qalam Institute.

You can tune into the sessions live here: http://www.qalaminstitute.org/live/

All sessions are recorded and podcast here: http://www.qalaminstitute.org/category/podcast/

The post Seerah class update appeared first on Qalam Institute.

A lecture by Shaykh Abdul Nasir Jangda titled “Salah & Marriage”.

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The Pursuit of Knowledge Lecture Series: Part 1 By Shaykh Abdul Nasir Jangda

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Shaykh Abdul Nasir Jangda delivered a series of lectures about seeking knowledge and its etiquette.  The series addresses the following issues and more:

• Intention one should have when seeking knowledge
• Purpose of seeking knowledge
• Method of seeking knowledge
• Beneficial vs non-beneficial knowledge
• How to succeed in attaining knowledge
• Challenges and road-blocks when seeking knowledge
• Role and respect of the teacher
• Maintaining humility with increasing knowledge
• Overcoming arrogance and other side-effects of attaining knowledge
• Balancing the pursuit of knowledge with spirituality, family life, and other responsibilities
• Advice of previous scholars in regards to seeking knowledge

These lectures will be podcast on a weekly basis starting Tuesday November 22nd inshAllah.

The post Lecture Series: The Pursuit of Knowledge appeared first on Qalam Institute.

A lecture by Shaykh Abdul Nasir Jangda titled “Pure Practice”.

The post Pure Practice appeared first on Qalam Institute.

Alhamdulillah, Bayyinah Institute and Qalam Institute are pleased to announce a new collaborative effort.

Bayyinah Institute is well recognized for its high quality instruction in Arabic and Quranic studies. Qalam Institute has focused on tackling Islamic issues affecting individuals, families, and communities from with a relevant and practical approach.

Simply put: We all know that Islam contains the solution to whatever issues we face. We hope that working together, this collaboration equips as many people as possible with the tools to learn the religion, and the direction to implement it in a way that the religion is a positive and practical source of coming closer to Allah

Watch a detailed interview on the collaboration below.

Click here to view the embedded video.

The post Bayyinah & Qalam Institute Official Collaboration appeared first on Qalam Institute.

Khutbah by Shaykh Abdul Nasir Jangda titled “Establishing Communication”.

The post Establishing Communication appeared first on Qalam Institute.

Episode 6: History of Zamzam

The post Seerah – Life of the Prophet: History of Zamzam appeared first on Qalam Institute.

Episode 5: Monotheism Before Islam

The post Seerah – Life of the Prophet: Monotheism Before Islam appeared first on Qalam Institute.

Khutbah by Shaykh Abdul Nasir Jangda about community repair.

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The post Seerah – Life of the Prophet: Pre-Islamic Society Pt 2 appeared first on Qalam Institute.

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The post Seerah – Life of the Prophet: Intro Pt 1 appeared first on Qalam Institute.

The post Eid Khutbah – Gratitude appeared first on Qalam Institute.

The Eid khutbah is one of the most difficult to deliver, primarily because most people do not get the opportunity. As an example, I have been giving khutbah regularly for almost 10 years. It’s so long ago that I recorded my first ever khutbah on a micro-cassette recorder. Despite that, I have delivered only two Eid khutbahs (and one was this past Eid). One of the things I struggled with was finding a good Eid khutbah to use as a model – and the primary reason for that is most Eid khutbahs I found were simply too long.

The toughest thing about Eid – no one wants to listen to you. They want to get on with the party. So the challenge is, give people something meaningful, while still holding their attention.

With that in mind, take out a few minutes to watch Wisam Sharieff’s Eid khutbah from this year.

These are the important take-aways-

1. Keep it SHORT. 10 minutes, maybe 15. Anything past 20-25 minutes will cause the audience to ignore everything you have said. They won’t be listening, they’ll just be wondering when you’re going to finish so the triple-hugging can commence.

2. Keep it RELEVANT. The examples about alcohol were something everyone could easily relate to. I must also point out something important in regards to the video game and rap music references: They have to be real. By that, I mean the speaker actually needs to understand what he is talking about. Wisam obviously makes that work. An example of it not working is this: Imagine a guy with a heavy accent saying “And the boys must lower their gaze, stop the liking Hannah Montana” – you can tell that a reference was just thrown in to sound hip. Don’t do that. Instead,

3. Be YOURSELF. Wisam mentioned that a khutbah with the same message was being given by multiple imams in different localities. Does this mean that they all copied the same khutbah verbatim? No. They took a central message, but they put their own personal spin on it. That’s what made it effective. The personality and perspective of the speaker is what makes a generic message so powerful in this situation.

4. Be POSITIVE. Eid is not the time to tell people about the 300 reasons they are destined for Hell. It’s a celebration – remind people of that. We spend the entire year beating each other (and ourselves) up. The Eid message is drastically different.

5. Be FOCUSED, but be GENERAL. You have a large audience, and an audience that does not regularly come to the masjid. In fact, this might be the only prayer they make all year. This also means you have people coming from all different backgrounds. The socio-economic makeup of your masjid no longer matters, because everyone is coming out. So your message must be one that can resonate with the lowest common denominator of your crowd. Not only that, but it must be a message that can bring those people closer to Allah. That’s the general part. The Focus part of it is making sure that you stick to your core topic. Don’t get so worked up about ‘saving’ all those people that you begin to discuss 10 different issues. Pick ONE issue. Focus on it. Make it relevant to everyone. And then knock it out of the park.

The post Case Study: 5 Important Tips from Wisam Sharieff’s Eid Khutbah appeared first on Qalam Institute.

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The trick is to be to be thinking about what to say next while you’re speaking about your current point. So for example,assume you are giving a talk on forgiveness, patience, and sincerity. While speaking about forgiveness, your mind needs to be formulating what you’re going to say about patience. For someone who is not used to it, this can be difficult to master, and sometimes even harder to explain – but it can make an essential difference in the quality and, more importantly, the flow of your speech.

I learned this skill in high school (a long time ago) because I was involved in the debate team. I regularly gave what most considered to be the most difficult speech – 5 minutes to respond to 13 minutes of arguments by the other team. During a debate, there is a system by which you take notes (or “flow”) the other teams arguments. Generally, after they finish talking you take a couple of minutes of preparation time to quickly prepare your counter-arguments.

One of my teachers taught me a trick, and it radically transformed my entire approach. While the other team was making their arguments, instead of writing down what they were saying, I was instead immediately writing my responses to their arguments. This meant that as soon as their 13 minutes finished, I immediately stood up for my 5 minute rebuttal speech without any preparation needed. A lot of practice at this actually changed the way that I think and analyze. It also enabled me to quickly formulate points in my head further ahead in my speech, even though I may be talking about something else.

For the longest time I did not know of a way to actually teach anyone how to do this, until I ran into an article at chrislocurto.com entitled, ‘How to Speak Gooder.’ He details an easy way to start training your mind in this manner,

Many people struggle with public speaking. For years I’ve helped other people improve their speaking, and there is one issue that always pops up – the inability to think while speaking to a group. What I mean by that is, you get so focused on what you’re saying, or what your script is, that when you mess up, you have nowhere to go. This also has a tendency to create the um’s, and uh’s that so many speakers insert into their talks.

When I started public speaking 16 years ago, I had to deal with this issue as well. It frustrated the daylights out of me mainly because I didn’t want to look stupid standing in front of a group, frozen, not knowing what I was supposed to say next. So I did what I always do, I figured out a way to not do that.

I started asking myself what I could do to train my brain to think in that situation. So I came up with a little brain exercise I now teach to every speaker, or future speaker, I work with. I start by looking around the room to find an object to speak about. Once I pick an object, I start talking nonstop. I quickly find that I am unable to consistently speak about that one object. So I don’t. I change the object quickly in my mind and start talking about it, and then another object, and then another.

As I continued this exercise, I was able to train my brain to think of where I was going, instead of where I am. This also gave me the ability to continue “filling space” with words while I was trying to figure out where I was in my script. Once I remembered it, I would find a place to get back on track. Sounds crazy, but it worked. The more I practiced, the more I was able to think on the fly while speaking.

The post The Best Skill You Can Master to Improve Your Public Speaking appeared first on Qalam Institute.

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The post How to keep the spirit of Ramadan going appeared first on Qalam Institute.

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What Allah Wants For You – Hafidh Wisam Sharieff

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Covenant With Allah – Nouman Ali Khan

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Self Development – Imam Nadim Bashir

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My Guardian – Gaith Adhami

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The post Ramadan 2011 Qiyam Event Recordings – Abdul Nasir Jangda, Nouman Ali Khan, Wisam Sharieff & More appeared first on Qalam Institute.

One of the most annoying things about giving khutbah is the incessant fundraising requests. At your local masjid, it is understandable, but what about when you are just a guest khatīb? My contention is that a fundraising request is one of those things with the most propensity to ruin a good khutbah. I proffer the following situations (which actually happened to me).

Mega-Masjid

I was set to deliver the orphan child khutbah (otherwise known as the 2nd or 3rd jamat for overcrowded masjids – you know, the khutbah where anyone with a beard and a thobe can get up and talk and the board doesn’t even care). Before going up, someone asks me to solicit funds for the masjid at the end of my khutbah. Normally I would argue, but I decided it was not worth the hassle and I would throw in something.

This happened to be one of those khutbahs where I got fired up, lost myself in the moment, and felt that I gave one of my better khutbahs (I don’t remember the topic, but it obviously wasn’t humility). After ending on a high note, and completing the closing supplications, I was about to announce the commencement of salah. And then I caught myself. Before I could, I had to say,

Oh.. uhhh… and the masjid requested you to donate something

So what was accomplished? My wonderful khutbah ended on a lame and annoying note. And on top of that, I doubt anyone was actually encouraged to donate any money as a result of this announcement. Would it be better to skip the announcement, and then lie if asked about it?

Established but Smaller Masjid

This one is unavoidable. As I get ready to stand up on the minbar, I get handed a sheet of paper and simply told, “for the end of your khutbah brozer.” It’s a half sheet of typed announcements. I tuck it behind my notes and think nothing of it.

I finish the khutbah (again on a high note), and then see that piece of paper. “oh … uhhh… hold on” And then I proceed to read about 5 announcements. 3 of them about parking, one about fundraising, and the last one was probably something important about family or kids or something, but I can’t remember now.

Again, effective? No. But that’s just the way it’s done, so the masjid did it.

Start-up Masjid

The comforts of the rented store-front, where expectations are practically zero. It’s where you can deliver an average khutbah and still feel like Siraj Wahaj. During this fleeting moment after salah, I got blindsided. The uncle making announcements (an elder, and father of a friend) gets up and says, “…and now Br. Omar will speak a few words.” It took me a second to realize he meant I was going to speak a few words in support of this masjid [to which this was my first visit] and raise funds.

I have never fundraised. Ever. Fundraising takes a special type of personality and charisma – neither of which I have. Completely flabbergasted, I said a few words in support of the masjid and their Imam (a friend) and sat back down in about 10-15 seconds flat.

Solutions???

The obvious one is this: Masjids, do your own fundraising. Stop putting khatībs on the spot.

But when you get stuck, what do you do? So far I have found only one solution.

Picture dinner at the house of a hospitable family. You eat a full meal and dessert. But the host begins to insist that you take more dessert even though you’re full.

“Come on, come on, one more,” they say while putting it in your plate. You keep politely declining and pulling the plate away. If you know urdu, think of takalluf.

You need to treat the fundraising request the same way. And remember, you have the power of the minbar.

One time a board member handed me a sheet of announcements, and told me to read it at the end. I smiled and said, “no you.” And he looked confused, then smiled back and said, “No, no, you have to read this at the end of the khutbah” and I smiled and said, “No, no, you have to read this after salah” and then I got up on the minbar. Discussion over.

I don’t like having to do that, but it seems to be the only way out of making a disingenuous announcement, and also zapping the energy out of your khutbah.

The post Khatīb Diaries: Fundraising Requests appeared first on Qalam Institute.

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If you could change ONE thing about juma khutbahs, or give ONE advice to khateebs, what would it be?

Our plan is to incorporate these responses into our upcoming Khateeb Training Workshop [register now for a $100 discount offered only to the first 25 people]. This is the raw feedback from the people the khutbah matters to most – YOU.

In no particular order, here’s some of the responses we received below. You can still send us your feedback on Twitter, Facebook, or simply leaving a comment on this post. We’ll be sure to share it with the attendees at our workshop!

@QalamInstitute Khatibs shld NOT put people to sleep with boring and irrelevant khutbahs. Shld address issues ppl are facing and feeling.

August 6, 2011 2:31 pm via webReplyRetweetFavorite

@tajimustafa

Taji Mustafa

@QalamInstitute Don't ever walk up the minbar with arrogance in your heart. Speak to the people at their level, so they may understand you.

August 6, 2011 3:46 pm via Twitter for MacReplyRetweetFavorite

@MuntaserQutub

Muntaser Qutub

@QalamInstitute speak from your heart, not a piece of paper

August 6, 2011 2:12 pm via TweetCaster for AndroidReplyRetweetFavorite

@TawheedIsUnity

Ayman Raze

@QalamInstitute mention recent events, explain them, dont ignore them

August 6, 2011 2:12 pm via TweetCaster for AndroidReplyRetweetFavorite

@TawheedIsUnity

Ayman Raze

@QalamInstitute Khatibs shld address issues affectn community (e.g. raising childrn in West) as well as issues facin Umma in Muslim world

August 6, 2011 2:26 pm via webReplyRetweetFavorite

@tajimustafa

Taji Mustafa

@QalamInstitute Don't get into technical fiqh issues. It's supposed to be a reminder & a way to inspire people and keep them close to Allah

August 6, 2011 2:28 pm via Twitter for iPhoneReplyRetweetFavorite

@farhan583

Farhan Abdullah

@QalamInstitute Khatibs shld also giv uplifting khutbahs and encourage us to follow d deen, not just scare us and tell us we're sooo bad

August 6, 2011 2:50 pm via webReplyRetweetFavorite

@tajimustafa

Taji Mustafa

@QalamInstitute 2- fully being aware that giving a Khutbah is standing in the position of our Prophet salAllahu aliahi wa sallam

August 6, 2011 2:50 pm via Twitter for iPhoneReplyRetweetFavorite

@AbdulHasibN

AHN

@QalamInstitute 3- always provide solutions that are practical at the end of the Khutbah. This is supposed to be a call to action,not a rant

August 6, 2011 2:51 pm via Twitter for iPhoneReplyRetweetFavorite

@AbdulHasibN

AHN

@QalamInstitute 4- feel extreme humbleness in Allah allowing His deen to be spread through you, you have been chosen, you haven't earned it

August 6, 2011 2:52 pm via Twitter for iPhoneReplyRetweetFavorite

@AbdulHasibN

AHN

@QalamInstitute 5- a good khatib always takes a break from giving Khutbah and listens to others, speaking ALL the time is not heart healthy

August 6, 2011 2:54 pm via Twitter for iPhoneReplyRetweetFavorite

@AbdulHasibN

AHN

@QalamInstitute Focus on the current issues everyone is facing, the MAIN issue and let's sort that out first.. one by one

August 6, 2011 2:58 pm via webReplyRetweetFavorite

@emanilicious

Asmaa Abdul H

@QalamInstitute speak about specific issues facing given community; don't hide from the real issues and don't be so broad to lose relevance

August 6, 2011 3:40 pm via Twitter for AndroidReplyRetweetFavorite

@khalidmuneeb

Khalid Abdul Majeed

@QalamInstitute Khutbahs should end with a summary of the take-away points. One or two main lessons or practical steps to go home with.

August 6, 2011 3:41 pm via Twitter for iPhoneReplyRetweetFavorite

@BilalAliAnsari

Bilal Ali Ansari

@QalamInstitute increase lecture and Salah time, decrease fundraising time.

August 6, 2011 4:18 pm via Twitter for iPhoneReplyRetweetFavorite

@iSLAM_89

Idris Abdus Salam

@QalamInstitute don't have a khutba on how youtube, facebook, twitter, the internet, by extension, the West, is inherently evil and haraam

August 6, 2011 4:47 pm via Twitter for AndroidReplyRetweetFavorite

@khalidmuneeb

Khalid Abdul Majeed

@QalamInstitute don't tweet about how great your khutbah was right after giving it. #havesomehumility

August 6, 2011 5:21 pm via Twitter for iPhoneReplyRetweetFavorite

@Faiez

Faiez Usman

@QalamInstitute End the khutbah w/ an action plan and take home points, so that people have something to do, instead of just a good feeling

August 6, 2011 5:41 pm via webReplyRetweetFavorite

@strategos33

Mohammad Usama Zahid

@QalamInstitute After the khutbah, khatib should take out time to mix with people and be approachable, not get lost in individual worship.

August 6, 2011 5:46 pm via webReplyRetweetFavorite

@BilalAliAnsari

Bilal Ali Ansari

@QalamInstitute khutbahs need to come from the heart and not something that was plagiarized last night

August 6, 2011 5:48 pm via Tweetbot for iPhoneReplyRetweetFavorite

@adamtaufique

Adam Taufique

@QalamInstitute don't parrot what you just heard on CNN news (verbatim). You're better off doing the moonwalk. spiritually elevate, motivate

August 6, 2011 6:06 pm via webReplyRetweetFavorite

@adnanfaiz

Adnan X Faiz

The post YOUR Advice About The Juma Khutbah appeared first on Qalam Institute.

Here’s what last year’s students had to say about the program,

No one can ever underestimate the power of Jumua specifically the Jumua Khutbah. Muslims that are never exposed to anything remotely Islamic will come to Jumua without ever being invited or asked to come. Hence the jumua khutbah needs to be top-notch and the person delivering the Khutbah better be prepared and ready to inspire people and be a tool for bringing the audience closer to Allah. This workshop is one of the first of its kind from what I know. When you think about the importance of the Jumua Khutbah and the immense responsibility of the Khateeb, how is it possible that we dont have more preparatory programs like this one so we can have the highest quality khutbahs being delivered all across the nation? The Khateeb workshop gave me really practical tips on how to improve my khutbahs from every angle. We need to support such programs and encourage all current and potential khateebs to take it.
-Mohammed Mana, California

The wisdom shared by the shuyookh at the workshop was absolutely priceless. Myself and friends take lots of seminar, but this workshop gave us a framework of wisdom to work within such that we can benefit people with our knowledge and not harm them. The workshop was also very practical and in writing and presenting khutbah’s to the shuyookh we helped to isolate problems in our delivery or style. I would say this course is mandatory upon every student of knowledge because it gives them the tools they need to put their knowledge to its proper use, which is standing and delivering!
-Nadeem Ramjan, New York

What an amazing workshop! The knowledge was very helpful and the practice sessions really helped me improve my ability to give khutub and khatiras. Even more amazing was the company – I got a chance to meet other active khateebs and community leaders from communities all across North America.
-Ibraheem Khalifa, North Carolina

I loved the way the instructors focused on the theoretical aspects of the basic importance and etiquettes of the Jumu’uah khutba as well as giving some of the most practical advice you may ever find. That balance flowed throughout the whole course and really made it that much more of an enriching learning experience.
-Zain Ali, New York

One of the most practical and beneficial workshops/classes I’ve ever taken. It cleared a lot of questions/uncertainties that I use to have, what to do in certain situations, what to say and what not to say, how to prepare properly, how to grab people’s attention, how to make the khutbah cohesive, and a lot more. It’s definitely worth the time, money and effort you put in. And the company is amazing from the teachers to the students to the community members you might meet.
-Ebraheim Ismail, Massachusetts

The khateeb workshop was the most beneficial and practical workshop I’ve attended in the last three years. The tips and advice given to us by the instructors were pointers which every khateeb needs to be aware of when they get on the minbar.
-Nihal Khan, New Jersey

The post Testimonials – Khateeb Workshop 2010 appeared first on Qalam Institute.

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It is with a saddened heart that I write this post. I have been writing and gathering material for khutbas at Wesleyan and Trinity for the past three years. I have trained brothers on how to deliver the khutba and offer guidance on the Arabic pronunciation. Sometimes I really love the khutbas that I write. Other times, I feel the need to be nourished and want to hear another’s voice- another’s words. So, you can imagine the expectation I have when I finally find the resolve to take my 13 month old daughter with me to Jumua’ prayers at the masjid. In a hurried rush to get everything in order (sippy cup, blueberries, wipes, diapers….oh yea, and my keys and phone) I accidentally forget my wallet but decide while driving that I would miss too much of the precious khutba if I were to turn around now. I would continue on making the dua’a of the traveler and praying that a police officer does not pull me over.

Sumaya and I ended up parking very far so I wouldn’t get stuck trying to get out of post Jumua’ gridlock. I carried my little munchkin and as we cut through the palpable humid air, my spirits were beginning to rise. Yes, this is exactly what I need after a tough week. As we entered the masjid, I took off my shoes, offered salaams to women I did not know and made my way up the stairs to the women’s section. The athaan began to resound against the walls and I wondered how familiar Sumaya was by now with the inflections and rhythm of the melodic call to prayer.

Taking a toddler to Jumua’ is no easy task. One needs an arsenal of distractions, in order that others may not be distracted by Sumaya’s need to talk over the khateeb. The khutba began and I could instantly tell that this wasn’t what I was looking for. The khateeb was speaking about dhulm (oppression) and the various ways we can oppress. While this may have been a timely topic, I was so discouraged by the style. I felt patronized and I surely did not go to my beloved masjid to be yelled at. You see, my dear khateebs, life is not easy. There are moments everyday that we struggle to be good. We have the option to relax, but with our heads bowed down we plow through. We plow through the desires, the dirty diapers, the incessant whining, the burnt toast, and the sticky humidity. There are moments that we fail, we fail miserably actually. Our fuse too short, our struggles too shallow. I know that and I bet my fellow brother sitting far away knows that too. And so, what I need from you, ya khateeb, is to allow me to leave the masjid inspired. I know it is not easy to inspire. It is much easier to shout. And you too will have your off days. Maybe you won’t be able to inspire me, but if you can’t do that, then maybe you can leave me with some hope. You see, even during my summer vacation, I look forward to Fridays and the weekend. I look forward to becoming the person I ultimately envision myself to be- and shouting at me for trying- well, I just can’t accept that. I need you to tell me the stories of Muhammad, Yaqub, Musa, and Mariam. We all have a story to tell, but you are the ultimate storyteller. Every Friday when men are obligated to listen to you, you have the ability to transform their lives- with a dose of sheer will power here, Divine guidance there, and the feeling that successful indeed are the believers, always. Give us the opportunity to feel our mini-ascensions with Allah.

And if still you cannot do that, please do no harm- the harm of turning away a brother on the brink of giving up his faith, or the sister that has seen religion break up her family.

My dear khateeb, as Muslims living in America, we need to be tough everyday. We put our best foot forward in the workplace and the grocery stores. We lower our gazes when we just want to take our family to the park. We have built a tough exterior as we hear the false statements accepted as truth about our beloved religion. And so, each step we take towards our masjid, every shoe that fits inside the cubicle, every sajda that is made on the carpet floor sheds our armor. Our armor is so very heavy. Allow us, if you will, for those few beautiful moments as your listeners to feel weightless.

Allow me to fly. If you cannot, I beg you, please do not cut off my wings.

Once you become a regular khateeb it’s easy to lose sight of the basics. Standing on the pulpit of the Prophet (saw) is a trust between you and your Lord. You have a duty to convey a message that brings the congregation closer to Him. A message that inspires them and motivates them to want to be closer to Him.

A khateeb must also be well acquainted with the struggles that all Muslims face on a daily basis. As Marwa said, we have to be tough every day. The kids getting made fun of at school, the guy who just lost his job, the husband and wife who just had a fight, the parents who are frustrated with their teens, the youth struggling to live right – all are in the congregation. Tailor your message accordingly. Be uplifting, be welcoming, make things easy for the people and invite them.

The post Appeal to Khateebs – Breaking My Wings appeared first on Qalam Institute.

Jabir informs,

“When the Prophet delivered the khutbah, his eyes became red, his voice rose, and his anger increased as if giving a warning to the enemy.” … it should be an organized speech that the people can understand. It should not be a speech, which is over the heads of the people, nor should it be shallow or contain foul language as that would defeat its purpose. Its words should be chosen carefully to make them attractive and meaningful.”

Giving his views on the subject, Ibn al-Qayyim says,

The khutbah of the Prophet reinforced the fundamental articles of faith, like belief in Allah, the Exalted, His angels, His books, His messengers, and the meeting with Him. He would mention the paradise and the hellfire and what Allah, the Exalted, has promised to His devoted servants and the people who obey Him and what Allah has promised to His enemies and the miscreant. While listening to his khutbah, the hearts would be filled with belief in Allah, His oneness, and His majesty. His khutbahs were not like speeches of those who speak only of matters of concern of common folk, lamenting earthly life and frightening people of the approaching death. Such speeches cannot inspire faith in Allah or strengthen belief in His oneness or move people by allusion to His mighty works in history, nor can they kindle in hearts intense love for Allah, making the listeners look forward eagerly to the time they will meet Him! The people who hear such speeches gain no benefit at all, except that they will die and that their wealth will be distributed and their bodies will be turned to dust. Woe to such poets, what sort of faith is fostered by such sermons, and what sort of tawhid do they teach or knowledge disseminate? If we study the khutbahs of the Prophet sallallahu alehi wasallam and his companions, we find them embued with perspicuous guidance, tawhid, attributes of Allah, explaining the basic articles of the faith, inviting people to Allah, and drawing their attention to His providential care that makes Him so beloved to His slaves. His khutbahs referred to Allah’s dealings with others in the past so as to wam his listeners against His wrath and exhort them to remember Him, thank Him and win His pleasure and love. Those who heard these khutbahs were inspired with the love of Allah and they looked forward eagerly to meeting their Lord. As time went by, the example of the Prophet was forgotten and other things prevailed. The main purpose of the khutbah was forgotten. The eloquent and nice words that moved the hearts became rare in speeches. The main thrust of the khutbah was neglected. The hearts were no longer touched and the basic purpose of the khutbah was lost.

The post The Most Essential Advice About Giving a Khutbah appeared first on Qalam Institute.

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The post Embracing Our Youth appeared first on Qalam Institute.

Qalam Instiute’s conference titled “Love & Live” on the subject of exploring love in the Quran.

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The true experience of life is by experiencing love. Though this might be considered a very new or progressive idea, this principle has been identified in our tradition and scripture, especially in the Qur’an.

In the Qur’an, Allah talks about the concept of love – for one’s self, one’s spouse and family, community, humanity, all types of love. The beloved Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) taught us that love is of the essence of faith when he said that “none of you will truly believe until you love for another what you love for yourself.”

How does this relate to us? How do we live our lives everyday, implementing this culture of love and faith, bringing ourselves closer to Allah and closer together? Qalam Institute and IANT Youth present a groundbreaking, dynamic forum on the concept of a life of love, a Sunday event which guarantees an improvement to the quality of life of all those in attendance.
Speakers:

Shaykh Abdul Nasir Jangda

Br Nouman Ali Khan

AbdelRahman Murphy

Imam Yaseen Sheikh

Special Guest Baba Ali!

Date & Time:

Sunday February 13th, 2011

2pm-9pm

Location:

Plano Masjid – IACC(Islamic Association of Collin County)

6401 Independence Pkwy, Plano, Texas 75023         Click Here for Directions

planomasjid.org

972-491-5800

Facebook Event!

This event will be broadcasted LIVE online! Click Here to Signup!

The post Conference: Love & Live Feb 13th, 2011 appeared first on Qalam Institute.

Sunday May 16th from 2pm to 7pm

Imams Zia Sheikh and AbdulNasir Jangda

The post Family in the Quran May 16th, 2010 appeared first on Qalam Institute.

Conference held at Mansfield Islamic Center on October 24, 2009 and featured Imams from all over the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex.

Quranic Recitation by Qari AbdulQadir

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Session 1: Imam Muhammad Asif

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Session 2: Imam Nadim Bashir

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Session 3: Imam Abdulnasir Jangda

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Session 4: Shaykh Sayid Ahmed Abdullahi

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Session 5: Shaykh Ahmed Alarafi

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The post Conference: ILM – The Masjid as A Center of Knowledge appeared first on Qalam Institute.

Take the Survey: http://su.pr/26trpN

Registration NOW OPEN – at the bottom of this page!

Watch the videos at the bottom!

What: Khateeb Workshop

When: June 3-7, 2010 (First Session is Thursday the 3rd at 830pm and the final session ends on Monday the 7th at 430pm).

Download the Schedule of Events

Where: Colleyville Masjid (in Dallas/Fort Worth, TX)

Who: Imam AbdulNasir Jangda, Nouman Ali Khan, Shaykh Yaser Birjas, plus local Imams from DFW metroplex.

Co-sponsored by MSA National!

Are you an experienced khateeb that never received any formal training for the khutbah?Is your MSA always struggling to find a good khateeb?
Are you a beginner khateeb or even an aspiring khateeb?Ever been a khateeb when someone handed you a ‘fishy’ announcement to make after prayer?
Ever been asked to fundraise on the spot since you’re giving khutbah?

What do you do if the mic goes out while you’re talking?

Do you struggle with preparing khutbahs, and researching them?

This program is designed to give attendees a full breakdown of everything needed to deliver a powerful, motivating, and effective khutbah. Plus, you’ll also learn tips and tricks as well as get advice for handling all kinds of different scenarios that pop up during the khutbah.

Jabir informs:

“When the Prophet delivered the khutbah, his eyes became red, his voice rose, and his anger increased as if giving a warning to the enemy.” This is related by Muslim and Ibn Majah. An-Nawawi says: “It is preferred for the khutbah to be in an eloquent and proper Arabic, and it should be an organized speech that the people can understand. It should not be a speech, which is over the heads of the people, nor should it be shallow or contain foul language as that would defeat its purpose. Its words should be chosen carefully to make them attractive and meaningful.”

Giving his views on the subject, Ibn al-Qayyim says:

“The khutbah of the Prophet reinforced the fundamental articles of faith, like belief in Allah, the Exalted, His angels, His books, His messengers, and the meeting with Him. He would mention the paradise and the hellfire and what Allah, the Exalted, has promised to His devoted servants and the people who obey Him and what Allah has promised to His enemies and the miscreant. While listening to his khutbah, the hearts would be filled with belief in Allah, His oneness, and His majesty. His khutbahs were not like speeches of those who speak only of matters of concern of common folk, lamenting earthly life and frightening people of the approaching death. Such speeches cannot inspire faith in Allah or strengthen belief in His oneness or move people by allusion to His mighty works in history, nor can they kindle in hearts intense love for Allah, making the listeners look forward eagerly to the time they will meet Him! The people who hear such speeches gain no benefit at all, except that they will die and that their wealth will be distributed and their bodies will be turned to dust. Woe to such poets, what sort of faith is fostered by such sermons, and what sort of tawhid do they teach or knowledge disseminate? If we study the khutbahs of the Prophet sallallahu alehi wasallam and his companions, we find them embued with perspicuous guidance, tawhid, attributes of Allah, explaining the basic articles of the faith, inviting people to Allah, and drawing their attention to His providential care that makes Him so beloved to His slaves. His khutbahs referred to Allah’s dealings with others in the past so as to wam his listeners against His wrath and exhort them to remember Him, thank Him and win His pleasure and love. Those who heard these khutbahs were inspired with the love of Allah and they looked forward eagerly to meeting their Lord. As time went by, the example of the Prophet was forgotten and other things prevailed. The main purpose of the khutbah was forgotten. The eloquent and nice words that moved the hearts became rare in speeches. The main thrust of the khutbah was neglected. The hearts were no longer touched and the basic purpose of the khutbah was lost.”

This intensive will cover

• Fiqh of Jumu’ah
• Fiqh of leading Salah
• Purpose of the Khutbah
• How to research a khutbah
• Dealing with different scenarios that may happen to you
• Learn effective communication and public speaking techniques

The program is designed so students from out of town can attend without having to take too much time off work or school. Classes will begin on Friday morning (students need to arrive on Thursday night) and will conclude on Monday evening (students will be able to fly out late Monday night).

Tuition: $195 [$150 for MSA students] – Preferred method of payment is by check on SITE. Online option via paypal is available after hitting the Submit button when you register below.

Please contact qalam //at// colleyvillemasjid.org for more information.

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The post Khateeb Workshop June 3-7, 2010 – Nouman Ali Khan, AbdulNasir Jangda, and Yaser Birjas appeared first on Qalam Institute.

Our goal is to have recorded sessions with text materials available for a full course in Hanafi fiqh spanning beginner, intermediate, and advanced level fiqh study in English. We hope to also complement this with sessions on Usool al-Fiqh and other related subjects – all taught by qualified experts trained in Hanafi fiqh.

The post Online Hanafi Fiqh appeared first on Qalam Institute.

Seminar held at Irving Masjid on October 3, 2009 with Imam Abdulnasir Jangda and Imam Zia Shaikh.

Session 1

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Session 2

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Session 3

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Session 4

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Session 5

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Session 6

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The post Falsehood Unravelled: Tafseer Surah Fussilat appeared first on Qalam Institute.

Ramadan Seminar held on August 8, 2009 at Colleyville Masjid with Imam Abdulnasir Jangda and Nouman Ali Khan

Session 1: Fiqh of Fasting

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Session 2: Fiqh of Fasting

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Session 3: Quran in Ramadan

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Session 4: Taraweeh and I’tikaaf

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Seminar held in Plano Masjid on July 25, 2009 with Imam Abdulnasir Jangda, Imam Nadim Bashir, and Imam Yaseen Shaikh.

Trailer

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Session 1

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Session 2

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Session 3

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Session 4

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Session 5

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Session 6

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The post Believer Meter: Characteristics of the Believers in the Qur’an appeared first on Qalam Institute.

Seminar originally held at Colleyville Masjid on April 25, 2009 with Imam Abdulnasir Jangda and Imam Zia Shaikh

Trailer:

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Quranic Recitation by Qari Abdullah

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Session 1

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Session 2

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Session 3

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Session 4

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The post Written in Gold: Tafseer Surah Luqman appeared first on Qalam Institute.

Class held on March 15, 2009 at Colleyville Masjid with Imam Abdulnasir Jangda and Imam Muhammad Asif.

Recitation by Qari Abdullah

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Session 1 (Ayaat 1-2)

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Session 2 (Ayaat 3-5)

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Session 3 (Ayaat 6-8)

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Session 4 (Ayaat 9-10)

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Session 5 (Ayaat 11-18)

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The post Divine Ethics: Tafseer Surah Hujurat appeared first on Qalam Institute.

The conference exceeded the expectations of not only the organizers, but many of the people in attendance.

[It], was, in my eyes, a GREAT Success. People from all corners of DFW came to attend this conference. There were Imams from all over as well. -Br. Mauz, Garland, TX

I left with a feeling of awe at the thought that by just educating ourselves with/from/of the Qur’an, we can attain so much. I hope to attend more in the future Inshaallah. - Sr. Aaminah, Richardson, TX

One of the most important things that I took away from this conference was to make sure I have a relationship with Allah. I can’t wait until the next one! - Saadia Hashmi, Plano, TX

I would attend these Lectures every month if you had something similar. You guys did an excellent job! May Allah bless everyone involved. Please continue to do these events in the future. - Br. Tarek, Ft. Worth, TX

After a long time, I really felt that a program of a large scale had a strong spiritual effect on every participant.  It had the numbers of a mini conference but the feel of an intensive. -Br. Riad, Carrollton, TX

See the Conference below-

Trailer:

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1. Characteristics of the Qur’an – Imam Nadim Bashir

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2. Qur’an in Your Daily Life – Imam Sayid Abdullahi

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3. New Era of Learning in DFW – Br. Omar

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4. Emotional Empowerment – Imam Zia Shaikh

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5. Quranic Recitation – Qari AbdulQadir

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6. Intellectual Empowerment – Imam Yaseen Shaikh

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7. Social Empowerment – Imam Ahmed Alarafi

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8. Spiritual Empowerment – Imam AbdulNasir Jangda

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The post Conference: Quranic Empowerment (and Launch of Qalam Institute) appeared first on Qalam Institute.