The Rahmah Foundation presents:
Reflections on Life & The Afterlife
with Ustadha Rania Awaad, Ustadha Mona Elzankaly & Ustadha Shamira Chothia Ahmed
Saturday, December 20th, 9:45am--4:00pm
631 Jackson St. Hayward, CA 94544
Cost: $25
Register by emailing: programs@therahmahfoundation.org
Please share with other sisters who might be interested!!
www.therahmahfoundation.org
Cost: $25
Register by emailing: programs@therahmahfoundation.
Please share with other sisters who might be interested!!
www.therahmahfoundation.org
Lecture Topics:
Waking Up To The True Reality: Distinguishing Between The Means & The Goal
In this talk Ustadha Mona will discuss the reality of this world, and the veils that keep us from realizing our true purpose in life. Distinguishing between the means, that help us on our path to God, and The Goal, which is returning to Him, Glorious is He, pleased with us, is very imperative in our every day life. Simple advice will be given on how to keep things in perspective and to rectify our intention with God Most High.
Traveling the Path to Allah: Forgiveness and Intercession
Ever wonder about forgiveness? Ustadha Rania will discuss in detail the Hadith: "When God brought creation into existence, He wrote upon His Throne, 'My mercy overtakes My wrath.' She will discuss the importance of seeking forgiveness and share practical measures of how to seek forgiveness in order to incorporate this important part of our Deen into our daily lives. Lastly, she will bring to light the concept of intercession- an amazing gift given by Allah to His Beloved, the Prophet may peace and blessings be upon him, on behalf of his entire Ummah.
Living Between Hope & Fear:
Fear makes us careful in avoiding sin, while hope makes us diligent to follow after righteousness and is a motivator to do good.
The Almighty says, "Your Lord is swift in retribution, and He is Ever-Forgiving, Most Merciful." (7:167); The Seal of all prophets, Prophet Muhammad, may peace and blessings be upon him, said "The Garden (al-Jannah) is nearer to you than your own sandal strap and it is the same with the Fire." (Bukhari)
In this motivating talk Ustadha Shamira will discuss the reality of trusting in Ar-Rahmaan (the Most Merciful's) Mercy, yet at the same time fearing His punishment. The eternal abodes of Heaven and Hell will be narratively illustrated, and the diametrically opposite qualities of hope and fear in God will be discussed. Practical applications will be shared in order to create a balanced outlook on life, and emphasis laid on the importance of striving for the Eternal Pleasure of God the Almighty.
About the Teachers (in alphabetical order):
Ustadha Shamira Chothia Ahmed
Born and raised in Northern California, Shamira Chothia Ahmed is an emerging young female scholar of the traditional Islamic sciences. Her studies led her to seek sacred knowledge from scholars on three continents — Africa, Europe, and the Middle East. In England she completed the five-year, traditional alimah (Islamic studies) program, studied the ahadith collection of the Sihah Sittah and received her ijaazah (authorization) in Sahih al-Bukhari with renowned Hanafi scholars. Thereafter, Ustadha Shamira was able to continue her studies for six months in Damascus, Syria where she obtained an ijaazah in tajwid of the Hafs recitation from the eminent Syrian scholar, Shaykh Abu Hassan al-Kurdi. In addition, she furthered her Arabic studies at the Abu-Noor Institute and took classes in fiqh, aqidah (creed) and sirah (prophetic history) at Damascus's Masjid Zaid. Upon returning to the U.S. in 2005, she was granted the opportunity to be an instructor of Hanafi fiqh for women at the Zaytuna Institute in Hayward, California. Privately, she taught fiqh, tajwid and Qur'anic tafsir (exegesis). She recently earned her Master's degree in Demographics and Social Analysis from the University of California at Irvine with her focus on the identity formation of the Muslim-American population. Ustadha Shamira gives lectures across the U.S. and currently teaches shariah sciences to women in the Southern California region.
Ustadha Rania Awaad
Raised in the U.S., Rania began her formal study of the traditional Islamic sciences when her parents permitted her to travel to Damascus, Syria at the age of 14. Her desire to continue studying the Deen resulted in multiple trips back to Damascus, interspersed between her high school and college studies. She was honored to receive Ijaazah (authorization to teach) several branches of the Shari'ah sciences at the hands of many renowned scholars, including many female scholars. She has received Ijaazah to teach Tajwid in both the Hafs and Warsh recitations from the eminent Syrian scholar, Shaykh Abu Hassan al-Kurdi. In addition completing several advanced texts of the Shafi'i madhhab, she is also licensed to teach texts of Maliki fiqh, Adab and Ihsan. Currently, she is completing a medical degree intended to compliment her in-depth study of female-specific fiqh issues. Her medical interests include addressing mental health care concerns in the Muslim community- particularly that of Muslim women. Other on-going endeavors include the compilation of a manual addressing female-related medical issues from a fiqh-oriented perspective and a manual on raising Muslim children in the West. She is both a wife and mother and has lectured, taught and counseled women extensively. Ustadha Rania has been teaching classes on Tajwid, Shafi'i Fiqh, Ihsan, marriage and raising children since 1999.
Ustadha Mona Elzankaly
Born in Cairo, raised in Moreno Valley, California, a graduate of the University of California Riverside, Mona Elzankaly began seeking sacred knowledge at the Zaytuna Institute in Hayward CA. There she has studied with many eminent scholars, such as Shaykh Hamza Yusuf, Shaykh Khatri, and Shaykh Muhammad al-Yaqoubi. In 2001, she joined Fajr center in Cairo, Egypt to complete a year-long program in Arabic. In 2002, Mona returned to the Zaytuna Institute where she studied full time with Shaykh Salik b. Siddina several texts in Maliki fiqh, creed, Hadith and the inward science. In 2004 Mona traveled to Damascus, Syria to continue her studies with a focus on Qur'an. While in Damascus, she obtained an Ijaazah to teach Tajwid in the Hafs style from Shaykh Shukry Luhafi. She has also obtained Ijaazah upon hearing the complete recitation of Sahih al-Bukhari, and Muwatta al-Imam Malik from Shaykh Muhammad al-Yaqoubi. In 2008, she completed the four year Zaytuna Seminary pilot program and received a baccalaureate degree in Islamic Studies. Mona has also attended the Dawra programs in Tarim Yemen where she had the opportunity to both study and teach at Dar al-Zahra. Mona has previously taught Maliki fiqh for women at the Zaytuna Institute, and currently teaches Islamic sciences privately.
Eiman Sidky is my mother in law. hehe!
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