“And Bear Good Tidings Unto Those Who Believe That There Is A Footing Of Firmness With Their Lord.” Yunus 10:2
Our special thanks and appreciation to all brothers and sisters who
joined us for Eid prayers, and for breakfast and for the gift distribution
to the children. Insha’Allah, we will see you all again. Also, we wish
to express our heartiest gratitude and gratefully acknowledgment to those
who sent letters, e-mails, Eid cards, and called during this holy occasion.
May Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta’Ala) reward them and shower His Blessings on
all, Ameen.
Dear Brothers & Sisters
Asalamu Alikum Wa Rahmatu Allah Wa Barakatuhu
By the grace of Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta’Ala), the Kufa Center of Islamic Knowledge (KCIK) and AL-KUFA Newsletter editors will continue to serve Islam, the Muslims community, and the whole of mankind. Masha’Allah, as the AL-KUFA Newsletter, Vol. 5, No. 4, March 1999, reached one of our dearest sister, she sent us an e-mail. She wrote,“Impressed with 'Sponsoring an Orphan' Project. I will send you my sponsorship this week Insha’Allah. Jazakum Illah Khairen for what you are doing. Keep up the good work.”
Thank you sister for your kindness to become a sponsor, and look after an orphan/child. May Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta’Ala) reward you in this life and the hereafter for your desire to participate in this programs.
If you are interested in becoming a sponsor for an orphan and/or a foster parent for Muslim children, and also if you have any information regarding them, please contact KCIK. Nabiy Muhammad (Sallallahu Alayhi Waalihi Wasalam) said,“The one who looks after (all the needs of) an orphan, shall be together with me in paradise like these two fingers (he raised his index middle fingers together).” The Glorious Qur'an says,“They ask thee concerning orphans; Say, to set right for them (their affairs) is best; but if ye become co-partners with them, then they are your brethren. They ask thee (O’ Muhammad) ; whatever of good ye spend let it be for parents, the near of kin, and the orphans, and the poor and the wayfarers; and whatever good ye do, verily Allah knoweth it. And give your wealth out of love for Him to kindred and the orphans and the poor and the wayfarer. And (while needing it for themselves) they give away food, out of the love for Him, to the poor and the orphan and the captive. Whatever hath Allah bestowed on His Nabiy from the people of the towns, belongeth unto Allah, and for the Nabiy, and for his (Nabiy’s) kindred, and the orphans and the needy and the wayfarer, so that it may not circulate among the rich ones of you, and whatever the Nabiy giveth you, accept it, and from whatever he preventeth you, be away (from it); and fear ye (the wrath of) Allah. Verily Allah is severe in retribution.” 2:215, 220 and 177; 76:8 and 59:7 Jazakum Allah Khira for all help.
Wa Salamu Alakum Wa Rahmatullah Wa Barakatuhu
The intellect is better than desire, for the intellect makes you a king
over your destiny, and desire makes you a slave of your destiny.
A large number of requests, through phone calls, letters, and in person, have been received from those who are interested in the AL-KUFA Newsletter, Dawah program, the Prayer Time-Table and also from those who filled the Free Subscription / Cancellation Form for the AL-KUFA Newsletter.
If you receive more than one copy of this newsletter via a duplicate mailing, you can help us correct this by informing us and we thank you for that. Please share this newsletter as well as others material you received from us, including the Glorious Qur'an with others, Jazakum Allah Khair.
Our sincere thanks and appreciation to all of you. Because of the large numbers of letters that AL-KUFA has received, we will acknowledge and publish only some of these letters each time, and we are unable to include references due to space limitations. Our purpose of publishing these letters is to (a) make a certain plea known to the public in order that they might respond for the pleasure of Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta’Ala), (b) make us all aware of certain circumstances, or (c) to share a joyous news as well as to make Dua'as and Prayers for those who are ill or have lost a loved one, and also for the one they have lost. NOTE: For those who are interested in announcing the birth of a child, sponsorship of orphan/child, graduation, wedding, death, or matrimonial interests {should include a telephone number} please contact the Kufa Center of Islamic Knowledge. Those who send letters, please also provide the Center with your telephone numbers. In addition, brothers and sisters who are requesting of us various Islamic materials, please provide us with a full name, postal address, telephone number, and e-mail address. If this is to be sent to an institution, please ensure that the institution will accept such material(s), even if it is just the AL-KUFA Newsletter. Please type your request(s) and sign the paper. Insha'Allah, we will continue sending this newsletter to whoever wishes to receive it. Also, we request readers to let us know their new addresses when they relocate.
AL-KUFA received letters and e-mails:
Brothers Need Your Help And Prayers!
A sister sent an e-mail regarding a follow Muslim, requesting urgent medical help for performing a bone marrow transplant She wrote,“One of my brothers in Islam has leukemia, and I am looking for willing Muslim donors. He is 35 years old, Turkish, and he is a brain surgeon and also a very active Dawah person in his land.”
If anyone is able to help, please contact KCIK. We pray that Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’Ala) accept our prayer to cure the illness of our brother and grant a quick recovery, good health, and peace, Ameen.
A brother from Virginia asking for prayers. He wrote,“My wife has many health problems. Please pray for her.”
We request from our readers to pray for our brother’s wife, and may the Almighty Lord grant a quick recovery, good health, and peace. O’ Lord accept our prayers, Ameen.
KCIK sends its best wishes in healing the illness of our brother and our brother’s wife, and to all Muslims sisters who are suffering in the world, we pray for their ease and peace and contentment, Ameen. The Holy Qur'an says,“I shall reply.” 40:60
Our thanks and appreciation to all brothers and sisters, Muslims and non-Muslims alike, who sent letters, faxes, e-mails, postcards, publications or phone calls, or came in person to the Kufa Center of Islamic Knowledge (KCIK), and for their support of the AL-KUFA Newsletter, the KUFA School, and the KUFA Public Library, from within the United States and abroad. The kind expressions of the readers, encouraging us to continue this Newsletter are especially appreciated. As for financial help, our thanks and appreciation to all brothers and sisters among our generous readers for their support. Please note: you may specify the purpose of your donations(s), unless you give us permission to use your donations(s) wherever they are needed most and where your donation(s) can most effectively assist, especially for the AL-KUFA Newsletter. All donation(s) and gifts are acknowledged with a tax-deductible receipt (unless otherwise requested) and we thank you for sharing your gifts from Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta’Ala) with us. As the fruit of this mission begins to blossom. Insha'Allah, large numbers will receive the AL-KUFA Newsletter. The Glorious Qur’an says,“(Say): We feed you only for the pleasure of Allah; we desire from you neither reward nor thanks. And they spend (benevolently) of what We have provided them with, secretly and openly, and they repel evil with good; for these is the (happy) attainment of the (Eternal) abode.” 76:9 & 13:22
We are very grateful to all sources that sent us publications, their communications about Islam, Muslim community affairs, and educational articles, and to many individuals and institutions in the United States and abroad. Masha’Allah, these publications are all excellent and those who have borrowed them have enjoyed reading them. These publications are inventoried in the KUFA Public Library and some have been mailed to our brothers and sisters in the prisons and other places.
In addition, our thanks to all brothers and sisters who took the time to write or call KCIK, and informed us about the change of their addresses or their desire to receive the AL-KUFA Newsletter. Remember, it costs us to distribute this newsletter to thousands of readers, and only a few continue their support of it. Please be aware of this and send your donations to cover the cost for mailing, etc., to AL-KUFA. Please also inform us of any change in address. When a newsletter is returned to us, it costs us up to $1.60 in some cases. This is a waste of resources. Please, let us avoid this loss.
Our thanks and appreciation to our brothers from Virginia who respectively donated $300; and $100. Also, we received $20 for Dawah. May Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta’Ala) make the pure things of sustenance flow unto all, Ameen. The Glorious Qur’an says,“Verily, Verily, your guardian is (none else but) Allah and His Nabiy (Muhammad) and those who believe, those who establish prayer and pay the poor-rate, while they be (even) bowing down (in prayer). Whoever taketh Allah and His Apostle (Nabiy Muhammad) as his guardian, and those who believe, verily, (he hath joined) Allah’s party; They are those that shall (always) be triumphant. And the believing men and women, they are guardians of one another; they enjoin good and forbid evil and they establish (the regular) prayer and pay the poor-rate and obey Allah and His Nabiy (Muhammad). Allah will bestow on them His mercy; Verily Allah is All-Mighty, All-Wise.” 5:55-56 Blessings of Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta’Ala) upon you all now and always. Jazakum Allahu Khairan for your donations and support. May the Almighty Lord reward all of you in this life and in the hereafter. The Glorious Qur’an says,“You will never attain piety unless you spend on others out of what you dearly cherish.” 3:92
Just remember that any money you pay to support KCIK, KUFA School, KUFA Public Library and AL-KUFA Newsletter is paid to strengthen the word of Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta’Ala) and for the sake of spreading Islam. May Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta’Ala) bless you all, give you courage and provide you with resources to continue your support. The Glorious Qur’an says,“Say (O' Our Apostle (Nabiy Muhammad!)' If ye do love Allah, then follow me, and Allah will love you.” 3:30 Jazakum Allah Khair (MAY ALLAH REWARD YOU WITH GOODNESS).
The Kufa Center of Islamic Knowledge is entirely dependent on your financial contributions. The AL-KUFA Newsletter especially needs your support to cover its monthly costs. So, please share with us a fair contribution for this newsletter to enable it to continue. In addition, we receive a large number of requests for the AL-KUFA Newsletter. If you don't receive the AL-KUFA Newsletter, it is only because we don't have enough funds to cover the costs, especially for overseas shipping including Canada. [Note to our brothers and sisters in prison: please check with your institutions if you did receive the AL-KUFA Newsletter, and if you received it, then please share it with other brothers and/or sisters. We included the previous issues of the AL-KUFA Newsletter with our parcel to prison libraries. Those in any prison who haven’t received their packages including a copy of the Glorious Qur’an, please request your chaplain and/or any representative of that facility to contact the center, and Insha’Allah, we will be able to send it. Also, as part of Dawah program, brothers and sisters who would like to have someone visit them and/or call them on through the telephone for about 20 minutes to talk about Islam, please request the chaplain/officer of that institution to contact the KCIK. We can arrange for people to call specific individuals, or to call a group of Muslims over a speaker phone, at an appointed time to provide lessons or answer questions on Islam, Insha’Allah.
In addition, it is our responsibility to bring to your attention, our dear readers, that we are in desperate need for a place to teach and in need of resources {Qur’an, Hadith, Fiqh, and other Islamic books}. Islamic newsletters, Bulletin of Affiliation, Islamic magazines, newspapers and other Islamic materials were received from many Islamic institutions. Copies of Islamic Arabic books, and books with English meaning were received from the donations of Islamic Publication International, Bookshop, and foundation. Any donation (s) will aid us in our Dawah program as well as benefit the KUFA Public Library. Insha'Allah, many individuals and publishers will participate in this Dawah program. May Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta’Ala) reward you for your efforts and enable you to do good deeds in this life and bless you and your family in this world and in the hereafter.
Our special thanks to those who visited the center and/or borrowed books and other material. We pray that may the Almighty Lord increase our knowledge as well as guide all of us to the right path, and may He also reward you for your good deeds, Ameen.
For the pleasure of Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta’Ala) , we therefore request you to assist us financially or materially in all of our programs. We particularly request you to bring this plea to the attention of your community, and encourage them to donate their Islamic charities to this cause. Jazakum Allah Khair (MAY ALLAH REWARD YOU WITH GOODNESS).
The companions of Nabiy Muhammad (Sallallahu Alayhi Waalihi Wasalam) met and named Muharram as the first month of Islamic Calendar after the Nabiy (Sallallahu Alayhi Waalihi Wasalam) ’s death. There are twelve months in the Islamic year and are follows: Muharram, Safar, Rabi Al-Awwal, Rabi Al Thani, Rajab, Shaban, Ramadhan, Shawwal, Dhul Qadah, and Dhul Al Hijjah. The Glorious Qur'an says,“Verily the number of months with Allah, are twelve in Allah's Book, (since) the Day He created the heavens and the earth.” 9:36 Four of these months are sacred months and these are: Muharram, Rabi, Dhul Qadah, and Dhul Al Hijjah. The Glorious Qur'an says,“Of these (months) four are sacred.” 9:36
The Islamic year, it is also called Hijrah Year. The Hijrah to Medinah took place in the month of Rabi Al-Awwal. The first year of the Hijrah or Islamic calendar is based on the lunar year. The Glorious Qur'an says,“Allah is (the One) Who made the sun a radiation and the moon a light and planned them into stages that ye might know the number of years and the reckoning (of time); Created not Allah (all) this but for truth; (Thus) doth Allah make His signs manifest (clear) for a people who know (Understand).” 10:5
The migration of Nabiy Muhammad (Sallallahu Alayhi Waalihi Wasalam) from Makkah to Madinah marked the beginning of the Islamic calendar. This tradition of migration to ensure the ability to freely practice Islam should be practiced by Muslims whenever necessary. Duty to Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala), should have importance and priority and one must be prepared even for being exiled, especially to escape persecution, hatred, and animosity." The Glorious Qur'an says,“O' My servants who believe! Verily My earth is vast, therefore Me alone should ye worship!” 29:56
The tenth of the first month, is called Ashoora. Events occurred on that day, including the fateful and tragic event in the Hijrah Year 61, when Hussein, the grandson of the Nabiy (Sallallahu Alayhi Waalihi Wasalam), and 72 members of his family and friends were martyred. Hussein was the son of Ali Ibn Abu Talib and Fatima. Ali was cousin of Nabiy Muhammad (Sallallahu Alayhi Waalihi Wasalam) and Fatima was his daughter. Only one son of Hussein survived the killing because he was gravely ill. [To Be Continued Insha’Allah]
I pray forgiveness from Allah. I ask Him for concealment of my fault and shortcoming, Ameen.
Nabiy Muhammad (Sallallahu Alayhi Waalihi Wasalam) said: “Allah will love you if you forsake worldly pleasures; and people will love if you don’t aspire to what they have.”
[This article is an excerpt from a future book Insha'Allah. The copyright is preserved by the author and this Newsletter. We pray that he will finish this book soon. May the Almighty Lord protect him and reward him for his goodness. He gives success through His mercy to whosoever of them that works righteousness, Ameen]
Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’Ala) says in Surah Al-Rum (30:24), “And of His signs is this, that He shows you the lightening for fear and for hope, and sends down water from the clouds, then gives life therewith to the earth after its death. Surely there are signs in this for a people who understand.” In these deep words that speak of the manifestation of the Divine power of Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’Ala) in nature, whereby the lightening causes fear, and yet hope for rain that nourishes the earth, there is a message that appeals to the spiritual nature of man. The messages of Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’Ala) enlighten mankind, warning him to be fearful of disobedience and earning the displeasure of Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’Ala), and yet, giving him hope for forgiveness, mercy, grace, and salvation from the Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful One (The Ghafur-ur-Raheem). This message of Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’Ala), when it falls upon the fortunate heart that takes the first step toward Him, enriches and enlivens it just as rain brings life in splendor to a land that previously lay dead and barren. [To Be Continued Insha’Allah]
Insha'Allah (God Willing), we will report to you the income (receipts) and expenses (payments and/or costs) through the coming months.
Total receipts for the three months are: $1,652.00
Total expenditures for the three months are: printing the AL-KUFA Newsletter:
$213.08; Bulk Mail: $116.27; Stamps: $684.67; Telephone: $75.95; Envelopes
$.11.79; Bulk Mail Fee for the year $100; Rental box in the Post Office
for the year $64; Eid Gifts for the children $32.00; Labels $23.99; Cartridges
$75.
Total is: $1,443.43
Also, KCIK received $50 from a store to cover the rebates which were not honored by the particular the companies. This amount and the gift certificate of ($25) from the past are including in this report. [The Rebates were for the entire cost of the VirusScan Deluxe and a partial cost for a cartridge]
The costs of special items as previously listed in the AL-KUFA Newsletter purchased through the donations of our brothers, including donations for the KUFA Scholarship $1000, donations for purchasing equipment and/or software $2000, Islamic obligations ($400) for the poor and needy of the followers of Nabiy Muhammad (Sallallahu Alayhi Waalihi Wasalam), and $200 for the poor and needy, will be excluded from the Financial Report Summary and will be published in the future, Insha’Allah). Also, the previous donations are for many causes such as AL-KUFA, KUFA School, KUFA Public Library, as well as for the building to worship Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta’Ala). Let us pray together that the AL-KUFA Newsletter, KUFA Scholarship and KCIK programs will continue to serve the Muslims and the entire world. O' LORD, FULFILL OUR DESIRES FROM THE VASTNESS OF THY GRACE AND DO NOT CUT OFF OUR HOPE BY REFUSAL, AMEEN.