“Indeed Hath Allah Sent Down Unto You A Reminder.” At Talaq (The Divorce) 65:10
The last message in the Divine Revelation is Islam and Nabiy Muhammad (Sallallahu Alayhi Waalihi Wa Salam) is one of the servants of Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala). The Glorious Qur’an says, “We sent thee not but unto the all of mankind. And We sent not before thee, but men unto whom We did reveal. ” 34:28 & 21:17
Nabiy Muhammad (Sallallahu Alayhi Waalihi Wa Salam) was born in Makkah
in the year 570 AD. His father was Abdullah, the son of Abdul Muttalib,
descendent of Ismail (Alaihe AlSalam); the elder son of Ibrahim (Alaihe
AlSalam). His mother Amina was the daughter of Wahb. The people called
him As-Sadiq (the Truthful) and Al-Amin (the Trustworthy) before the message
of Islam was revealed to him. Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala) described
him in the Glorious Qur'an as the Noblest Example for the human race, and
He sent him with the universal message of Islam for all of mankind in the
entire world. He was a human being of extraordinary merits and endowed
with all fine qualities such as patience, courage, wisdom, generosity,
intelligence, love and magnanimity to show the Muslims how to mould their
own lives. He was a perfect example of purity and goodness, and a symbol
of truth and justice. He said,“Fear Allah wherever you are, and follow
up an unpleasant deed with a good one. The good one will wipe the unpleasant
one out, and behave well towards human beings.”
"I wonder about the person who contemplates about his nutrition but
he does not consider (the food of) his intellect. Thus, he avoids that
which hurts him in his stomach, but he lets his mind be filled with what
destroys him."
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 other, 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 to publish matrimonial or employment interests, please contact the Kufa Center of Islamic Knowledge {you must include a telephone number for matrimonial and employment advertisements}. Those who send letters and e-mails, please also provide the Center with your telephone numbers. In addition, brothers and sisters who are requesting of us various Islamic materials and messages, 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. Thank you brothers and sisters, and may Allah reward all of you. Jazakum Allah Khairan.
AL-KUFA received letters, e-mails and telephone calls.
Brother Mark from Virginia wrote three letters; segments from them:
Bimsm-Illah-Ir-Rahman-lr-Rahim
I’ve received your mail which was addressed to Mr. Dillenger, Sgt.,
to ask if he could start a library. I would like to have one of my brethren
visit me here. Mr. Dillenger made a copy of the newsletter and KCIK events.
He put the Qur’an in the library. This is the first time I have seen a
part of the Hijrah Calendar. Also, how can I subscribe to receive the Hijrah
Calendar? I also want to know what is it we do in the month of Shawwal,
and is it written that the month of Ramadhan is in February in which the
Qur’an was revealed? So please send all literature after my emancipation
date. I hope we can keep in contact. Insha’Allah, I might even be there
to join you steadfastly in the surrounding community. I’ll always keep
Allah in remembrance and thank Him for He said,“ Surely, man is Ungrateful!”
Thank you brother for your letters. To answer your questions and requests,
because the Islamic calendar is based on the phases of the moon, each month
of the lunar calendar (e.g. the month of Ramahhan, the ninth month of the
year and the month of fasting) comes about 10-11 days earlier each year
with to respect the fixed solar calendar. For example, this past month
of Ramadhan began on December 18, 1998, and the next month of Ramadhan
will Insha’Allah occur around December 8, 1999. The charm of this feature
is that over a span of some 33 solar calendar years, a Muslim will have
fasted each day of the year about three times during a month of Ramadhan.
There were many requests for the packages we sent to inmates. We sent
a complete package to Mr. Dillenger, the officer in your prison, after
he spoke to the Center. The package will stay in the prison library. There
are no subscriptions required for the AL-KUFA publications. We only request
you to send a complete address, and Insha’Allah, after your release and
in the future, you may able to help with donations for this mission to
continue.
KCIK received a letter from the Virginia Attorney General entitled “Faith Summit for Virginia’ s Future.” Segments from it:
“People of faith are a source of great potential, and I believe that
it is important for faith community leaders to encourage their members
to reach out to children long before they are of the age when joining gangs
or choosing violence is an option. Studies clearly indicate that positive
adult involvement in the lives of children helps them to realize their
potential. Your mentoring efforts of as little as two or three hours a
week can change a child’s life forever, so I encourage you to join me in
bringing a brighter future to Virginia’s young people.”
Thank you for your letter. For those who are interested in joining
this program, please call (804) 786-7704 or (804) 692-0554.
An e-mail received from brother Ramon in Philippines: Assalamu Alai'kum, I am a revert, struggling all these years to be truthful to myself, thus to be worthy of being a servant of Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala). Yet, there are questions that I need to find some, if not all, the answers to before I fully commit myself. I hold dear the Islamic principle that there is no compulsion in religion, and this is why I am straining to really build the foundation of my faith on what I understand and not merely on the convenience of conformity. May I also request some reading material that can help me tread the Right Path? I also have a maternal uncle who has been asking me for a copy of the Holy Qur'an and there is a dire and frustrating need for us to get a copy of the Holy Qur'an in English. Since Internet access is relatively expensive in my part of the world, may I then respectfully request that any substantial reading materials be coursed through the mail? Salaam.
Thank you brother for your letter. We hope that you will receive the package, including the Glorious Qur'an, with other Islamic publications, that we sent to you. Please let us know when you receive it, and also share this package with others, perhaps by placing this package in the library in your neighborhood so that more people can benefit by this material. May Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala) guide all of us to the right path, Ameen.
Insha’Allah, we will try and help you seek the truth. Know that Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala) is the Truth. His word is true, and as He says,“Now surely in the remembrance of Allah do believers find rest.” The heart of man will always remain disturbed and in unrest, until it is illuminated with guidance of Islam, and that will not come except with full submission. Congratulations brother on beginning on this journey, and I encourage you to not hesitate or remain in doubt. Say as Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala) advice in the Glorious Qur’an,“We hear and we obey”, and dive into the world of Islam unafraid. You will never have made a better decision in your life. Please let us know how we might help you. Salams with Dua’as for you and your family.
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 and sisters from Illinois, Virginia and Indiana who respectively donated $50 (For AL-KUFA Newsletter), $10 (AL-KUFA), and $25 (AL-KUFA). Also, our special thanks and appreciation to all brothers and sisters for their kindness who came forward, especially, in Michigan ($170), and Virginia ($100) to help our brother who is very ill. His kidney does not function. And also, our thanks, appreciation, and kindness to our sister from Minnesota who responded to help our sister who is about to loose her sight and has heart problems, with her donation of $100. They and others brothers and sisters need help and prayers. We kindly request your support, and also, would you please pass this message to other brothers and sisters. O' Lord, we pray for our brother to become well, Insha'Allah, Ameen.
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 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 videos were received from the donations of Islamic Bookshop, Foundation and Institution, and also, our brother from Illinois donated one video and some other Islamic material. 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).
A genuine believer puts due effort in everything undertaken. Nabiy Muhammad (Sallallahu Alayhi Waalihi Wa Salam) said,“One of the best deeds is to bring about happiness unto the believers; through settling their debts, fulfilling needs for them, and averting adversities from them.” The Glorious Qur’an says,“Verily believers are only those who when Allah is mentioned their hearts get thrilled, and when unto them are recited His signs they increase them in faith, and on Allah (alone) do they rely. Those who establish prayer and spend what Allah hath provided them. These, (and) they (only) are the believers in truth; for them are exalted grades with their Lord, and forgiveness and graceful sustenance.” 8:2-4 [To Be Continued Insha’Allah].
O Allah! I endeavor to draw myself nigh to Thee through Thy invocation, and I pray to Thee to intercede on my behalf, Ameen.
Nabiy Muhammad (Sallallahu Alayhi Waalihi Wasalam) said,“Man's every action must incline towards Allah.”
Unfortunately, just as it is the good students who work the hardest
before an exam, and it is the poor students who relax with ill-conceived
confidence, so also, it is the good Muslims who worship more, and weep,
and stand in the middle of the night in prayer seeking forgiveness and
protection from sin. Even on his deathbed, the Nabiy [Sallallahu Alayhi
(Waalihi) wa salaam] worshipped Allah through a good portion of the night
to the extent that Umar Ibn Al-Khattab, the Nabiy [Sallallahu Alayhi (Waalihi)
wa salaam]’s companion and father-in law asked the Nabiy [Sallallahu Alayhi
(Waalihi) wa salam] why he did so when all his past and future sins were
forgiven. His reply was simple,“Should I not be a grateful slave of Allah?”
Unfortunately, it is the foolish ones who depend on hope, but are fearless
of Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala). The Qur’an encapsulates this concept beautifully
in Surah Ha-Mim (41:30-31),“Those who say, Our Lord is Allah, then continue
in the right way, the angels descend upon them saying: Fear not, nor be
grieved, and receive good news of the Garden which you were promised.
We are your friends in this world’s life and in the Hereafter, and
you have therein what your souls desire, and you have therein all that
you ask for.” [To Be Continued Insha’Allah].