Al-Huda Sisters Page If you have any articles/ poems/ stories/ or anything else that you think the

would be interesting for the sisters to read, please let us know. Email: lafsu423@student.otago.ac.nz Or: Txt/call 021 189 4169

Muslim Students Association (MUSA)

SISTERS
~ Keeping Ramadan Spirits Alive ~
Tips to help you keep those Ramadan habits
Make Dua Ask yourself WHY you kept the habit Niyyah is a key to Allah's acceptance of our good deeds. If we maintained a habit sincerely for the sake of Allah, Inshallah, not only will we be rewarded for it, but our intention will help us maintain the necessary motivation to continue to try and do good. Work your way up slowly Aisha reported that Rasulullah (pbuh) said: Do good deeds properly, sincerely and moderately, and remember that you shall enter Paradise only through Allah's Mercy, and also remember that the most beloved deed to Allah is that which is regular and constant even if it is little (Bukhari) Don't give yourself the option What makes you get up for work in the mornings even if you're tired? What makes you drag yourself out of a warm bed on a cold morning to get ready for school? It's the fact that you have no option, and you know that there are negative consequences to not going to work (you'll be fired) or school (you'll fail). Use the same psychology on yourself when it comes to maintaining your good habit. It was Allah who gave you the ability to keep the good habit in Ramadan, and only He can help you maintain it afterwards. Make it a habit If you want to keep good habits, you've got to make sure they remain part of your daily schedule. Think about your day each night Evaluating ourselves, our intentions, every night is a very good way to maintain good habits. This doesn't only help you see where you are and where you've got to go and what you were supposed to do and didn't. Get a friend to help What are friends for anyway? If you've got a close friend you feel you can share your new habit with, let them join you in keeping up with it. Don't fall apart after a mistake The beauty of Tawbah in Islam, is that Allah blesses us with this opportunity to return back to Him after doing something wrong. We should remember that we are humans and sometimes make mistakes.

29th Ramadhan 1428H Friday, 12th October 07

ALAL-HUDA
http://otagomusa.wordpress.com

Hadith of the week Narrated bin Abdullah: On the Day of Eid the Prophet(pbuh) used to return (after offering the Eid prayer) through a way different from that by which he went. (Bukharri ) Quiz of the week Last weeks answer: A bubble Special Notes
Sister Quraan Competition is on the 13th of October 2pm after dzuhur at AlHuda mosque. The surah is Surat Yaseen. You can either do memorization with the tajweed and the tafseer, memorization only, or just reciting the sura. There are prizes to be won.

What does Eid means for Muslims?

Inside this issue:

Eid for Muslims Eid: Cartoon Design a logo!

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Quran Competition 3 Sisters

Eid Prayer 1428H Venue: Woodhaugh Garden
(Depends on weather)

Islam teaches Muslims how to celebrate the `eids. On these days, the Muslims take a bath and wear their best clothes. Even though fasting is not permitted on the `eid days, yet, the major part of the celebration is not eating or drinking; rather, it is a prayer that brings Muslims together to remember Allah's bounties and celebrate His glory and greatness. The `eids and their celebration in Islam carry a distinctive meaning and spirit. They are totally different from the celebrations in other nations and cultures. For other nations, a holiday is a chance to immerse in worldly pleasures, or to involve oneself in prohibited acts to the utmost. Not so for Muslims!

For Muslims, the `eid is an occasion to increase in good deeds. Each `eid marks the conclusion of an important worship, and the determination to continue in obedience and submission to Allah (Glorified be He). In moments of extreme pleasure or sadness, a Muslim never forgets his Lord's greatness, might, glory, and watchfulness (Glorified be He). A Muslim's actions are always controlled by this continued remembrance and awareness. Thus the `eid is not an occasion to take a vacation from Islamic responsibilities and commitments, nor to waste time and money in extravagance. It is not "fun for the sake of fun". Rather, it is controlled and directed rejoicing that is of ultimate and definite benefit for the Muslim. The `eid is a chance to multiply good deeds by bringing happiness and pleasure to the hearts of other Muslims, by helping and supporting the poor and needy, and by getting involved in pastimes that emphasize the strong and serious Islamic character.
Excerpted with slight modifications from: www.islaam.com

Time: 8.30am

Eid recipes: uktv.co.uk/food/homepage/

sid/5935

Date:

To be advised

EID PREPARATION
1. Talk it out with everyone: Call a family / flat mate meeting and plan what you want to do on Eid day. 2. Cleaning the house: Make the house (and the car!) is as sparkling clean as it can get. 3. Make special food: Make something special which you don't normally eat. Eid is special, and the food we eat on this day should be better from our usual meals.

recipezaar.com/67278 nicepakistan.com/pakdesserts.htm

4. Wear best clothes: Shop for Eid clothes and some new items as well. Whats Eid without best & colourful clothes? (and henna ) 5. At Eid prayer: Hug and greet people whom you don't even know. Especially if they look like they are alone. If possible invite them to your home for a meal. 6. Real entertainment: Avoid TV or movies on Eid break. Eid is family and fun time, you don't necessarily need films or TV to have a good time.

Brothers Eid Gathering Venue: Woodhaugh Garden Time: 2.00 pm Date: Sunday. 14/10/07 Activities: BBQ, Games, etc
Any critique/ comment/ suggestion/ idea can be emailed to The Editor at: hasmu153@ student.otago.ac.nz

Jazakumullahu khayr to all volunteers that help us to cook the iftaar and keep the mosque clean throughout Ramadhan.

indianfoodforever.com/desserts/

soundvision.com/info/eid/

Muslim Students Association (MUSA)

Otago Muslim Association (OMA)

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AL-HUDA

Friday, 12th October 07

AL-HUDA

Friday, 12th October 07

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Some Sunnah on the day of Eid:

1. Engage in takbir (saying Allahu akbar) from fajr until the imam comes out for salah. Takbir is recommended for males, females, young and old. 2. It is also important to make sure to pay zakat Al-Fitr before the salah. Ideally, it should be given in advance so that the poor can enjoy their `Eid.
NOTICE The NZ halaal slaughtermen union is running a design-a-logo competition closing 12th October for a new World Halaal Trade Union to help distribution of Qurbani to the poor and needy. Prizes are $300/$200/$100 for 1st 2nd 3rd respectively. The link for the website is http://www.halalunion.co.nz/ competition07.html The competition is open to all Muslim students around NZ.

Ramadhan Quran Competition

The Second Quran Competition was held this year in 22nd September 2007 in Al-Huda Mosque. There are 8 groups competed with each group consists of 3 people. Three judges from Dunedin community were appointed namely Shaikh Gamal Fouda, Dr. Aflah Rohullah and Dr. Muhammad Amer. Particularly, Sheikh Gamal was in charged of Hifz and Tajweed, Dr. Aflah Tafseer and Dr. Muhammad Amer Asbabun Nuzul. For Tilawah, every judges combine energy to determine the suitable marks. Every judges had done their job really well and very pleasant to work with them. Jazakumu Allah khaira. The competition begin at approximately 4.30 pm. It starts off with Tilawah, followed by Hifz, Tajweed, Tafseer, Asbabun Nuzul, and Mixed Questions. During the Tilawah session, every group presented their respected Qari, group 1 with Wala and group 2 with Sallehuddin, group 3 with Abdullah Al-Jodar, group 4 with Mustapha Amer, group 5 with Sultan Ash-Shaqshi, group 6 with Khairul Afif, group 7 with Musab Umair and last but not least group 8 with Yasser AlAmri. One of them read like Qari Abdul Basit and some of them like Shaikh Mishari AlAfasy. None of them read like Shaikh Shuraim or Shaikh Sudais. In the Hifz (Quran Memorization) session, most of the competitors memorized well although the speed/velocity differs between them. Speed and Memory were mainly assessed in this session. Tajweed session allows 4 questions for each group. The questions were randomly picked, hence some of them were easy and some of them were hard. The easy one includes ikhfa, idgham and idzhar. The hard one includes types of Mad, ra tafkheem wa tarqeeq, ahraful istila wa istinfal and so on. Tafseer questions were easy but tricky. A lot of the questions asked about the proper meaning in Arabic. Each group received 2 questions Asbabun Nuzul was the hardest. The questions could be from any part of Quran and did not have to be from AnNaba. Each group received 2 questions. The last session really test the groups the knowledge that they have pertaining to Surah An-Naba. There are 9 questions in total and 5 minutes were being given for answering. As the result, group 3 won with highest mark and followed by group 7 and 1. Congratulation to group 3! The competition ended around 6.15 pm. The prizes would be presented to the winner in the Day of Eid ul Fitr. However, recognizing the effort that each group had made to understand Quran and to take it as a guidance for life, every group will also receive prize. All the questions in the Quran Competition with the answers will be posted in MUSA website on 15th November 2007. May Allah rewards all of us.
Report ed By: Brother Sharafuddin

5. And most importantly, to wish every one the joy of `Eid and show true signs of Islamic brotherhood by shaking hands and embracing and supplicating: Taqabal Allahu Minna wa Minkum (May Allah accept it from us and you). 6. It is also considered a good Islamic practice to visit one another and exchange gifts. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Exchange gifts in order to foster love." 7. Remember the true spirit of `Eid is reflected in our extreme generosity to the poor and the needy. So, be charitable as best as you can. 8. Make lots of istighfar (asking Allah for forgiveness) and pray that Allah accept our fast, prayers and devotion, and may He grant the Ummah glory and success.

3. Appear in the best clean clothes dress that you can afford to, that are reasonable and modest. 4. It is recommended to go early to the prayer place.

The Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) is reported to have said: "Whosoever fasted in Ramadan and then followed up with six fasting days of Shawwal, it is like fasting every day." (Muslim)

Tilawah, Hifz, Tafseer, Tajweed, Asbabun Nuzul and other general questions..

One of them read like Qari Abdul Basit and some of them like Shaikh Mishari AlAfasy. None of them read like Shaikh Shuraim or Shaikh Sudais.

JUDGES..

WINNERS!

*Linda D. Delgado is a Muslim who lives in Arizona, United States. She is the mother of three and a grandmother of eight. She graduated from the University of Phoenix and is a retired state police sergeant. Also known as Widad, she is the publisher of Muslim Writers Publishing at www.MuslimWritersPublishing.com, founder of the Islamic Writers Alliance at www.islamicwritersalliance.net, the author of the award-winning Islamic Rose book series at www.widad-lld.com, and owner of the Islamic Rose store at http://www.cafepress.com/islamicrose.