Madinah _ Bab 2014 (Single Page)

SHORT SUMMER COURSES IN IRAN - ANNUAL REPORT

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www.world-federation.org

Registered Charity (UK), No. 282303

Madinah & Bab al-Ilm 2014

Contents1. Introduction

2. Course Preparation

3. Venue

4. Course Details

5. Gender Allocation of Participants

6. The Arrival

7. The Course Outline

8. Qum - Academic Programme

9. Qum - Cultural/Recreational Program

10. List of Place svisited

11. Trip to Hamadan

12. Tehran

13. Mash’had

14. Nishabur

15. List of Place svisited

16. Closing Ceremony

17. Farewell

18. Participants Feedback

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IntroductionThe Madinah and Bab al-Ilm summer courses are a regular feature on The World Federation calendar. For 3 weeks every year, youths from various parts of the globe gather together in the Islamic Republic of Iran in pursuit of education, culturalappreciation, spirituality and recreation.

The aim of the course is to serve as a post-Madrasah education initiative, integrating academic scholarship with an experience of the cultural relevance of Islam in the modern age. It is hoped that the experience will bring about a sense of enhanced self-knowledge and understanding leading to higher levels of spirituality and as a result, greater service to humanity in worship of the Almighty Allah (swt).

Course PreparationThis year, the World Federation of KSIMC – Qum Office had the honour of hosting a group of approx. 50 participants from three continents and from a variety of academic, familial, geographic and linguistic backgrounds. The course planning began almost 6 months prior to the landing of the participants in Iran and was backed up by the constant and selfless administrative and logistical support of the Islamic Education Board Office and the regional bodies: AFED, COEJ, Dubai and other Islamic centers.

Three-day mentor training sessions were held for the third consecutive year in Dar al Zahra (sa), Qum. These were facilitated by Sh. Abbas and Qasim Gulam Husain.Sh. Khalfan contributed as a guest speaker in one of the sessions.

Haram of Sayyida Fatima al-Ma’sumah (sa)

The World Federation Madinah & Bab al-Ilm Report 2014

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VenueThe first two weeks of the course were set in the spiritually-charged city of Qum al-Muqaddasah. The brothers resided at Dar al-Zahra (sa) while the sisters stayed at the pristine Jamia al-Zahra (sa) campus.

During their stay in Qum, participants took part in many activities within the city and in the suburbs where they visited historical, natural and pilgrimage sites. The last week of the camp was spent in the Holy city of Mash’had for the ziyarat of the beloved eighth Imam (as) where various spiritual and academic programs were conducted.

Course DetailsDates:4th August 2014 (Monday) – 24thAugust 2014 (Sunday)

Student allocation:Bab al-Ilm participants (ages 14-17) = 21Madinah al-Ilm participants (ages 18-24) = 17

Mentors = 9

Sh. Khalfan delivering a lecture for mentors: Importance of mentoring in Islam


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AFED

Madinah al-Ilm Bab al-Ilm

COEJ

Bosnia

Dubai

Total

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6

2

1

13

2

2

/

/

4

2

5

/

4

11

2

Girls Boys Girls Boys

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/

/

10

Madinah Boys

Madinah Girls

Bab Boys

Bab Girls

1013

114

Gender Allocation of Participants


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The ArrivalOn the 4th of August 2014, the first group of participants arrived and they were received at the airport by Qum Office staff members. The long flight and the overnight lag had not dampened the spirits of the participants whose faces were lit up with excitement for a journey of a lifetime!

The students settled into their residences and rested for most of the morning. Anopening ceremony was held at WF Qum Office, Dar al Zahra (sa), where Sh. Kumail Rajani welcomed them and described the core philosophy of such courses and explained the concept of servitude.

After this, they were briefed about the goals and expectations of the course and its management and were advised on health and logistical tips for the duration of their stay in Iran. Later, the participants were driven for their very first emotional Ziyarat to the Haram of Sayyida Fatima al-Ma’sumah (sa) and Maghribayn Salaat. Tears and emotions were clearly visible on the faces of this young generation.

Mentors and participants listening to Sh. Kumail


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The Course OutlineThe 3-week course was organized in a way that would facilitate personality develop-ment based on Islamic values and principles, all the while maintaining resemblance with the Hawza style of living. The programs, both in Qum and Mash’had, were fully planned and scheduled, while a scope of flexibility was built in, to avoid rigidity and maintain buffer for adaptability and change. In Qum, the young people were encouraged to settle gradually into the schedule and the same pattern wasextended to the Holy city of Mash’had, resulting inmaximum benefit for the participants.

Qum – Academic ProgramThe academic component was geared towards the intellectual faculty of the participants and aimed towards furthering a study of Islam through its primary sources – the Qur’an and the Ahl al-Bayt (as). It consisted of the morning program beginning with Fajr Salaat followed by the recitation of Qur’an and a short inspiring tafsir of one of the verses bySh. Kumail Rajani.

Sometimes, participants began their day with Fajr prayers at the Haram of Sayyida Fatima al-Ma’sumah (sa). Despite of the busy and hectic schedules of the long summer days, the passion for ziyarat was obvious in the youth who were awake and ready to take part in Salat al Layl in the haram of Sayyida Masuma (sa)!

Salaat at Haram of Sayyida Masuma (sa): It means a lot!


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Classes started after the breakfast at 10 a.m. English-speaking scholars would dedicate instructional time to the participants every day and discuss issues regarding themeaning of life and its practicality, knowing one self, tawheed, Qur’anic principles and the philosophy of fiqh (Practical laws and Principles). Participants benefitted from learning opportunities beyond the classroom as well, through informal discussions with teachers outside class time and in informal gatherings.

Sh Shoaib Muhammad Ali

Sh Miqdad Rajabali

INSTRUCTORS

Sayyed Kazmi

Sh Kumail Rajani

Sh Khalfan

Sh Kumail

Sayeed Shabbar

Sis. Sajeda Daya

Sis. Najiya Shabbar shah

Tawheed and its practicality

Islamic way of life

SUBJECTS TAUGHT

The causes of human decline

Knowing self

Quranic principles of life

The reality of Nafs

Biography of Imam Raza (as)

Biography of Bibi Masuma (sa) and aulama buried in haram

Reality and goal of life, Imam Mahdi (atfs) and Wahhabiyat

Having Lunch in traditional style with famous Iranian bread “Sangak”


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Mentors in close co-ordination with participants in an open-aired session

Dua e Tawassul at Jamkaran


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Shaykh Kumail explaining the importance of the hadith literature at Ibn e Babway’s grave

Mount Khizr: Sh. Kumail discussing the concept of Mahdaviyyat. A non Muslim Hungarianparticipated in the discussion group


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Qum – Cultural/Recreational ProgramThe primary aim of the cultural program was to provide the participants with aperspective on ‘living Islam’ and its manifestation in our day-to-day life. This consisted of performing Ziyarats of the progeny of the Imams (as) buried in Qum, visiting the Jamkaran Mosque, meetings with high-ranking scholars, informal gatherings in the parks and also taking part in various recreational activities such as hiking at Mt. Khizr, swimming and sports.

List of Places Visited· Tour of Haram and resting place of many great Scholars & Maraje· Masjid-e-Jamkaran (Dua-e Tawassul on Tuesdays)· Bait al-Noor: The worship place of Sayyida Ma’sumah (sa)· Mt. Khizr (as)· House of Imam Khomeini (ra)· Swimming · Soccer and cricket at local fields· Ansariyan bookstore· Dua-e Kumail program in Haram (on Thursday nights)· Salaat al Jum’ah in Haram

Participants at historical places of Qum


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Ansariyan publication: Books are the garden for scholars

Football: The game participants wanted to have every day!


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Trip to HamadanAfter spending few days in Qum, a trip was organized to visit one of the most beautiful and historical place of Iran - Hamadan. Although far from Qum, it was worth the travel to explore the amazing wonders of Allah (SWT)'s Design. Waterfalls, hiking up the mountain for hours, rope-ways and boating were some recreational activities of the day. After spending a night in one of the hotels of Hamadan, participants headed towards the world's biggest water cave - Ali Sadr Cave - where they were enthralled by the beauty of this magnificent creation of Allah (SWT). They found no better words to express themselves with than Alhamdulillah and Mashallah!

Boating in Hamadan


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Enjoying at the waterFall in Hamadan

The cave of Ali Sadr


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TehranThe capital of the Islamic Republic was the last destination before heading to Mash'had. The day consisted ofmemorable events: from visiting the shrine of Imam Khomeini (ra) to visiting graves of martyrs and victims of terrorist attacks at Behishte Zahra (sa) cemetery and finally to soothe the nerves, the Ziyarat of the Grand Sayyid – Abdul Azeem al-Hasani (ra) and others from the progeny of AhlulBayt (as).

Overall, the Tehran trip was quite successful. Students could not keep their excitement hidden as they moved from one event to another. Apart from the spiritual program, the participants visited Burj Milad, one of the tallest towers in the world from where the beauty of the entire landscape could be seen.

Tehran: Shah Abdul Azim Hasani


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Mash'hadQum being the preparatory grounds, the participants charged with energy finally started their journey towards the essence of the program, ready for more knowledge, classes and spirituality.

With a clearer perspective that the true understanding of religion is the essence for gaining closeness to Allah (SWT), the aim was to gain a bit more of this closeness byestablishing a special connection with Imam Raza (as).

The program was packed with ziyarat, classes, activities, visits to local sites and a lot of bonding sessions. Participants arrived at Mash’had at night via flight from Tehran, ready for their life-changing journey.

The average day in Mash'had would begin at 9:00 am followed by a buffet breakfast at the hotel and classes inside the haram till the afternoon. Zohr salat would be prayed in the haram and after a good Iranian lunch, the next activity was shopping during which the young people spent time buying gifts for their parents, relatives, siblings and friends back home.

At the end of the day, the group would flock back to the haram to rest and indulge in some personal meditation before heading to the hotel to rest for the next day.

On one of the nights, Shaykh Kumail took the group for a three-hour tour of haram which was an amazing educational experience.

Burj Milaad, Tehran


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NishaburAfter the ziyarat of Imam Raza (as), the students were taken to Nishabur to visit the place where the foot prints of Imam Raza (as) are to be seen, Shrine of Bibi Shateetah (as) and the shrine of Imamzadeh Mahrooq and others from the progeny of Imams (as).

On the way, participants would recite poems in Urdu and English and sometimes Nawhas followed with typical Indo-Pak wah wah's, Subhanallahs and naare Haideris!

List of Places Visited· Tour of Haram and Museum inside haram· Nishabur · Dua-e-Kumayl, Dua e Tawasool and Namaz-e-Jum’ah· Graves of the Ulema buried around the haram· Bazar e Imam Raza· Water Park· Local Shopping malls and Bazaars

Sayyed Shabbar: Briefing at Qadamgah of Imam Reza (a.s.) Nishabur


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Closing CeremonyAt the end of the week in Mash’had, the participants began setting their minds and spirits towards preparing for the climax of the whole course. At this ceremony, theparticipants were invited to share their thoughts and feelings about the camp and the student representatives spoke about their experiences on behalf of all participants.

FarewellOn Sunday, 24th August 2014, participants headed back to the airport from Tehran for their final journey back home after spending memorable weeks together; making life-long friends, learning about their faith and exploring their inner selves along the way.

A few of the participants did not miss the chance of their last ziyarat of Qum as they had some time left for their flights. Participants were tearful as they separated from one another and boarded their respective buses.

The Qum Office staff and volunteers felt blessed to once again be part of thesesuccessful summer courses, Alhamdulillah. Soon after the course, the participants were in touch with each other through social media, recollecting the memories of their spiritual journey and updating each other on different events at their local jamaats.

The WF-Qum Office would like to thank and sincerely appreciate the efforts of all the office bearers and regional jamaats involved to make this course a success and we pray for the continued progress of all towards the source of all Perfection (SWT), insha'Allah.

Mash'had: Closing Ceremony


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Participants Feedback


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Maleka Abbas

Madinah & Bab 2014 was truly a life changing experience for me Alhm. InshA more youths will take advantage of this beautiful platform.

Adeela Zahra Shah

Bab & Madinah Iran 2014 was an amazing experience definitely going back as a mentor iA.

Rizwan Hameer

Thank you for the amazing work you did at the bab/madinah course. My son is back all smiles! May Allah bless you all.

Andy Rubbani

In the Name of our Great Lord Allah SWT – we truly gracious and grateful for the effort the mentors and organisers at have put in to make Hassan feel at home – we prayer for all involved and may Allah SWT’s send his glorious Blessings for all this world and hereafter – Duas and prayers …

"Making a connection with Bibi Masuma (AS), Imam Ar-Redha (AS) and our Living Imam (AFS) is an experience of its own which no words can explain it, but the closest I can get to describing it is the feeling that you've been born again. And that is why anyone who hasn’t participated in this journey shouldexperience it themselves!"

Amina Shabar from Bosnia

Madinah _ Bab 2014 (Single Page)

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