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Our next Quiz Night is coming up on March 22, in sha Allah! Don't miss it!
Find ALL the details on the "Programs" section of our website.
Our next Quiz Night is coming up on March 22, in sha Allah! Don't miss it!
Find ALL the details on the "Programs" section of our website.
Winners of the 1st Al Hasana Writing Competition!
Group 1:
First Place: Luqman K.
Topic: Ramadan
Writing:
Ramadan is the 9th month of the Islamic calendar. It comes after Shaban. Muslims fast all over the world in Ramadan. In Ramadan, you fast for 29 or 30 days. There is a special prayer after isha called taraweeh. Some people pray 8 rakats in taraweeh but some pray 20 rakats. Before starting the fast you eat suhoor and pray fajr and after maghrib athan is given then you eat iftaar and break your fast. For iftaar you can eat some dates or make fruit salad or make Haleem or eat anything nutritious. Apart from staying away from food, you should also stay away from lying, backbiting, TV or any haram stuff or else your fast will not be accepted. But if our fast is accepted Allah will give us innumerable rewards which only Allah knows of. Kids can fast but it’s mandatory for adults to fast. People who are sick or traveling are exempted fasting in the month of Ramadan. Once they get better or finish their journey they should make up for their fast. For some people who never get better, they have to feed the poor.
The night of Laylutul Qadr would be on one of the odd nights of last ten days of Ramadan, which are the 21st or 23rd or 25th or 27th or 29th night. The night of Laylutul Qadr is a better than a 1000 nights Allah said this in Surah Qadr. We stay up and pray the entire night on these nights. We do moon sighting on the 29th night of Ramadan. If we sight the moon, Ramadan will be complete in 29 days if not Ramadan will complete in 30 days. Muslims shop for clothes, shoes, toys, etc for Eid-al Fitr. Women and girls apply henna the night before Eid. It is mandatory to pray fajr on the day of Eid-al Fitr otherwise your eid prayer wouldn’t be accepted. You also have to listen to the speech of the Imam which is also called khutbah. Also, you have to pay Zakat-tul Fitra. Zakat-tul Fitra is equal to 5 pounds of wheat or an equivalent amount of money. This money is given to the needy so that they can buy food for themselves on Eid. You also have to prepare by taking a shower, cut your nails, clean your ears and put atar on the clothes you are wearing. Kids get Eiddy from their elders as a gift. Ramadan is my most favorite month as I get to celebrate Eid and get to visit my friends after the Eid prayer. Ramadan is also important because the Qur’an was revealed in this month.
Second Place: Sulaiman K.
Topic: Pillars of Islam
Writing:
Assalamu-Alaikum. As Muslims we must follow the 5 pillars of Islam. The 5 pillars of Islam are Shahada, Salah, Zakat, Saum (fasting), and Hajj. The first pillar of Islam is Shahada. Shahada is the verse you have to say to become Muslim and you should know the Shahada to be a Muslim. This is the Shahada - Ash hadu Allah ilaha illala wa ash hadu ana muhammadan ab duhu wa rasulluh. The meaning of this is – “I bear witness that there is none worthy of worship
but Allah, the one alone without any partner, and I bear witness that Muhammad (PBUH) is his servant and messenger”. The Salah is the 2nd pillar of Islam. You have to pray 5 times a day facing the kiblah or the Kabah. This is the way how Muslims pray. We start with Allahu-Akbar and we end with Assalumu-Alaikum warah matullah 2 times. The name of the five daily prayers are Fajr, Duhr,Asr, Maghreb, and Isha. Fajr is before dawn. Duhr is at noon. Asr is when 3/4th of the day is past. Maghreb is at sunset. And Isha is when night falls. And if you don’t pray your iman will not be complete and you will get punished in the hereafter. The 3rd pillar of Islam is Zakat or charity. You have to give 2.5% from your savings to the poor or the people who need money. Zakat is also given on certain amount of gold, silver or even on properties. Zakat is like a tax which we need to pay every year. If you don’t have any of these then you don’t have to do give Zakat. If you don’t give Zakat if you are able to afford, you will be punished in the hereafter also. The 4th pillar of Islam is Sawm or fasting. You fast in the month of Ramadan. You have to do Suhoor before Fajr time. Once the time is up you have to stop eating and start fasting. You break your fast at Maghrib by eating iftaar. Fasting is fardh on all healthy adults, sick people or travelers are exempted from fasting in Ramadan. They can make up for missed fasts once they feel better or finish their journey. The 5th pillar of Islam is Hajj. When you are grown up you go for Hajj. You have to go to Hajj at least once in your lifetime, Hajj is the pilgrimage made to Makkah in the first ten days of Dhul-hijjah. If you don’t have any money to go, then Hajj is not compulsory on you. Men have to wear two pieces of cloth known as Ehraam. Women can just wear simple and clean clothes which cover them completely. After the person completes Hajj he has to shave his head and sacrifice a lamb or sheep or camel or cow for the sake of Allah. The big animals like camel or cow are shared by multiple people. We can keep 1/3 of the meat to ourselves, 1/3 we have to share it with the needy and 1/3 we should distribute among our family and friends. These are all the 5 pillars of Islam.
Third Place: Rabia P.
Topic: The Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him)
Writing:
When we learn about the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) we do not forget about also looking at his features and character. The more we learn about how great he was the more we love him. His companions were lucky because they got to see his beauty. They were fortunate because they had a living model. We do not live in his time but we can still learn to be like him and to love him. The Prophet’s face (peace be upon him) was round and attractive. When he was happy his face looked as if it were the moon. Abu Huraira (may Allah be pleased with him) said, “I never saw someone who never got tired when he walked. When we walked with him we would get tired while Muhammad (peace be upon him) would not.” The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was not fat or thin. He had a medium build. The Prophet (peace be upon him) had the best character. He said, “My Lord taught me adab (good character).” He was the most kind of all husbands and the most merciful of all parents. Everything he did was done in the best way. He was brave and very generous. The Prophet (peace be upon him) was always smiling and he never stared rudely or glared at anyone with dismay. The Prophet (peace be upon him) never raised his voice. He always acted very calmly and with nobility, like the grandest of all royalty, because he was indeed the best of all of Allah’s creation. Even if his enemies hurt him badly, he would pray for their guidance and forgiveness. The angel Jibril came to the Prophet (peace be upon him) and asked, “Shall the Quraysh be punished more severely than anyone else in the world or should the door of mercy and repentance be held open?” The Prophet (peace be upon him) wanted the door of mercy and repentance for his people. One of the lessons we learn from the Prophet’s features and characters (peace be upon him) is that we should not yell and scream at people when they hurt you; rather you should make du’a (supplication) to Allah. Most importantly, we learn that he was the best of Allah’s creation, his manners were the best, and his features were the most beautiful. We should love him and follow him.
_______________________________________________________________________
Group 2:
First Place: Tasneem M.
Topic: Pillars of Islam
Writing:
Well, you might be thinking all the believers are just Muslims. Actually, there are 3 different types of Muslims in the world. The Muhsineen, starting at the top, to the Mu’mineen, in the middle, and the Muslimeen, at the bottom. Muslimeen are just basic Muslims, Mu’mineen are more practicing than Muslimeen, and Muhsineen, are the most practicing of all. To be a Muslim, you need to follow the basic pillars of Islam. These five pillars of Islam come after each other and need to be followed in sequence. They are Shahadah, Salah, Saum, Zakat, and Hajj. These are the Arabic words for belief, prayer, fasting, charity, and pilgrimage. Shahadah, which is to believe in the oneness of Allah Almighty and His beloved prophet and messenger as Muhammad (P.B.U.H) is the first thing anyone needs to do to be a Muslim. When people accept Islam, they need to take the Shahadah, for example at the masjid, under a witness who may be an imam, Shaykh, etc. Then we have Prayer, which is the second most important thing for a Muslim to do. We need to pray five times a day: Fajr, Dhuhr, ‘Asr, Maghrib, and ‘Isha. After prayer, there is fasting, which is observed in Ramadan. Zakat is the fourth pillar of Islam and it is when we give 2.5% of our yearly savings to charity, once a year to the needy. The fifth pillar is Hajj, a pilgrimage to the Ka’ba in Makkah, Saudi Arabia. This should be done at least once in a lifetime. The people who are excused from Hajj are those who are very elderly, the travelers, and the ill people. The Muhsineen and the Mu’mineen can be better than the Muslimeen by having a greater love for Allah, which makes them closer to Allah through good actions. The Muhsineen are lesser in number than the Muslimeen. But no one can be among the Muhsineen unless they are Muslims first. So, it is important to be able to know how to fulfill the Pillars of Islam and move on our way with the journey to becoming among the Muhsineen, In sha Allah. May Allah let us become a good Muslim, and make us among the Muhsineen, and be pleased with us. Ameen.
Second Place: Areeb I.
Topic: Pillars of Islam
Third Place: Tasbih R.
Topic: Ramadan
Group 3:
First Place: Mohammad H.
Topic: Significance of Salah (Pillars of Islam)
Writing:
For many, Salah is just a set of prayers completed mechanically to get it over with and continue their day, but the reason Salah is so stressed to Muslims is that it has a huge, beneficial influence on our lives. Salah did not randomly appear one day. There was a whole process where the Prophet (Peace be Upon Him) traveled a long distance and ascended through the heavens to get the gift of prayer from Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala). From that day on, Salah was emphasized because of the blessings it brought upon a Muslim, making it the second pillar of Islam. It serves as a backbone to a Muslim’s life, keeping it stable and strong. While some may not directly notice it, Salah is a valuable tool that brings Muslims closer to Allah and serves as a constant reminder of the hereafter. As mentioned, Salah is a very good way to bring Muslims closer to Allah but praying mechanically without any sincerity is like working at a job. Sure, the tasks will get done, but there will be little self-satisfaction if you don’t want to. The best solution for this problem is reading and learning the meaning behind surahs or the phrases within the Salah. Comprehending the text is not only helping one focus on their Salah, it also gives enjoyment through the understanding of each message or story in the Surahs. This ultimately encourages a Muslim to pray and makes them want to research more about Islam. Along with increased knowledge and satisfaction, with prayer comes imputed virtues such as performing more good deeds, following the other pillars of Islam, and becoming a more ethical person. If all these actions are performed honestly, In Shaa Allah, people will grow closer to Allah and will obtain all the rewards that come with that earnestness.
When Muslims become aware of the meanings of Surahs, the conditions of the hereafter also become apparent, whether it be Jannah (Paradise) or Jahannam (Hellfire). They no longer feel attached or stuck to this world and its materialistic values, knowing that the hereafter is worth so much more than the mere 70-80 (on average) years in this Dunya (this life). In many examples in the Quran, Allah reminds us of the intense despair and doom of Jahannam. However, to remove the fear of that type of punishment, Allah instructs us to do good deeds and to overall become a better person. Through Salah, Muslims bow down and place their foreheads down to the ground which shows their resolve to please Allah and earn Jannah for the hereafter. They put their learnings into effect and try their best to avoid the whispers of Shaitan in hope of reaching a better place after death. Like a study guide, Salah is a very useful tool to pass the test and achieve excellent results. It is extremely important that as Muslims, we utilize Salah as much as we can to get a good life in this life and the hereafter. Simply by humbling ourselves to The Almighty, so much advantageous rewards are given. However, with that being said, it should become a priority to try to understand as much of the Quran as much as possible in order to increase our knowledge and to attempt to fully realize the existence of Paradise and Hell. With the completion of sincere prayers, In Shaa Allah, becoming a more pious believer and being conscious of the hereafter will seem much easier.
Congratulations to all our winners and a big THANK YOU to all our participants!
First Place: Luqman K.
Topic: Ramadan
Writing:
Ramadan is the 9th month of the Islamic calendar. It comes after Shaban. Muslims fast all over the world in Ramadan. In Ramadan, you fast for 29 or 30 days. There is a special prayer after isha called taraweeh. Some people pray 8 rakats in taraweeh but some pray 20 rakats. Before starting the fast you eat suhoor and pray fajr and after maghrib athan is given then you eat iftaar and break your fast. For iftaar you can eat some dates or make fruit salad or make Haleem or eat anything nutritious. Apart from staying away from food, you should also stay away from lying, backbiting, TV or any haram stuff or else your fast will not be accepted. But if our fast is accepted Allah will give us innumerable rewards which only Allah knows of. Kids can fast but it’s mandatory for adults to fast. People who are sick or traveling are exempted fasting in the month of Ramadan. Once they get better or finish their journey they should make up for their fast. For some people who never get better, they have to feed the poor.
The night of Laylutul Qadr would be on one of the odd nights of last ten days of Ramadan, which are the 21st or 23rd or 25th or 27th or 29th night. The night of Laylutul Qadr is a better than a 1000 nights Allah said this in Surah Qadr. We stay up and pray the entire night on these nights. We do moon sighting on the 29th night of Ramadan. If we sight the moon, Ramadan will be complete in 29 days if not Ramadan will complete in 30 days. Muslims shop for clothes, shoes, toys, etc for Eid-al Fitr. Women and girls apply henna the night before Eid. It is mandatory to pray fajr on the day of Eid-al Fitr otherwise your eid prayer wouldn’t be accepted. You also have to listen to the speech of the Imam which is also called khutbah. Also, you have to pay Zakat-tul Fitra. Zakat-tul Fitra is equal to 5 pounds of wheat or an equivalent amount of money. This money is given to the needy so that they can buy food for themselves on Eid. You also have to prepare by taking a shower, cut your nails, clean your ears and put atar on the clothes you are wearing. Kids get Eiddy from their elders as a gift. Ramadan is my most favorite month as I get to celebrate Eid and get to visit my friends after the Eid prayer. Ramadan is also important because the Qur’an was revealed in this month.
Second Place: Sulaiman K.
Topic: Pillars of Islam
Writing:
Assalamu-Alaikum. As Muslims we must follow the 5 pillars of Islam. The 5 pillars of Islam are Shahada, Salah, Zakat, Saum (fasting), and Hajj. The first pillar of Islam is Shahada. Shahada is the verse you have to say to become Muslim and you should know the Shahada to be a Muslim. This is the Shahada - Ash hadu Allah ilaha illala wa ash hadu ana muhammadan ab duhu wa rasulluh. The meaning of this is – “I bear witness that there is none worthy of worship
but Allah, the one alone without any partner, and I bear witness that Muhammad (PBUH) is his servant and messenger”. The Salah is the 2nd pillar of Islam. You have to pray 5 times a day facing the kiblah or the Kabah. This is the way how Muslims pray. We start with Allahu-Akbar and we end with Assalumu-Alaikum warah matullah 2 times. The name of the five daily prayers are Fajr, Duhr,Asr, Maghreb, and Isha. Fajr is before dawn. Duhr is at noon. Asr is when 3/4th of the day is past. Maghreb is at sunset. And Isha is when night falls. And if you don’t pray your iman will not be complete and you will get punished in the hereafter. The 3rd pillar of Islam is Zakat or charity. You have to give 2.5% from your savings to the poor or the people who need money. Zakat is also given on certain amount of gold, silver or even on properties. Zakat is like a tax which we need to pay every year. If you don’t have any of these then you don’t have to do give Zakat. If you don’t give Zakat if you are able to afford, you will be punished in the hereafter also. The 4th pillar of Islam is Sawm or fasting. You fast in the month of Ramadan. You have to do Suhoor before Fajr time. Once the time is up you have to stop eating and start fasting. You break your fast at Maghrib by eating iftaar. Fasting is fardh on all healthy adults, sick people or travelers are exempted from fasting in Ramadan. They can make up for missed fasts once they feel better or finish their journey. The 5th pillar of Islam is Hajj. When you are grown up you go for Hajj. You have to go to Hajj at least once in your lifetime, Hajj is the pilgrimage made to Makkah in the first ten days of Dhul-hijjah. If you don’t have any money to go, then Hajj is not compulsory on you. Men have to wear two pieces of cloth known as Ehraam. Women can just wear simple and clean clothes which cover them completely. After the person completes Hajj he has to shave his head and sacrifice a lamb or sheep or camel or cow for the sake of Allah. The big animals like camel or cow are shared by multiple people. We can keep 1/3 of the meat to ourselves, 1/3 we have to share it with the needy and 1/3 we should distribute among our family and friends. These are all the 5 pillars of Islam.
Third Place: Rabia P.
Topic: The Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him)
Writing:
When we learn about the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) we do not forget about also looking at his features and character. The more we learn about how great he was the more we love him. His companions were lucky because they got to see his beauty. They were fortunate because they had a living model. We do not live in his time but we can still learn to be like him and to love him. The Prophet’s face (peace be upon him) was round and attractive. When he was happy his face looked as if it were the moon. Abu Huraira (may Allah be pleased with him) said, “I never saw someone who never got tired when he walked. When we walked with him we would get tired while Muhammad (peace be upon him) would not.” The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was not fat or thin. He had a medium build. The Prophet (peace be upon him) had the best character. He said, “My Lord taught me adab (good character).” He was the most kind of all husbands and the most merciful of all parents. Everything he did was done in the best way. He was brave and very generous. The Prophet (peace be upon him) was always smiling and he never stared rudely or glared at anyone with dismay. The Prophet (peace be upon him) never raised his voice. He always acted very calmly and with nobility, like the grandest of all royalty, because he was indeed the best of all of Allah’s creation. Even if his enemies hurt him badly, he would pray for their guidance and forgiveness. The angel Jibril came to the Prophet (peace be upon him) and asked, “Shall the Quraysh be punished more severely than anyone else in the world or should the door of mercy and repentance be held open?” The Prophet (peace be upon him) wanted the door of mercy and repentance for his people. One of the lessons we learn from the Prophet’s features and characters (peace be upon him) is that we should not yell and scream at people when they hurt you; rather you should make du’a (supplication) to Allah. Most importantly, we learn that he was the best of Allah’s creation, his manners were the best, and his features were the most beautiful. We should love him and follow him.
_______________________________________________________________________
Group 2:
First Place: Tasneem M.
Topic: Pillars of Islam
Writing:
Well, you might be thinking all the believers are just Muslims. Actually, there are 3 different types of Muslims in the world. The Muhsineen, starting at the top, to the Mu’mineen, in the middle, and the Muslimeen, at the bottom. Muslimeen are just basic Muslims, Mu’mineen are more practicing than Muslimeen, and Muhsineen, are the most practicing of all. To be a Muslim, you need to follow the basic pillars of Islam. These five pillars of Islam come after each other and need to be followed in sequence. They are Shahadah, Salah, Saum, Zakat, and Hajj. These are the Arabic words for belief, prayer, fasting, charity, and pilgrimage. Shahadah, which is to believe in the oneness of Allah Almighty and His beloved prophet and messenger as Muhammad (P.B.U.H) is the first thing anyone needs to do to be a Muslim. When people accept Islam, they need to take the Shahadah, for example at the masjid, under a witness who may be an imam, Shaykh, etc. Then we have Prayer, which is the second most important thing for a Muslim to do. We need to pray five times a day: Fajr, Dhuhr, ‘Asr, Maghrib, and ‘Isha. After prayer, there is fasting, which is observed in Ramadan. Zakat is the fourth pillar of Islam and it is when we give 2.5% of our yearly savings to charity, once a year to the needy. The fifth pillar is Hajj, a pilgrimage to the Ka’ba in Makkah, Saudi Arabia. This should be done at least once in a lifetime. The people who are excused from Hajj are those who are very elderly, the travelers, and the ill people. The Muhsineen and the Mu’mineen can be better than the Muslimeen by having a greater love for Allah, which makes them closer to Allah through good actions. The Muhsineen are lesser in number than the Muslimeen. But no one can be among the Muhsineen unless they are Muslims first. So, it is important to be able to know how to fulfill the Pillars of Islam and move on our way with the journey to becoming among the Muhsineen, In sha Allah. May Allah let us become a good Muslim, and make us among the Muhsineen, and be pleased with us. Ameen.
Second Place: Areeb I.
Topic: Pillars of Islam
Third Place: Tasbih R.
Topic: Ramadan
Group 3:
First Place: Mohammad H.
Topic: Significance of Salah (Pillars of Islam)
Writing:
For many, Salah is just a set of prayers completed mechanically to get it over with and continue their day, but the reason Salah is so stressed to Muslims is that it has a huge, beneficial influence on our lives. Salah did not randomly appear one day. There was a whole process where the Prophet (Peace be Upon Him) traveled a long distance and ascended through the heavens to get the gift of prayer from Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala). From that day on, Salah was emphasized because of the blessings it brought upon a Muslim, making it the second pillar of Islam. It serves as a backbone to a Muslim’s life, keeping it stable and strong. While some may not directly notice it, Salah is a valuable tool that brings Muslims closer to Allah and serves as a constant reminder of the hereafter. As mentioned, Salah is a very good way to bring Muslims closer to Allah but praying mechanically without any sincerity is like working at a job. Sure, the tasks will get done, but there will be little self-satisfaction if you don’t want to. The best solution for this problem is reading and learning the meaning behind surahs or the phrases within the Salah. Comprehending the text is not only helping one focus on their Salah, it also gives enjoyment through the understanding of each message or story in the Surahs. This ultimately encourages a Muslim to pray and makes them want to research more about Islam. Along with increased knowledge and satisfaction, with prayer comes imputed virtues such as performing more good deeds, following the other pillars of Islam, and becoming a more ethical person. If all these actions are performed honestly, In Shaa Allah, people will grow closer to Allah and will obtain all the rewards that come with that earnestness.
When Muslims become aware of the meanings of Surahs, the conditions of the hereafter also become apparent, whether it be Jannah (Paradise) or Jahannam (Hellfire). They no longer feel attached or stuck to this world and its materialistic values, knowing that the hereafter is worth so much more than the mere 70-80 (on average) years in this Dunya (this life). In many examples in the Quran, Allah reminds us of the intense despair and doom of Jahannam. However, to remove the fear of that type of punishment, Allah instructs us to do good deeds and to overall become a better person. Through Salah, Muslims bow down and place their foreheads down to the ground which shows their resolve to please Allah and earn Jannah for the hereafter. They put their learnings into effect and try their best to avoid the whispers of Shaitan in hope of reaching a better place after death. Like a study guide, Salah is a very useful tool to pass the test and achieve excellent results. It is extremely important that as Muslims, we utilize Salah as much as we can to get a good life in this life and the hereafter. Simply by humbling ourselves to The Almighty, so much advantageous rewards are given. However, with that being said, it should become a priority to try to understand as much of the Quran as much as possible in order to increase our knowledge and to attempt to fully realize the existence of Paradise and Hell. With the completion of sincere prayers, In Shaa Allah, becoming a more pious believer and being conscious of the hereafter will seem much easier.
Congratulations to all our winners and a big THANK YOU to all our participants!