The Sisters Halaqa

Seeking Of Knowledge Is An Obligation Upon Every Muslim, Be It A Man Or A Woman .Mishkaat

The Muslim Sisters Halaqa began several years ago at ICLI and became a learning circle of knowledge made up of sisters from all ages, ethnicity, educational and cultural backgrounds. The idea of a halaqa began several summers ago, at the picnic tables of ICLI, with a small group of neighborhood girls in their teens wanting to continue to learn their deen throughout the summer months.

The importance of continuing it throughout the year became a vision that was realized with the approval, assistance and support of ICLI's community members, as well as members of the executive board . We were challenged and inspired to make it all inclusive, bringing together a diversified and unified group of sisters with different language backgrounds, using translators whenever necessary. Soon after-­ wards, sisters from many different ethnic groups, professional, cultural and educational backgrounds began joining our halaqa's circle, thereby, enhancing and enriching our total learning experiences through getting to know each other and developing an appreciation and respect for one another.

O mankind, verily we have created you from a single male and female and made you into peoples and tribes that you may know each other. Verily, the most noble of you is the most God-­fearing and Allah  is Most Knowledgeable, Most Aware. Qu'ran Surah 43 (Al-­Hujurat) Verse 13

The Muslim Sisters halaqa provides a range of Islamic learning activities each Sunday, including teachers who are learned and well versed in many disciplines of Islam, ranging from fiqh and jurisprudence to teaching Islamic Studies, Qur'an and tajweed. The climate is one that is caring, nurturing and respectful towards all that attend. The halaqa also provides a full Sunday program consisting of Qur'an classes with tajweed on varying levels, Islamic Studies, Quran recitations, Ahadith and Qu'ran tafseer, Sister to Sister presentations, and discussions that are relative, as well as, pertinent to our deen and our perspective roles in our families, community and society. We occasionally invite guest speakers to our halaqas to educate, and enlighten us in their perspective fields and areas of expertise. During our halaqa sessions, our focus is on fulfilling the different levels of knowledge and understanding, and developing informed and educated Muslimahs in our community and in our deen.

Allah Grants Wisdom To Whom He Pleases; And The One To Whom Wisdom Is Granted Has Re-­ ceived Benefit Overflowing; And None Will Grasp The Message But Men Of Understanding. (Q2:269)

Over the years, halaqa sisters have provide d weekly presentations by sisters for the purposes of learning, implementation, and for the preparation of dawah, an integral component of our program. The subjects expands and covers a wide range of topics substantiated and based on Qur'an and Sunnah. Some of the topics covered in the past include: "Becoming Closer to Allah", "Creating Good Muslim Relations", "Preparations for Ramadan", "The Rituals of Hajj", "How to Develop Kushoo in our Prayers", "Islamic Manners and 

Adab", "A Mercy for all Mankind", "Family Matters in Islam", and "Treasures from the Quran and Hadiths."

The person who goes forth In search of knowledge Is striving hard In the way of Allah; until he re

turns. Tirmidhi