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

RAMADHAN IS COMING! I FTAAR DONATIONS. A NNUAL OPEN PEACE LECTURE .................. 1

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SISTERS
~ SISTERS CAMP 2007 ~

I SLAM AWARENESS W EEK 2007, THEMED UNITY IN DIVERSITY WAS SUCCESSFULLY HELD IN DUNEDIN .. 2

THE

Hadith of the week If anyone omits his fast even for one day in Ramadan without a concession or without being ill, then if he were to fast for the rest of his life he could not make up for it. (Bukhari) Quiz of the week If you have it, You want to share it. If you share it, You dont have it. What is it? Last weeks answer: A coin Special Notice This Saturday, 8th September, is sisters turn (for the first time!) to clean the mosque. We want to do a good job so please come and help. Cleaning would start after Dhuhur prayer inshallah. Ramadhan is coming soon. Donations are needed to help with the iftar gatherings, use the provided box in the mosque to do so. Also if you are interested in cooking for any of the nights, please contact brother Hikmat or use the contact details above.
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Assalamualaikum! The successful sisters camp event was held on the 26th of August. It was such an enjoyable occasion! Sisters from all nationalities were joined together to enjoy a fusion of fun, leisure and education all in one day! The camp held a variety of events, from the game pop the balloon to who wants to be a choclataire? quiz. The camp started off by the dodge ball game in which everyone took part in, no exceptions! After all the action and tiring dodging, time for relaxation was needed. That is when one of our lovely sisters gave us an inspiring talk about sisterhood which was the theme of this years camp. The talk was a reminder for all of us of how sisters should act towards each other, of how Islam has asked us to treat and take care of one another. Following the special talk was the balloon game where everyone had to stop their balloons from being popped to gain points for their team. It was such an amusing sight! Everyone was jumping around stamping on each others balloons followed by the delightfully disturbing noise of the popping balloons! It is when a swift of delicious scent numbed the sense of smell of all the sisters did they realize that it was time for lunch. And what a wonderful lunch it was! Thank you sister for making the most heavenly dishes... I could feel myself resisting eating my fingers after each bite! The knowledge of the sisters was then tested by the who wants to be a choclataire quiz game. Indeed, the sisters proved themselves knowledgeable! And for that, they deserved the chocolates they won ;) The treasure hunt was one of the most amusing games in this years camp. Even little Maryam joined the game and found a clue for her team! The camp area was filled with screams of joy, enthusiasm of having found a clue, frustration for not figuring out the puzzle that led to the next clue and most of all the fun that every single one experienced! It was exciting coming up with ideas for the roles that we had to perform, from singing a nasheed to acting out a role. At the end of the camp, each group had to give a talk about what they have learned throughout the day about sisterhood and to share their own personal thoughts. It was interesting having to listen to other sisters point of views. Overall, the sisters camp was such an enjoyable event. It was my very first sisters camp and I had a really good impression of it which will keep me attending the camps to be inshallah. A note to the sisters who missed out; you really did miss out big time! But there is always the next camp to attend ^-^ Salaam
By Sister Lamya

BOULANOUAR FAMILY. BRO. ZACARIA SIS. AISYA, THARIQ KHADIJA, SAFIYYA .......

Al-Huda
Special Ed.
The messenger of Allah (SAW) reported in a hadith al-Qudsi that Allah (SWT) said: "All acts done by the sons of Adam are meant for him, except fasting. It is exclusively meant for Me, and I (alone) will reward him for it" [Bukhari and Muslim] Abu Sa'eed Al-Khudri (RA) the Messenger of Allah (SAW) said: "Sahuur is a blessed meal, do not neglect it even if it is a mouthful of drink. For Allah and the Angels bless those who observe it." [Ahmed]

MUSLIM UNIVERSITY STUDENTS ASSOCIATION (MUSA) OTAGO MUSLIM ASSOCIATION (OMA)

Marhaban Ya Ramadhan..
Abu Sa'eed Al-Khudri (RA) the Messenger of Allah (SAW) said: "Sahuur is a blessed meal, do not neglect it even if it is a mouthful of drink. For Allah and the Angels bless those who observe it." [Ahmed] Abu Hurairah, may Allah be pleased with him, reported: "Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) said: When there comes the month of Ramadan, the gates of mercy are opened, and the gates of Hell are locked and the devils are chained." [Sahih Bukhari]

Professor Abdullah Saeed in Dunedin for Annual Open Peace Lecture 6 Sept. - A lecture entitled Towards a More Inclusive View of the Religious 'Other': A Muslim Perspective. was held at Otago University Castle 1 Lecture Theater last night. It was given by Professor Abdullah Saeed, from University of Melbourne. He is Foundation Chair of the Sultan of Oman Endowed Chair in Arab and Islamic Studies at the University of Melbourne. He is also Director of the Asia Institute at the University of Melbourne and Director of the National Centre of Excellence for Islamic Studies (in conjunction with Griffith University and the University of Western Sydney). The presentation explored the message of peace and compassion that is at the heart of the Islamic foundation texts and Muslim practice. Part of this message is a strong encouragement to Muslims to strive towards peaceful and cooperative relations with people of other faiths on the basis of compassion, reciprocity and justice. Prof Saeed argues that the foundation texts of Islam provide ample support for this and counter the views of certain Muslims who argue that such relations between Muslims and people of other faiths should not be the norm. Such views often rely on particular interpretations that developed in specific socio-political contexts in the past, and where such interpretations exist, they may have to be reassessed today. At a time when people of all faiths need to come together as participants of an increasingly globalised world, there are plenty of reasons for Muslims to adopt interpretations that are more in line with what contemporary needs and concerns of today demand.

Visit: www.islamonline.net for more information on Ramadhan.

Muslim Students Association (MUSA)

Otago Muslim Association (OMA)

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The Boulanouar Family

Our Role Models

For many of us, the day we came to Dunedin one of the first people we got to know was either brother Zacaria or sister Aysha. Their warmth, smiling faces and welcoming attitude helped overcome our loneliness and made us feel at home. For the years they lived in Dunedin they dedicated their time and energy towards building a better and stronger Muslim community and to give us all a place and a chance to build stronger brotherhood and sisterhood bonds. To this, and many of their other contributions, we are deeply thankful. Brother Zacaria recently played a great role in improving the structure of the Sunday Islamic School. After a lot of hard work, this year, he organised for the teachers of the Islamic school to gain proper training and the classes to be more structured. Now each class is given a textbook to follow. He also contacted each parent individually to ensure that they were aware of the changes made. If not for his effort, we may have achieved this but only in another few years. Thank you brother Zacaria and may God (swt) reward you for your good deeds.

BLOOD DONATION DRIVE

O ye who believe! Fasting is prescribed to you as it was prescribed to those before you, that ye may (learn) selfrestraint. [2:183] MOSQUE OPEN DAY

Being the great Muslims that they are, God blessed them with the most beautiful children, mashallah: Khadija, Tariq, and the newly arrived Boulanouar, Safiyya. They were as much the kids of the Muslim community as they were of their parents. They had, and continue to have, a special place in everyones hearts. It was a joy going to the mosque knowing they were going to be there. Dunedin is dull without them. We dont know how brother Zacaria and sister Aysha managed it but they raised kids that, from a young age, are mashallah full of knowledge, strong, and religiously aware. Although Khadija, sometimes, did and said things that confused even her parents as to how she came up with it, my personal favourite quote of her is: "dont say diaper, its Christian. Say nappy!"
PUBLIC FORUM

As some of you might know, brother Zacaria was working on his PHD and sister Aysha was a lecturer at the Marketing Department here at Otago University. At the beginning of August this year, they unfortunately decided to move to Hamilton. It was a decision that saddened the Muslim community deeply but their happiness is our happiness. We pray to Allah (swt) to bless them in every way. We wish them all the best with their life in Hamilton. We know they will bring as much joy to the Hamilton Muslim Community as they brought to us. In our lives many people come and go. But the departure of the Boulanouar family was definitely a loss to us all in many ways
By Sister Sumayyah

Any critic, comment, suggestion or idea can be emailed to The Editor at: hasmu153@ student.otago.ac.nz