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Day 9 - Monday 28 July 2008 |
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Madinah sisters meet a Hafiz of the Quran, Nahjul Balagha and Sahifa Sajjadiyyah. They also meet with Sheikh Shomali. Brothers attend an astronomy centre as well as an informal gathering with Sheikh Shameli.
Bab has its opening ceremony, visits to haram and evening discussions with Sheikh Shomali.
Madinah quotes:
Shabana Walji, Peterborough Jamaat, U.K:
"I was in awe of this youth who, at only 15, had such vast amounts of knowledge at his fingertips ... His abilities in being able to identify the chapter, surah, and page number in which ayats of not only the Quran, but also Najhul Balagha and Sahifate Sajjadiya were found, was simply astounding."
Zainab Ladha, Trollhattan Jamaat, Sweden:
"I've heard of many people who have memorised the Holy Quran by heart but to actually meet one of these hafiz was truly inspiring. Sitting there listening to him give answers to question after question involving different Quranic passages made me understand the great position of Bibi Fizza (AS) who was so pious, that she only spoke through ayats of the Quran. The hafiz is a role model for all of us."
Shabistan Peera, Arusha Jamaat, Tanzania:
"I feel extremely blessed to be given the chance to meet such a great scholar. Sheikh Shomali was inspirational and was able keep our attention throughout the whole session. Furthermore, he was able to answer all the questions that we had which was Alhamdullilah extremely beneficial."
Shozebali Ebrahim, Peterborough, UK:
"After visiting the astronomy centre, we arrived at the park where we awaited falafil, shawarmas, drinks, and Sheikh Shameli himself. When he arrived we asked his permission to take a picture. He asked a question . "what is a picture?" This blew all of us away until he said a picture "is like shooting an arrow in the heart of history". When hearing this personally I felt like he was on another spiritual level to think of a simple thing like a picture in that way. After his short but heart warming introduction on how the Shias are known by other sects as the Rejected, I felt that all the Shia's in the world have a duty to be part of the Army of the 12th Imam. Sheikh Shameli touched all of our hearts ... "
Bab quotes:
Sumaira Ahmed, Canada:
"At night time, we performed maghribain salaat as jamaat behind Sheikh Shomali which was followed by a lecture/question-answer session outside beneath the starlit sky. Sheikh Shomali provided us with a wonderful insight on a number of topics which included family relations, Lady Fatema Masooma's status, striving to become one of the Imams children spiritually, achieving heaven by believing in Tawheed, and the importance of unfaltering imaan. His inspirational words made it impossible for anyone to walk away from the lecture unaffected.
"Jamia has worked its wonders on me within this one profound day I have spent here. It is not an unfamiliar place, nor are these people strangers. These are my sisters, and this is home." |
