Hala

Assalama 'Alaykum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuhu

Below you will find the top 5 essays submitted in the story writing competition. Read through them and pick your favourite one, you may vote for only one.

The poll will be open for 9 days.


1st Prize: FREE AlMaghrib seminar for you and an immediate family member
2nd Prize: FREE AlMaghrib seminar
3rd Prize: Fiqh of LOVE CD set

You can mention the story you voted for, but, as usual, no negativity in shaa Allah.

May Allah reward everyone who participated, whether as a judge or as a writer. In shaa Allah other stories will be published on the AlMaghrib website.







Essay 1:
Changes


My sister and I had been planning on attending the Seerah class but since we couldn’t find a group of 10 to get a discount, we didn’t sign up. I wasn’t really that interested to pay $165 to get some information I already knew and plus “waste” two whole weekends.

On the last night of registration, my friend from high school called whom I hadn’t spoken to in years. She signed us up that night and gave us the discounted price.

After the first week of classes, I was completely overwhelmed and knew that I needed to completely revamp my whole life. That Monday I walked into my manager’s office and told him that I was a Muslim and that I needed a place to pray. Since then I have not missed any of my prayers.

On the last night of classes, Muhammad Alshareef said that we need to make the changes in our life when our eman is the strongest and we shouldn’t wait to be “ready” to make those changes since that is a trick from shaitan. That moment, I decided that from Monday, that I would start wearing the hijab. When one of my senior managers saw me, he didn’t even recognize me and asked me if I was new.

Since then both my sister and my mother have started wearing the hijab and we have all started dressing as Muslims should. My love and eman for my Creator, my Prophets and my religion have sky rocketed. Everyday when I go to work instead of listening to music, I listen to Islamic lectures or the Quran or to nasheeds. I am so surprised at myself since I used to say I can never do any of the things that I have done in the last 4 months all thanks to the guidance from Allah (sw) and the AlMaghrib class.

Coming to the AlMaghrib class is THE best thing that has ever happened to me and it was worth EVERY single penny and I would definitely recommend that every single person take these classes even if it costs $1000.



ESSAY 2:
Pregnant Women Love AlMaghrib Too

I initiated the start of my Al-Maghrib journey in Houston, a city of thirsty muslimahs, and upon hearing about the Al-Maghrib Institute from them, it was as if Al-Maghrib was officially the third source of Islam after the Qur’an and sunnah.

As I sat on my chair during class I looked around at the number of knowledge seekers surrounding me. I admired the manner in which they ministered this class and I found myself taking an abundance of notes; the most I have ever taken in my life despite the fact that I was tempted to only engage in listening. As I glanced over at my pregnant friend beside me, with her feet propped up on a chair and a bowl of fresh fruits and vegetables beside her notebook to nourish her growing baby, I realized that the Al-Maghrib Institute was for everyone, in every condition of Iman, and in every stage of life. It was a beautiful feeling of security knowing that I was protecting the use of my time seeking knowledge and that we were all under the shade of Allah (SWT)’s angels and mercy. It was an intense experience and a memorable one indeed.

After I got married, moved away from home, and established a new home in North Carolina, my husband and I got in the car and traveled to Atlanta, Georgia to take another Al-Maghrib class, but this time with Yasir Qadhi. We were blown away and our cup of knowledge was filled even more. The unusual part is that our cups simply got bigger and our thirst for knowledge doubled! We realized we needed more nourishment to fill them, more of Al-Maghrib, more of experience. You don’t know how much you don’t know until you learn it.

Lives change, and wives get pregnant, which is exactly what happened to me. I’m looking forward to having my feet propped up with a bowl of fresh fruits and vegetables to nourish my growing baby at our next Al-Maghrib class together (inshaAllah)! It would be a beautiful thing. I know I can do it. I learned that at my first Al-Maghrib class.



ESSAY 3:
The Hype

AlMaghrib ‘Junkies’

AlMaghrib Institute. I kept hearing about it repeatedly from everyone around me. It was to the point of annoyance. Were these people just AlMaghrib ‘junkies’, or was I missing out? Finally, in 2005, I decided to see for myself what all the hype was about. I enrolled to take ‘The Purification Act’. After the first Friday of class, I knew this was something different. Islamic knowledge had never been presented to me in such a clear and interesting manner before. The two weekends flew by, and I was left with a lot of information and the realization that I knew nothing.

Lesson: The priceless blessing of knowing how to purify myself and pray properly.

Haram!

Growing up, I was taught that eating meat from ‘outside’ is haram. I remember going out to eat and ordering the fish fillet, only to find my fellow sisters getting the chicken burger! Haram! How could they? I assumed they chose to ignore the Islamic ruling. I felt like I was in a twilight zone, until taking the ‘Usool ul Fiqh’ class.
Now, I just have to convince my dad not to pull out the ‘haram!’ card when he sees someone ordering a chicken burger. InshaAllah, I’ll see him at the next AlMaghrib class!

Lesson: There is such a thing as difference of opinion in Islam.

AlMaghrib Rocks!

I will never, ever forget during the ‘Rizq Management’ class, standing alongside my sisters, crying from the pit of my stomach while listening to the instructor speak about the journey to hajj. I had heard countless times what the experience is like, but never before with this impact. I felt that I was there and going through all the emotions of a haji. I was standing at Mount Arafat and feeling the tears of my sins fall down my face, as I asked Allah (swt) to forgive me.

Lesson: An unbelievable yearning to go for hajj and coming to the conclusion that AlMaghrib truly does ‘rock’!


ESSAY 4:
Pieces of the Puzzle

* *

*"It's too expensive", I repeated. "I'll just read my books; I can't get two
weekends off from work… and my parents probably won't let me go!" My
friends ignored my excuses and continued to encourage me to sign up. "We'll help pay for the class and we'll talk to your parents", they said. "As for work, you'll find a way. Trust us." I was running out of excuses and they
knew it. "Can you at least come to an open house?" The disappointed look in their eyes finally caused me to cave.*

* *

*The auditorium and the faces were familiar. As the Usool-ul-Fiqh seminar
began, my attention was fixed on him. "So that's the infamous Muhammad
Alshareef", I thought. "Let's see if you live up to the hype." And that he
did. I went home overwhelmed with information, terms and surprised at how little I knew about Islam. An opportunity had presented itself and I wasn't going to let it pass me by. I signed up for the class. *

* *

*There began my addiction to Almaghrib. Again my beloved friends would
convince me to join the forums. Not a class came into town except that I
immediately registered. Each instructor impressed me with his unique style -
the etiquette; the humbleness; the humour; the depth, and the zeal for
knowledge. Each class had an effect on me that my family and friends would notice. Aqeedah renewed my love for Islam and for Allah. After Rules of Engagement my relationship with my parents changed. After the Purification Act I looked forward to prayer and I could finally feel the concentration in my prayer. After Rizq Management it seemed as if the pieces of the puzzle were coming together. I felt a connection with the sahabah and with the Prophet (saw) after Seerah. After each class I felt rejuvenated and optimistic. *

* *

*I began to volunteer and take an active role in Almaghrib. The experiences
continued not only in class but at Ilmfest, DiscoverU and other events.
Almaghrib is more than just an institute. It's a life changing experience. It's
a family. *





ESSAY 5:
Transformation

The moment I walked into my first AlMaghrib Institute seminar, I found myself entering a realm unlike anything I had ever experienced before. I found a new call in life, confidence within myself and love for my Deen. My Eman skyrocketed to a new high. Most importantly, I found in AlMaghrib Institute a means that cured the deepest sickness of my heart.

The seminar I took exploded my borders of thinking. I finally ENJOYED learning about Islam, sharing this joy with thousands of students across North America. The surreal experience awoke something inside me that I never knew I had; a thirst for knowledge and a newfound devotion of my entire existence to learning about my Deen.

The seminar helped me build my own platform of CONFIDENCE. No longer would I approach someone about Islam with my shoulders slouched, confused, unable and unsure about representing my religion. I was now proud to be Muslim, in the healthiest way. I was given the tools to bring understanding of Allah's Deen for myself, my fellow Muslims, and anyone one else I was ready to meet.

Lastly, and most importantly to me, the seminar, through the Mercy of Allah, helped bring light for the darkest period in my life. I entered the seminar diagnosed with severe depression. I didn't like myself and wanted my life to end. My Eman was too dull against the deficiencies I had in myself. My first and most beloved seminar, Light of Guidance, however, instantly changed things for me. Actually studying Aqeedah for the first time put my life into perspective. Everything finally made sense! My prayers, sacrifices, life, and even my death were all for Allah. Everything "bad" in my life was simply a test from my Creator, and I finally understood that there really was something worth living for beyond any thing worth dwelling over: submitting to Allah and entering Jannah.

The life perspective I had been waiting for my whole life finally came to me. Alhamdulillah, through AlMaghrib Institute I have shaped my life better than I or anyone else had ever imagined for myself.

Teena

Assalamu Alaikom, I really liked the one about the pregnant women because I attended Light Upon Light when I was about 8 months pregnant with my 10 month old daughter. My feet were so swollen, but it was so worth it! But, unlike those sisters, I most likely had a big bag of chocolate sitting next to me! At least, I managed to give up sodas....

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UmmSakinah

Hala, you know which one I'm going to vote for Am I allowed to vote?

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Surah Al Ghaashiyah 17-20
Do they not look at the camels, how they are created?
And at the heaven, how it is raised?
And at the mountains, how they are rooted and fixed firm?
And at the earth, how it is spread out?

From desert region...

BintAbshir

Bismillah.

I love the changes one because the fact that this sister just went to AlMaghrib she changed herself a whole lot and so did this sisters family. MashAllah TabarakAllah.

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Rabiah - la Voyageure ©

I recognize 2 of the 5 stories... may Allaah subhanahu wa taala keep the sisters strong in their faith, ameen.
I hope my voting isn't biased now.

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إذا أردت أن تعرف مقامك عند الله... فانظر فيماأقامك

Hala

Ofcourse you're allowed to vote! Could it be what all moms will vote for? =]

abd4evr

I liked essay 5, that's what AlMaghrib is all about. Alhumdulilah.

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Qabeelat Wasat, the best in the Midwest.... (please note that Hosna is also in the Midwest)

"Thus We have made you a Wasat (just) (and the best) nation, that you be witnesses over mankind and the Messenger be a witness over you." (2:143)

Shaykh al Islam Ibn Taymiyyah:"In fact they are in the middle path amongst the sects of the Ummah, just as this Ummah is in the middle path amongst (other) nations"

Bliss

All of them are brilliant, I voted for Transformation because it seemed the most heartfelt.

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"Acquire Knowledge.It enables its possessor to distinguish right from wrong; it lights the way to Heaven; it is our friend in the desert, our society in solitude, our companion when friendless, it guides us to happiness; it sustains us in misery; it is an ornament amongst friends; and an armour against enemies."


- Prophet Muhammad sallalahu alayhi wa salaam

*Nusaybah*

To the sister who wrote 'Changes' : I love you for the sake of Allah!

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