Torch Bearers: testimonials and ambiance

[Ammar AlShukry]

Torch Bearers: testimonials and ambiance
taught by Shaykh Saed Rageah

Originally Posted by Muhammad Alshareef

Bismillah.
One thing I have found is that when a new course comes to town, volunteers have a mini hurdle trying to get a 'feel' for a new seminar ... and this effects the enthusiasm by which they encourage others.

The hurdle that then happens is that 'after' they have attended the first weekend, they brag to their friends about how awesome the course was ... but by that time it's too late. People keep missing the train because they get pumped up 'after' the train has left the station.

So ... I would like to make the testimonials and ambiance thread in each course folder. Simply type up your testimonials and what you thought was awesome about the course. Then, those new Qabeelahs that get this course ... all they have to do is come and view this thread, reading it top to bottom, and then they will have the motivational fuel they need to believe in what they encourage people to attend... BEFORE the seminar and not after.

Bismillah ... tell us what you loved about the Torch Bearers seminar, and it's ambiance:

[nihma333]

With no exaggeration what so ever, this class was awesomeness from start to finish. There was not a second of boredom. The way Shaykh Saed tells stories just draws you in to the point that your mental visualizations start to play tricks on you and before you know it you’re thinking that you're actually watching the event take place… live.

As a female I especially liked that “Torch Bearers” put so much emphasis on the female scholars. How often is the importance of sisters' role in the Ummah down played?! How often is the importance of sisters seeking knowledge and learning the deen neglected?! And still how often are only the male scholars focused on as if they didn't have a mother to birth them, care for them and teach them?! The reality is that we were defeated the moment our sisters were defeated. And as Sh. Saed repeatedly said, "The first thing that will destroy a nation is women and the first thing that will revive a nation is women."


Sh. Saed took us on a journey to see and understand, how the scholars maintained their legacy and the honor of Islam through their actions.

As Umar (ra) said "We are people that are honored by Islam. And the day we seek honor through any other means, Allah will disgrace us." So after the Rasul(saw) and the sahaba, what better example than the example of our righteous scholars... So what better opportunity than “Torch Bearers” to learn about the beautiful people that carried the deen… The giants whose shoulders we stand upon.

[sireen]

Come on you guys who took this class!! Post more!! Motivate others!!
I can't wait until this class inshaAllah

[sireen]

One could endlessly write about this class...*sigh*...mashaAllah...it was AMAZING alhamdulillah...

I have never learned so much about people whom I never knew existed before!! Learning from their past and their actions inspired us all...We would go from crying to laughing to writing all at once...

It was as if, we opened the big book of history, picked out some of the best stories, and learned about them And along the way, we stopped in so many countries it was like a tour of the world...

The thirst that these amazing scholars had for knowledge is beyond belief. And alhamdulillah, because, if it wasn't for people like them, the knowledge would have been lost...(If you take this class, expect to walk out of it wanting to stop everything in your life just to learn for the sake of Allah!!!)

I think what I learned comes down to one important thing: I CAN do it inshaAllah...This class motivated me immensely...I am truly motivated to strive to be one of the best inshaAllah...may Allah make us all the best inshaAllah...

Jazakum Allahu khairan Sheikh Saed for such an amazing class...May Allah reward you and your family...

[sireen]

Assalamu alaikum...

I just wanted to add that, alhamdulillah, one of the sisters started wearing the hijab
The class gave her the final push of motivation to take this step alhamdulillah!!

[MindMineral]

This is a brilliant course maasha'Allah

[Muhajiba By Heart]

Alhumdulillah .. very beneficial course in the short and long run of life

[Abu Fahad]

Asslam O Allykum Wa RahmaTullah

I would classify this class in 2 categories. Good part of the class and the part where improvement is possible inshaAllah. The whole purpose of the feedback should be a true feedback so that even the teacher can get benefit out of it.
OK here are Good parts of the class:

1. Awsome class Alhamdullillah. To me what matter the most is PROFESSIONALISM. I found Sh. Waleed a very professional teacher. He controlled the class beautifully keeping the best discipline possible. He did not let brothers or sisters just do what ever they want and dont pay attention to the lecture. I still remember him saying ,"brothers in the back, yes you with a blue cap on etc, sisters on the left with red or brown scarf etc".
2. Sh. Waleed really knew the subject and taught it beautifully. He did not let the class be loose or boring by putting different activities and a little games. Most importantly all the activities and games also had a lesson in it. Even if it was so simple as putting your jacket on and off a few times.
3. He kept the balance in the class with lecture, breaks, activites and fun
4. I think he left almost every one with a concept. A concept that I need to do some thing, I need to make some goals in my life , doesn't matter how small it is. The ultimate goal should be Jannah through different small or big goals.
5. I started looking into my little library of books and guess what: I found books I had for so long but I did not knew the person who wrote the book. I found a book named "Umdatul Ahkam" by Hafiz Abdul Ghani. I learnt about Haifz Abdul Ghani in the class. Now the same book has much more meaning to me. We (I and my wife) started reading that book page by page. We want to finish it completely without leaving a single hadith in it. InshaAllah we will try to do the same for other books as well.
6. I also read in forum that one of the sister started wearing Hijab after this class. That's really awsome. MashaAllah. I will expect from some brothers that they take th courage to have beard as well.
7. List of scholars showed a balance amongst scholars. It contains Arab scholars and also Ajmi scholars. It also contained women as well. Very nice selection mashaAllah.
8. There are so many benefits out of this class that I can write a looooooooooooong list but I will try to stop here.

Now Feedback about improvements:

1. When it comes to the Recition of Quran, Sh. Waleed let us listen a few beautiful recitations and let us guess the Qari. I think all the Qaris were from Arab world. I am sure there are many good reciters in the Ajmi world as well. I would suggest to include those as well so that it could be a balance between Arab and Ajam Qaris. Its just a suggestion and not a complaint.
2. Clips from Bidah people , dancing and trying to do a kind of wird etc. All of those Bidah clips were shown from Indo Pak (Ajmi world) area. which may misguide some one that only people of those areas have Bidahs like that. I am sure there many such things going on in Arab part of the world as well. So if those kind of clips need to be displayed, it should have a balance from Arab and Ajam.
3. Sh. Waleed put an Indian dress on himself when he started teaching about Indian scholars. I dont think so scholars wear that kind of dress in india. So it would be nice to wear such a dress which may show how scholars of that area look like. Secodly also wear a dress (if possible) of Arab Scholars which may show how Arab scholars look like. Once again its just a suggestion and not a complaint. Please dont take me wrong.
4. This suggestion is for Almaghrib management: They provided 5 dollar food rebate for out of towners. My suggestion is: Give them $5 discount when they register rather have them find a person here and there for $5.

Thats all I have right now. Please feel free to comment on my suggestions. May Allah reward Sh.Waleed for all of his efforts. May Allah reward all of us and give us the energy to take more classes from Al-Maghrib. What a nice instituute is it.

Jazak Allah O Khairan

Abu Fahad

[HiBz EsSenSe ©]

Originally Posted by Abu Fahad

Asslam O Allykum Wa RahmaTullah

1. This suggestion is for Almaghrib management: They provided 5 dollar food rebate for out of towners. My suggestion is: Give them $5 discount when they register rather have them find a person here and there for $5.

waAlaikum aslalam waRahmatullahi waBarakatu

Jazakum Allahu Khayrun for your feedback, just to note though, this one quoted above has nothing to do with AlMaghrib institute, - This "discount" was provided to you through the hospitality of Qabeelat Tayybah (The NY Tribe of AlMaghrib institute) - ie: its from the volunteers, not from the Institute!

I Pray that you join us in Feb for our upcoming seminar inshaAllah

[Aboo Zaid]

Two Testimonials from Sh Waleed's Torch Bearers:


brothers and sisters...I tell you, this class is TRULY AWESOME mashaAllah. I know I say that about every class and this might sound like a repeat. But truly, this class is just amazing mashaAllah. I guarantee you, 99% of the stuff covered in the class, you would not have heard before. This is unlike any class you may have studied before.....Like other classes on fiqh, aqeedah etc. I usually did have some background and probably knew 50% or more of the stuff but this class, no way! Sh Waleed said he researched over 6 months and spent a long time in preparing this course. And not just that, the course has really nice activities at the end of each session....

You guys will love it inshaAllah. You'll fall in love with the scholars and the leaders of Islam. The Torch Bearers!

-Kamran


http://www.almaghrib.org/enroll.php

I echo Br Kamran's sentiments. We've heard of some of these names like Ibn Hajr and others we have not. However, what we don't know is their full biographies. Torch Bearers makes them human showing their strengths, personal preferences, habits and even faults. Which in the end makes their example even more powerful than just hearing the selective legendary bits we get here and there.

Another fascinating piece of the class is the historical/political context of their lives. Each comes from a different time period and so you get a quick flash into time of what the Ummah was going through at that moment, what was the environment like, so that you can appreciate the sentiments of the times and factors shaping each personality.

I can't think of a more efficient way to give one a meaningful view of the entire history of Islam, post companions.


-AbooZaid


http://www.almaghrib.org/enroll.php