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100 Reflections on the Egyptian Uprising: A Lighthouse Episode
In this Lighthouse Episode, we will be sharing 100 Reflections on current events. Keep reading after the video for the first 10 opening reflections.
All of the world’s eyes are on Egypt and current events are, by all accounts, historic. Whatever our connection to the uprising, there is no doubt that as MAS members we are drawn to any call for liberation and every fight against oppression. The peaceful methods of change, the enterprise of people in gathering and protecting each other despite obstacles, the economic and social divides that have been crossed in the organic, grassroots mobilization for justice are all aspects that resound with us.
We invite you to participate in a reflection process to show our own people a different side of the Muslim world in this peaceful, organized movement for democracy. It can help us guide our families and friends to channel their energies into productive activism instead of being over-idealistic or apathetic. Finally, these reflections help us engage in an interactive, experiential tarbiya process, in which we are seeing the lessons in real life instead of through books and speeches.
The Lighthouse Team invites everyone to contribute to 100 REFLECTIONS on the current situation in the Middle East, which will be shared online on the MAS Tarbiya blog. Send your reflections on the comment section of the blog. Reflections can be any length and any style.
To get your ideas flowing, the Lighthouse team drafted 10 opening reflections. Read, reflect, learn, then give back by sending in your own!
1. From Hope to Belief
We all know that we should never lose hope in Allah and His support. However, this belief sometimes becomes a theory. The Egyptian uprising ignited this belief and made it real. Many of us were almost hopeless after many attempts to reform. This uprising removed the dust from our hearts and taught us to always believe that Allah will bring justice, even after a while. Allah gives people the chance to struggle, put effort, try possible means, and become almost desperate. Only then His support comes to revive our belief and comfort our hearts. In light of the events in Egypt, the verse “Until when the messenger almost gave up on their people and thought they are deemed liars, our victory comes to them…” takes on a completely different taste.
2. Power lies in the Hands of Allah (more…)
TAM Registration Now Open
The registration for TAM 2010 is NOW OPEN for all locations. Visit http://www.mastarbiya.org/tam2010 to register and for more information about the TAM, program, locations, and other details.
TAM West – San Diego – Oct. 8-10
TAM East I – Maryland – Oct. 15-17
TAM South – Houston – Oct. 22-24
TAM East II – Hartford, CT (hosted by NY) – Oct. 29-31
TAM Mid-West – Milwaukee, WI – Nov. 5-7
The 2010 TAM Team and the TAM host chapters are working hard throughout this Ramadan to create a memorable and powerful TAM experience that will equip MAS members with an invaluable set of skills. Stay tuned for many more details and sneak peeks into this year’s program and highlights.
Make the intention this Ramadan to attend TAM, deepen your commitment to the cause of Allah, and play an active role in this important national MAS event by registering TODAY!
A Special Ramadan Message
Dear MAS members,
MAS Tarbiya would like to congratulate you on the upcoming month of Ramadan. There is no time of year that is filled with the potential and opportunities as the days ahead. The Prophet (saw) said, “Ramadan has come upon you. It is a month of blessing, in which Allah covers you with blessing, for He sends down Mercy, decreases sins and answers prayers. In it, Allah looks at your competition in good deeds, and boasts about you to His angels. So show Allah goodness from yourselves, for the unfortunate one is he who is deprived in this month of the mercy of Allah, the Mighty, the Exalted.” [Narrated by Tabarani]
For Ramadan-related inspiration and ideas on how to maximize self-development, don’t miss the Lighthouse Project episode from last year, “Flee to Allah”, which contains instructions on how to make Ramadan a turning point, combat inconsistency and laziness, increase our reward through charity, and become among the people of the Quran. You can view the pdf document here.
For MAS members, Ramadan should be much, much more than just a season in the conventional sense–when greetings are exchanged, fasts and prayers are performed collectively, and families and friends come together. Get ready from this very moment to take advantage of the enormous opportunity for self-development and purification before you. Stretch yourself and push yourself to the limit in charity, activism, and self-purification–we have the whole year to pace ourselves so this is not the time for rest and taking it easy. Do not allow Ramadan to come and go without achieving a breakthrough in your relationship with Allah (swt).
Let’s compete before Allah (swt) to take advantage of Ramadan, for we are coming upon a special time when rewards and forgiveness are given out left and right and there is an unbelievable discount on jannah itself. If we walk away empty-handed, we have only ourselves to blame. Remember MAS, your brothers and sisters, and the upcoming TAM 2010 in your supplications–ask that Allah (swt) forgives us all, bestows His guidance on us, and grants us the energy, time, and sincerity to carry His mission forward in America.
Yours sincerely,
The MAS Tarbiya National Team
Announcing TAM 2010 Cities
MAS Tarbiya is proud to announce the five locations of TAM 2010!
TAM East I: Maryland
TAM East II: New York
TAM Mid-West: Chicago Milwaukee
TAM South: Houston
TAM West: Phoenix San Diego (boycotting due to Arizona Immigration Law SB1070)
TAM 2010 will take place between the dates of Oct. 1 and Nov. 7. The exact dates for each location will be announced soon. Stay tuned for more details.
We hope that all chapters in every region will contact the host chapters to see how they can help and begin to plan to push registration in their localities to ensure that TAM ’10 is a positive opportunity for every MAS chapter.
Moderation Webinar Coming Up on Sunday
Mark your calendars for the first of two webinars in the Lighthouse Project’s Moderation episode. “Moderation Unleashed,” by Dr. Jamal Badawi will be on Sunday, May 9, from 8-10 p.m. EDT. Register for the webinar here.
Jamal A. Badawi is a Canadian-based professor and world-renowned speaker, author, and advocate of Islam and Muslims. He has authored several books and articles on Islam. He also researched, designed and presented a 352-segment television series on Islam, aired in Canada, the US and other countries. Audio and video copies of this series are widely available.
Episode III: “Moderation”
We know you’ve been waiting a long time, but it’s finally here! The MAS Tarbiya Lighthouse Project is excited to bring you its third episode on the challenging topic of Moderation in Islam.
This episode will inspire in-depth discussions and challenge you by exploring the issue of moderation and how we in MAS approach this key theme of Islam. Many questions will be raised, some will be answered, but more importantly, MAS members all over the country are invited to answer many of the crucial questions asked in this episode.
MAS members are encouraged to share this episode in all of their circles and throughout their communities. There are in-depth articles and reading lists, exciting case studies as well a chance to design your own, and two interactive webinars that you do not want to miss!
Check out the introduction for an overview of the episode and a suggested timeline on how to use the material.
The first beam “Moderation Unleashed” approaches moderation from a theoretical and scholarly perspective, also underlining some of the popular misinterpretations of moderation. “Moderation Applied” explores the theme in the daily lives of MAS members, taking a very practical, day-to-day approach. And finally, “Moderation in Society” raises questions about how we can create a message of moderation to be advocated by the greater society.
Click here to access the episode pdf! We hope you enjoy it as much as we enjoyed putting it together. A special thanks to the LHP team and all of the contributors to this episode.
A Peek into our First MTD Exec Team Meeting
Assalamu alaikum wa rahmat Allah wa barakatuh!
Introduction
On the weekend of the MLK holiday, Jan 16-18, five MAS members converged in Totowa, NJ to lay out the foundation, planning, and execution for 2010 for the MAS Tarbiya Department (MTD). After a month of virtual planning and discussion, we left our families and homes to come together for the sole purpose of planning for 2010, in light of the 2008-2012 term strategies. The meeting was the first physical meeting of the term. This memo serves as a summary of the meeting and open communication of what took place.
MAS Tarbiya needs YOUR input
The MAS Tarbiya team will be meeting next week to evaluate the previous year and energize for an exciting term isa. Your input will help the tarbiya team better understand how to move forward.
All those ideas you have about MAS Tarbiya but don’t know who to tell? The projects or approaches you wish MAS Tarbiya would adopt? Please take five minutes to share your thoughts on the priorities, objectives, and specific projects for 2010. Click here to participate in the *quick* survey!
Your feedback is invaluable to MAS Tarbiya–don’t keep your ideas to yourself! Your help will allow us to better address the needs and dreams of MAS members. The survey will close on Thursday, Jan. 14 (less than a week).
May Allah reward you for your time and support.
TAM ’09 Wrap-up Package
We’ve developed for you a comprehensive package with presentations, surveys, and other useful materials from TAM 2009. Please take advantage of these materials to stimulate discussion in your usras, to refresh the ideas and concepts, to review a session you may have missed, and to spread the TAM’s benefit to members who could not attend.
TAM ’09 Package
General Materials
Presentations
Beyond TAM: A Letter to All MAS Members
TAM 2009 concluded this past weekend, with close to 700 MAS members attending the four TAMs in Washington DC, Dallas, Los Angeles, and Detroit. The goal of TAM was to create a mission-centered mindset in all MAS members, and many attendees emerged energized and excited about the work ahead. A comprehensive wrap-up package, including the full-length powerpoint presentations, results of surveys, and other TAM ’09 materials, will be available shortly. Meanwhile, we wanted to draw your attention to a special letter, “Beyond the TAM.” Please take the time to read it.
The letter is directed to all MAS members and leaders, whether they attended TAM or not. It serves to remind all of us of the high commitment needed to fulfill our mission and make sure, after our return from TAM, that we’ve already started on the road ahead. You can read the pdf version of the letter or scroll down for the complete text.
Beyond the TAM
A Letter to all MAS members and leaders
Dear members and leaders of the Muslim American Society,
Assalamu Alaikum wa Rahmtullah wa Barakatuh. I ask Allah that this message reaches you, your families, and your communities in the best of health and iman. Alhamdulillah, TAM has concluded, with close to 700 MAS members attending four regional meetings in Washington DC, Dallas, Los Angeles, and Detroit.
A Transforming Experience
As many of you expressed in your own words, TAM 2009 was a transforming experience. (more…)
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