Registration is now open for the Fall 2008 quarter. Classes begin September 29. TWO new classes have been added! Register here: http://www.zikrcast.com/Distance_Learning/index.php

Sample clips are available on individual class pages.

Islam, Marriage, and the Family with Imam Zaid Shakir
A course for those wishing to deepen their understanding and implementation of a fulfilling Islamic family life. Topics covered include aspects of Islamic family law, relevant aspects of the Prophetic biography, and practical advice for newlyweds.
- Registration fee: Video course $50

The Essentials of Faith with Ustadh Abdullah Ali
This course aims at raising a believer’s awareness about God’s uniqueness, greatness, and absolute perfection. It also aims at giving a historical context to some of the polemical controversies that developed after the death of the Prophet (peace and blessings of God be upon him) and led to the strife brought on by religious sectarianism. Topics covered include the basic tenets of the Islamic faith, scriptural and rational proofs and arguments for the existence of God, the first fundamental obligation of every human being, the godly attributes, prophetic attributes, and other issues. Based on the introductory chapters of the classical text, Al-Murshid Al-Mu’in (The Helping Guide) by the great scholar, Imam ‘Abd al-Wahid Ibn Ashir.
- Registration fee: Video course $45, Audio course $30

Back to Basics with Imam Zaid Shakir
A course explaining the basics of Islamic belief and worship with a concentration on the elements and issues that are essential for the sound and practical practice of Islam in our time. Appropriate and beneficial for not only the new Muslim, but for any Muslim living in the West, this course will cover “the Five Pillars,” “the Articles of Faith,” aqidah, basic fiqh, and critical issues such as appropriate gender relations and how to defend oneself against the attacks currently being levied against Muslims. As a supplement to these essentials each session will also include commentary on a Prophetic Hadith from Ibn Hajar’s collection outlining the rights of one’s fellow Muslim.
- Registration fee: Video course $60, Audio course $40

Living the Qur’an with Imam Zaid Shakir
An examination of selected passages from the Qur’an emphasizing the practical lessons we can draw from those passages for our daily lives. Considering specific themes such as patience, sacrifice, principled morality, the philosophy of life, the philosophy of history, and the reality of death, this course seeks to connect the believer with the Qur’an in a deep and meaningful way.
- Registration fee: Video course $60, Audio course $40

Getting Right with Allah with Imam Zaid Shakir
An examination of the deeper meanings of the idea of God-consciousness (taqwa) and its profound implications for a believer’s life.Based on the text by the great fourteenth-century scholar al-’Izz bin ‘Abdus-Salaam, Maqasid ar-Ri’aya li Huquq Allah (The Objectives of Guarding the Rights Owed to Allah), this class will relate the lessons of the text to our contemporary situation and aims to assist the believer in getting their heart, body, and soul rectified and connected with their Creator.
- Registration fee: Video course $60, Audio course $40

Disciplining the Soul with Ustadh Yahya Rhodus
A course based on two sections in the third quarter of Imam al-Ghazali’s Ihya’ Ulum al-Din (Revival of the Religious Sciences). This course will delve into the foundational principles of disciplining one’s soul, offering a theoretical framework of how this is achieved. A topic of utmost importance in every age, these principles are key in enabling the human being to maximize their Adamic potential.
- Registration fee: Video course $60, Audio course $40

The Prophetic Characteristics Pt. 1, 2, 3, & 4 with Ustadh Yahya Rhodus
A four-part study of the inward and outward characteristics of the Prophet, upon him be peace, from his lineage to his names to his physical stature to his noble attributes, taking from the text of the late scholar Shaykh Yusuf al-Nabahani, Wasa’il al-Wusul ila Shama’il al-Rasul (The Means of Arrival to the Characteristics of the Messenger).Studying the characteristics of the Messenger of Allah, upon him be peace, fills one’s heart with love for him and inspires one to follow his great example.
- Registration fee: Audio course $40 each. Part 1 * Part 2 * Part 3 * Part 4

The Attainment of Excellence in Prayer with Shaykh Salek bin Siddina
A comprehensive explanation of the means and benefits of developing greater presence and humility in the Muslim ritual prayer, based on the text Ishraq ul-Qarar (Radiance of the Hereafter).Delivered in a beautiful poetic format, this inspiring text by the great West African scholar, Muhammad Maulud, addresses all the elements of this "backbone of the five pillars" to assist the student in taking the prayer to a deeper level than simply its outward, physical actions and to make each prayer a spiritual journey in itself. (Course is taught in Arabic with live English translation by Ustadh Usama Canon.)
- Registration fee: Audio course $30

Official Zaytuna Distance Learning organization page on Facebook.

"Thumbing through the Saturday morning program, I finally decided to attend the 75-minute workshop titled "Thinking Outside the Mosque: How Muslim Institutions Can Change America."

Little did I know that I would hear one of the most compelling and significant Muslim American leaders—Hamza Yusuf—who converted to Islam as a teenager and co-directs the Zaytuna Institute. Much of what he said would resonate in Baptist churches."

Full article here: http://www.ethicsdaily.com/article_detail.cfm?AID=10976

Here are some links to articles, audio and video selections to celebrate this sacred Islamic month of Ramadan.

Ramadan 2008 audio and video selections: http://www.zaytuna.org/ramadansection2008.asp

Ramadan Advice from Shaykh Hamza Yusuf: http://www.hahmed.com/blog/2008/09/02/ramadan-advice-from-shaykh-hamza-yusuf/

Ramadan Applications for Nokia users: http://mea.nokia.com/english/ramadan

Ramadan article with Imam Zaid Shakir: http://www.newislamicdirections.com/nid/articles/ramadan_is_approaching/

Ramadan activities for your young children: http://www.ramadanchallenge.com/2008/08/days-of-joy.html

Ramadan gifts for your friends, family and neighbors (especially those of other faiths): http://www.ramadanchallenge.com/2008/08/new-peace-cooki.html

Free Ramadan course with Shaykh Faraz Rabbani: Fasting Explained: Virtues & Fiqh of Fasting

Please keep the IslamCrunch team in your prayers!

All praise is due to Allah, and may endless blessings be upon His Beloved Messenger Muhammad, his Kin, and his Companions.
The Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, made the dua,
"O Allah bless us in Rajab and Sha’aban, and let us reach Ramadan."

The Companions and the pious predecessors throughout this Ummah’s long history have always given this month their all. These are some excerpts taken from the book "Kanz Al-Najah wa Al-Suroor" (The Treasures of Success and Happiness) as well as from the book by Al-Habib Muhammad Al-Haddar, may Allah have mercy on him, "Al-Nafahat Al-Ramadaniyya" (The Spiritual Breezes of Ramadan) that encourage certain beneficial acts to maximize one’s benefit in Ramadan.

This is a long hadith which the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said at the end of Sha’aban, right before the start of Ramadan. It is on the authority of Salman Al-Farisi, may Allah be pleased with him:
"O people, a great and blessed month has cast its shade over you! A month in which there is a night that is better than one-thousand months! Allah has made fasting in it obligatory, and rising in prayer [at night] a great act of obedience. Whosoever performs an small act of good in it, it is as if he has performed an obligatory act, and whosoever performs an obligatory act is as if he has performed 70 obligatory acts in any other month. It is the month of patience, and the reward for patience is Paradise. It is the month of consolation. It is a month in which a believer’s provision increases for him. Whosoever feeds someone fasting, that [act] will cause forgiveness from his sins, he will be freed from the Fire, and he will have the same reward as the one who fasted without taking any reward away [from the one who fasted]."

The Companions said, "O Messenger of Allah, not all of us have enough to feed someone fasting." He, peace and blessings be upon him, replied, "Allah gives this reward to someone who gives a fasting person a date, or a drink of water, or even a sip of milk. It is a month of which its beginning is mercy, its middle is forgiveness, and its end is salvation from the Fire. And whosoever lightens the load upon his slaves, Allah will forgive him and save him from the Fire.
"In this month, make excess of 4 things: two of which you please your Lord with; two of which you will always need. The two things with which you will please your Lord are pronouncing the testimony of La ilaha illa Allah and asking Allah for forgiveness (istighfar). As for the two things of which you will always need to do – they are asking Him for Paradise and seeking refuge in Him from the Fire. And whosoever quenches the thirst of a fasting person, Allah with quench him [with water] from my basin [on the Day of Judgment] – a drink after which he will never be thirsty."

Many people incorporate the four recommended acts mentioned by the Beloved, peace and mercy be upon him, into one long dhikr/dua:

Transliteration: "Ashhadu an la ilaha illa Allah, Astaghfirullah, As’aluka al-Jennata wa ‘aoothu bika min al-nar."

Translation: "I testify there is no god but Allah, I seek Allah’s forgiveness. I ask you for Paradise, and I seek refuge in you from the Fire."

There are 3 things which the scholars urge during this month:

1. Fasting
This means to refrain from the outward, bodily limitations related to fasting such as eating, drinking, etc. In addition, this also means to avoid sins related to the inward. The Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, said,"Five things break one’s fast ( i.e. make it void of the promised reward): lying, backbiting, calumny, falsely swearing (i.e., saying, "wallahi" and lying), and to look at someone (who is not your husband/wife) with passionate desire."

2. Qiyam (Night Prayer)
Broadly, this means to give life to the night through different types of good works. One can rise in the night and pray extra prayers, read Qur’an, attend gatherings in which Allah is remembered, or attend gatherings in which sacred knowledge is being taught. Whoever prays ‘Isha in congregation and then Fajr in congregation, then that person has received a large portion of Qiyaam during Ramadan, and this is especially important during the last ten nights in order to reap the benefits of Laylat Al-Qadr. The Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him said, "Who prays ‘Isha in congregation it’s as if he prayed half the night; who [then] prays Fajr in congregation it’s as if he prayed the entire night."

3. Preparing yourself to be freed from the Hellfire
Whosoever fulfills the preceding two acts of worship and avoids being disobedient to their parents, cutting of ties with their relatives, arguing, and drinking alcohol will be freed from Hellfire. In a hadith, the Angel Jibreel made a dua, telling the Prophet to say "Ameen." The dua was, "Whosoever reaches Ramadan and does not [succeed in] having his sins forgiven, may Allah distance him! Say ‘Ameen.’" The Prophet, peace and mercy be upon him, then said, "Ameen."

As many of us know, this is the Month of the Quran, so we should all attempt to become intimate with the Book of Allah – read it, reflect on it, allow the glory and beauty of Allah’s words to reach your heart.

Insha’Allah, another [post] will be sent out in the following days focusing particularly on the recommended acts and duas to perform. May Allah put tremendous blessing in these last days for you all, your families, and the rest of the Muslims. Please remember the whole Ummah in your duas. Jazakum Allah khair.

NOTE: In order to be concise, the exact strength of certain hadiths have not been mentioned. It is agreed upon by the vast majority of scholars to use weaker hadiths to encourage people to do extra acts of worship and goodness.

EDITOR’S NOTE: This post was written by Sidi Amjad Tarsin and was originally posted on Facebook. Please see Sidi Amjad’s other posts about the blessed months of Rajab and Sha’aban.

Zaytuna Institute’s DeenLoad – a video promotion thanks to Mujahideen Ryder. Check out the original post here: ISNA Video Blog – Day 2 (Saturday)

For a high-quality version, click here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FRIgd6u9VFo [Click on "watch in high quality"]

For those of you who missed the DeenCards or who were not able to attend ISNA 2008, drop us a comment here and tell us how you would promote the DeenCards in your community. The best achievable as well as creative comments will get you the DeenCards.

Read our earlier post about the DeenLoad system to find out what DeenCards are: DeenLoad – Zaytuna Distance Learning and Real Love

From all of us at IslamCrunch: May you all have a blessed Ramadan!