It is with great honor to announce that Shaykh Abdul-Kareem Yahya is visiting the San Francisco Bay Area during the months of May and June, 2008. He will be teaching and lecturing at various venues during his visit.

Shaykh Abdul-Kareem will be teaching about the Seerah of our Beloved Prophet Muhammad (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) at the Hayward Halaqah gatherings.

• Session 1: From birth to prophethood
• Session 2: Makkah
• Session 3: Madinah

Shaykh Abdul-Kareem will also be teaching from “The Book of Assistance” at the Zawiya in Fremont on Sunday evenings after Maghrib.

His first public lecture will be conducted on Sunday, May 25 at Masjid Abu Bakr in Hayward from 5pm  - 7pm. Here is a link to the Facebook events page.We will continue to provide updates as we finalize the details.

IslamCrunch is honored to be working with the Hayward Halaqah team and the Zawiya Outreach Program.

Special LIVE Webcast Event. Limited spaces available. Register now!

ETHICAL FOUNDATIONS OF ISLAMIC CIVILIZATION
by IMAM ZAID SHAKIR

Sunday, 11 May 2008
1:00 pm PST / 4:00 pm EST / 9:00 pm UK

About this session:
* How to be just and fair when others are not
* How divine grace influences positive change
* Showing kindness and decency when others do not

Register here: http://www.newislamicdirections.com/nid/Registration/

Join IMAM ZAID SHAKIR every month for a live online session. Visit www.NewIslamicDirections.com for further information.

Webcast ad designed by our own IslamCrunch team member, Su Pittam.

Registration for the Zaytuna Distance Learning Program Spring 2008 Quarter is now live. Please visit: http://www.zikrcast.com/Distance_Learning/index.php

GETTING BACK TO BASICS: ISLAM 101 (NEW!)
by 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.
(Registration: Audio - $40 / Video - $60)

THE PROPHETIC CHARACTERICS PART III (NEW!)
by Ustadh Yahya Rhodus
A study of the inward and outward characteristics of the Prophet, upon him be peace, from his practices and personal effects 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: Audio - $40)

Also available: THE PROPHETIC CHARACTERISTICS PART I & PART II

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The Zaytuna Distance Learning Spring Semester will be launching soon. One of the new courses is “Getting Back to Basics: Islam 101″with Imam Zaid Shakir.

Course description:

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.

Originally taught in Zaytuna during the Winter 2007 quarter, the Zaytuna team has released this course as part of the Spring 2008 quarter. Another new course is “The Prophetic Characteristics: Part III” taught by Sidi Yahya Rhodus.

Visit http://www.zaytuna.org/distancelearning.asp for more details. Video clips will be added to the Zaytuna Facebook Page.

Please share this post with your friends and family. Please encourage them to register for classes. Here is a testimonial from our brother & fellow activist:

“For years I have searched for an affordable distance learning program to quench my thirst for Islamic Knowledge. Finally, with the advent of Zaytuna Institute’s Distance Learning program, I have been blessed with the opportunity to learn from knowledgeable teachers who are inspirational individuals in their own right. I look forward to being a student of Zaytuna Distance Learning program for years to come inshAllah”

- Adam Soltani

Due to the *very* personal relationship with the Distance Learning Program Manager at Zaytuna, we have the exclusive honor of posting this announcement first.

Imam Zaid Shakir has just uploaded an audio file where he addresses questions he received at the Reviving Islamic Spirit Convention 2007. Due to time constraints, he could not attend to these questions at the event. With usual generosity with his time, Imam Zaid has taken time out of his busy schedule to answer important social, community, personal, environmental and religious questions relevant to today’s Muslim.

Here is a brief outline of what Imam Zaid addressed:

• Tattoos - Can I get one? Are they allowed? Permissible?
• Is it true that a large portion of the Muslim population do not follow a madhhab? (In fact, many Muslims follow a madhhab, only the Arab heartland has a tendency of not following a major school of thought)
• A lot of harmful images bombard us in the media, how do we overcome this? (Lower the gaze)
• Can we follow any of the 4 school of thoughts rulings as long as there are no conflict? (Yes but not a good idea for the average practicing Muslim)
• As a teacher, how do we intervene if we feel that a student is getting abused at home? (In light of the recent Aqsa Parvez tragedy in Canada)
• Pollution from driving, should we stop driving?
• Leadership in our communities, to be a leader or to stay away from positions of leadership?
• Unity in the community. Uniformity is a key virtue.
• Imam Zaid touches upon moonsighting and the beginning of the lunar months. (See this post for 3 important points for the next moonfighting session)
• About the day of ‘Arafah.
• Hadith: Warning believers not to imitate the disbelievers. How do we heed this warning? (Adapt and ‘Islamize’ our customs. Being comfortable with our deen)
• Reminder about walking in front of a person who is praying.
• What advice to give to a Muslim who has been involved with fornication?
• The issue of slavery
• The meaning of traditional Islam
• Hadith: No crying for the deceased
• Hijab & Niqab - Mandatory?
• Halal/Zabihah meat. Can we eat meat from people of the book? (Importance of organic milk due to the hormones)
• Calling people to Islam
• How to make Allah and the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) a priority in our lives? (Fully assume one’s religious responsibilities, individually and communally. Perform regular dhikr)
• How to find a shaykh, teacher or guide?
• Brief synopsis of Imam Zaid’s CD - Purification of the Soul: Treatise on the seekers of guidance. General Islamic teachings to improve one’s spiritual growth
• Views on RAND Report
• Leaders like Sayyidina Abu Bakr, Sayyidina Umar, Sayyidina Uthman and Sayyidina Ali (may Allah be please with them all) in our times.
• Bayah - oath of allegiance
• Adoption advice

To listen to the questions and Imam Zaid’s answers, please visit: Questions from “Reviving The Islamic Spirit” Conference.

To learn more from Imam Zaid, please register for Zaytuna Institute’s Distance Learning Program:

Living The Quran

Getting Right with Allah 

Note: Thanks to Sidi Adnan Tariq for posting this on his blog.

Disclaimer: I am the Zaytuna Distance Learning Program Manager and a blog admin on Imam Zaid’s blog. Please help to support my endeavors by registering on those sites.