"...to describe it in words will always be a challenge"

Only a week after IlmSummit applications opened, we have already accepted over 86% of our capacity, alhamdulilah. Applications are still open and acceptances are still going out.

This year, seize the opportunity to experience:

• advanced classes
  
• more individual attention from our best Shuyookh such as Waleed Basyouni, Yaser Birjas, and Yasir Qadhi, as well as Bayyinah Institute's Wisam Sharieff and many more.
  
• tarbiya and spirituality
• stronger bonds of brotherhood and sisterhood

.. all at a more intense level and for a longer period of time, inshaAllah.

www.almaghrib.org/ilmsummit

What your classmates said last year:

Remembering 08 testimonials

“The bonds of sisterhood and brotherhood are unforgettable: we met as smiling strangers and we left with aching hearts. IlmSummit has been a life-changing experience for so many of us and to describe it in words will always be a challenge.”

“Learning from the Shuyookh in ways that we never could imagine: from the knowledge they imparted, the manners they embodied, from their tireless efforts to answer our questions and to always be there in extra hours of the night to confide in.”

“Most of all I was greatly impressed and dumbfounded by the Instructors high level of manners and humbleness. When I read stories of past scholars and how some students would just attend to watch the manners of their teachers, I never understood. However, when I went to IlmSummit, I experienced it myself.”

“How beautiful were the days and nights we spent. Qiyyam, fasting, laughing, playing, studying, seeking advice, seeking answers to our questions, spending time with the shuyookh, eating together, praying together, living together. One Day we will all be gathered together, from which, there will be no return.”

“What the IlmSummit has shown is, is that with the help of Allah, the future of Islam in the West is bright, and perhaps beyond our imagination.”

Re-live the experience this year

www.almaghrib.org/ilmsummit

AlMaghrib's 30th City!!!!

Salaam Alaikum

This is Yasir Qadhi.

Well, we finally did it. Alhamdulillah, AlMaghrib Institute has hit the big 3-0. Not in terms of years (although that too will happen, bi-idhniAllah, and we pray that when it does we will all look back in awe and amazement at how far we have progressed with the blessings of Allah). Not in years, but in cities.

Yes, you heard right. Soon, AlMaghrib will be operating simultaneously in THIRTY cities across the Western world (just imagine, insha Allah, when we add the Eastern cities to this list!).

Since thirty is such a nice and beautiful number, we really had to choose a super-awesome city to do justice to it and the Institute.

A city that is near and dear to many of us (and home to one of our super-star Instructors)...

A city that has great historic significance, going back to ancient Roman times...

A city whose very name is associated with key events in the development the modern Western tradition, home of the real 'Industrial Revolution', and the intellectual birth place of Socialism and Marxism...

A city that houses the UK's larget shopping mall (although I don't know if these last two are things to be proud of?) ...

And finally, for everyone else in the entire world besides myself and a handful of hard-core Chomskyites who agree that watching sports is the opium of the masses and the distraction that elites nurture and crave, a city that has achieved world fame because it is able to pay millions and millions of pounds to guys in shorts who run back and forth kicking a ball between two poles and over and around people wearing strange-coloured * t-shirts while following some rather nonsensical man-made rules....


'Tis the city of...yes you guessed it...

MANCHESTER
www.almaghrib.org/manchester

And I have the double pleasure of being the first AlMaghrib Instructor who shall (insha Allah) be visiting this city, to teach an all-time, top-favourite *, ground-breaking, eman-building, tawheed-establishing class, the Light of Guidance, first two weekends of June 2010, insha Allah ta'allah.

Be there, or else Sh. Abu Eesa Niamatullah will HIMSELF be forced to cook you an aloo paratha (and AlMaghrib shall take no liability for any possible consequences of ingesting that substance....)

Wa salaam

Yasir Qadhi
www.almaghrib.org/manchester


* My apologies to my American readers for having to conform to the outdated and somewhat awkward British spelling nomenclatures.

IlmFest 2010 - New Jersey and Toronto Celebrate IlmFest Knowledge

COMING SOON...

www.ilmfest.com

AlMaghrib's fundraising takes off...

This past Tuesday, AlMaghrib Institute had an online fundraiser.
www.almaghrib.org/donate

If you are not familiar with AlMaghrib, the following is something all Muslims should be proud of:

1. AlMaghrib has a student body of 27 thousand students!
2. AlMaghrib teaches live on-site classes in 30 cities!
3. AlMaghrib conducts seminars in 3 countries: Canada, USA, and the UK (and Scotland for those who think Scotland is its own country) :)
4. AlMaghrib has a roster of the highest calibre of English speaking Islamic teachers. 17 in total.
5. Every major English mainstream conference in the world is attended by AlMaghrib instructors. Dr.Zakir Naik's conference is one of them.
6. AlMaghrib instructors are featured on Islamic satellite stations covering the globe: Peace TV, Islam Channel, AlHuda TV.
7. AlMaghrib is the biggest student network in the Western world, coast to coast.
8. The quality of Islamic education has tangibly been shaped by the standards AlMaghrib has set, and continues to set.
9. The two-weekend Islamic seminar was AlMaghrib's gift to the da'wah.
10. If you haven't taken a seminar yet, chances are you know someone who has. It has reached that far!

So now: How would you like to be a pioneer with AlMaghrib, and DIP your hands in to the good deeds that is AlMaghrib?
www.almaghrib.org/donate

Here's what AlMaghrib has in mind for the short term, and upcoming years:

5. A public web TV station, so that you can watch and benefit from AlMaghrib 24/7.
4. A legal fund to create a public relations backbone to defend the good name of AlMaghrib.
3. More staff to continue the Islamic standard of quality and excellence.
2. A fund to offset the seminar costs, maintaining an affordable tuition for students of knowledge.
1. A physical building purchase, to create a higher learning Islamic seminary!

From my own pocket, I donated 20 thousand dollars to the cause. The reason I tell you this is so that you can understand that I am starting with myself. I know the potential for massive reward from Allah in this project, and I wish the same for you.
www.almaghrib.org/donate

With best wishes to see you succeed at the highest level!
- Muhammad Alshareef

PS: Remember right now you have a choice, to donate or possibly give something. Whatever you choose, a day will come, in sha Allah, when you will be so happy you made this choice.
Click here and just do it>> www.almaghrib.org/donate

Grand 2010 Liwaa' Announcement & Fundraiser

Who: Shaykh Muhammad Alshareef, Shaykh Yasir Qadhi, Shaykh Waleed Basyouni & Shaykh Yaser Birjas

What: Liwaa Cup Presentation & Fundraiser

When: Tuesday, February 16th, 2010. 7 PM EST

Where: ONLINE - www.liwaacup.com

People often ask about AlMaghrib's Qabeelah system: what is it, why is it in place or how do I join?

Your local student tribes are in the forefront, comprising of volunteers giving their time up to make ilm more accessible to you. Within just a few years, Qabeelahs produced outstanding leaders and raised community involvement to a higher standard.

Every year, we award the top performing Qabeelah the Liwaa Cup. It found its way from the US to Canada and now resides in the UK. This year, we’re holding a special event in honoring our top performers and all our Qabeelahs in every aspect of their work.

Join Shaykh Muhammad Alshareef, Shaykh Yasir Qadhi, Shaykh Waleed Basyouni and Shaykh Yaser Birjas as they announces the proud new owners of the Liwaa Cup in a special edition Ilminar.

Join the Celebration!!!

www.liwaacup.com

A Picture is Worth 1000 Words: Still-Picture Contest

Everyone loves looking at pictures and everyone loves a contest. So why not have an AlMaghrib still-picture contest?

With over a hundred seminar, thousands of students, and amazing promotional events happening all year round, just imagine the number of picture-perfect moments that have been captured on camera and may still be sitting on someone's memory card.

We're looking to bring out the best pictures - anything related to AlMaghrib - from instructors, seminars to volunteers and promotional events. If it's AlMaghrib-related, it fits!

Contest Rules:

1. Anyone and everyone can participate.

2. Pictures do not have to be taken by the participants themselves: search online, forums, facebook etc so long as someone hasn't already entered the same picture in the contest.

3. Each participant can submit up to 3 pictures.

4. Post your pictures in this thread with a unique caption.



Voting

Voting will begin February 22.


Prize

First Prize - one free seminar for the participant and one family member or a friend.

Second Prize - one free seminar for the participant.
__________________

IlmRush back by popular demand

We launched IlmRush in the beginning of the month for a period of 7 days, but didn't anticipate the high volume of phone calls and emails requesting IlmRush even after we closed.

In order to meet the high demand, we've decided to re-launch the IlmRush card and close for the last time February 2.

Alhamdulilah, students now have another chance to own the IlmRush card here: www.almaghrib.org/ilmrush