Dates:	8-9 August 2009
Times:	Saturday the 8th Registration at  9:00am  Course runs from 9:30am till 6:30pm Sunday the 9th Course runs from 9:30am till 5:30pm
Venue:	Al Azhar Academy 235a Romford Road Forest Gate London E7 9HL Map
Tutor:	Shaykh Abu Yusuf Riyadh ul Haq
Fee:	50 GBP (20 % discount for students with registered proof)
Entry Requirements:	None
Other Notes:	Register now to avoid disappoinment. LIMITED SPACES remaining. Due to limited seating available, we advise that you register early. Food will be provided. Please arrange your own overnight accommodation.

Course Description & Objectives:         

Topics Covered

Ubadah bin Samit رضى الله عنه relates that the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said one day when Ramadhaan had arrived:
‘Ramadhan has come to you, a month of blessing. Allah envelops you therein, showering mercy, shedding sins and answering prayers. He observes your competing with one another therein and boasts of you to His angels. So show Allah good from yourselves, for indeed the unfortunate one is he who is deprived therein of the mercy of Allah the Almighty, the Majestic.’ 

The passage of seasons and the arrival and departure of months can easily become a routine affair, with important dates and occasions elapsing without being accorded their deserved status. Such is the case with the greatest and most blessed time of the year in the Islamic calendar: the holy month of Ramadhaan. 

It is a time of mercy, forgiveness, increased sustenance, multiplied reward, emancipation of souls, and promised paradise on the part of the Creator; and a time of patience and sacrifice, sympathy and mutual concern, compassion and tolerance, sharing and charity, spirituality, increased prayer and devotion, and an opportunity for change and reform on the part of the creation. In contrast to this, however, we witness the annual passing of Ramadhaan without the proper observance of the above values, and without experiencing its essence or realising its ideals. Increasingly, we are even seeing a gradual departure from its true spirit with some simply referring to Ramadhaan as a ‘month long holiday and festival of feasting and festivity’. 

As believers we need to prepare ourselves mentally, spiritually and practically for the arrival of this greatest and holiest of months, educating ourselves on its virtues and values, and becoming acquainted with its true nature and spirit. We also need to effectively plan our timetable and activities for its days and nights, adopting practical measures to ensure that we spend our time wisely and make the most of its auspicious moments. By doing so we will hopefully reap its rewards and blessings, derive maximum benefit therefrom, and personally experience the change and spirituality that the holy month should bring about. Most importantly, we will move one step closer to emulating the Ramadhaan of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم, his companions رضى الله عنه, and the learned and pious of this ummah. 

What You Should Achieve

 This short but intensive course intends to enlighten the students on the above topic and offer practical advice to help realise some of its values and objectives. Although, it does not and cannot comprehensively cover all the subjects related to Ramadhaan, it is hoped that by the end of the course the students will have a reasonable understanding of many of its salient aspects including the following: 

• Practical advice on how to plan and prepare for the arrival of Ramadhaan; how to spend its sacred days and nights and make the most of its blessed opportunities, with specific guidance for men and women.

• The history, virtues, recommendations and laws of the month of Ramadhaan.

• The rulings related to the sighting of the moon, astronomical calculations and the beginning of the month.

• The history, virtues, laws and wisdom of fasting.

• The spiritual nature of Ramadhaan and its strong bond with the Holy Quran.

• A copious commentary of various Quranic verses and ahadith relating to different aspects of Ramadhaan.

• The history, virtues and recommendations for the night of Qadr.

• The Ramadhaan of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم, his companions رضى الله عنه and the pious and learned of this ummah.

• The many characteristics and roles of Ramadhaan other than fasting and recitation.

• The history, wisdom, virtues and laws of i’itikhaf.

• The history, virtues, and laws of Eid.

• Building on the experience of Ramadhaan and extending its spirit and influence to the rest of the year. 

What You'll Need      

On the first day of the course, you will be provided with a folder containing the course program and contents, related materials and standard course documents. This will be yours to keep for future reference and with each course you attend, you will be provided with a similar folder, building up a reference library.        

You will need basic stationary, i.e. notebook, pen. We will have stationary to purchase, so no need to panic should your pens run dry! We will not be able to provide power points for laptops or other electrical appliances.         

Those who successfully register will be given access to a password protected area of our website wherein they will find details relevant to their particular course such as the latest updates, downloads, preparation details and other relevant information.

About our Courses           

• Our teachers are highly qualified and have years of experience in teaching Muslims of all ages and backgrounds. Insha’Allah you will find them approachable, compassionate and fully capable of addressing the subject of the course.              
• We aim to create the best Islamic environment, and this is one of the main reasons for choosing one venue over another. You will not just find the contents of the course uplifting and interesting, but also the atmosphere of the course.              
• Most Islamic books were written by Ulema for Ulema and in the past most people would approach the Ulema for their needs. Rather then wading through many books, articles and lectures, you will be provided will the most distilled information needed by the student, presented in a simple yet professional manner.              
• Most of our courses run over a single weekend, the lengths of sessions and breaks have been structured to avoid fatigue. Insha’Allah you will find them the right balance making sacrifice for knowledge and the demands of modern life.

Accommodation

We are not able to provide overnight accommodation. However, there are many hotels close to Azhar Academy including an Ibis hotel, Holiday Inn and two Travelodge hotels (Ilford and Ilford Gants Hill). Registered students can access a full list of hotels close to the venue via the student login area.

Please note that Al Kawthar Academy does not endorse any of these hotels nor is in a position to provide a guarantee as to the cleanliness, level of service etc provided. We highly recommend that you check reviews for any hotel online prior to making a booking.