Featured Article

Renovated IQRA’ Book Center Reception – May 3rd, 2017

Posted by iqra on May 17, 2017 in Featured Article | 0 comments

IQRA’ International Educational Foundation celebrated the Grand Opening of its remodeled beautiful Book Store on Devon Avenue in Chicago, IL. Alder Woman, Debra Silverstein was the guest of honor.

The event was very well attended by IQRA’ well-wishers, staff, and customers. We invite all of you to visit the Store before and during Ramadan. It has different books and gift items for you to enjoy during the blessed month of Ramadan.

Please visit IQRA’ Book Center at 2751 W. Devon Ave., Chicago, IL 60659 or Call 773-274-2665

The Beautiful Tradition of Poetry in Praise of our Dear Prophet Muhammad (s)

Posted by iqra on Dec 19, 2016 in Featured Article | 0 comments

By Dr. Tasneema K. Ghazi

“Allah and His angels send blessings on the Prophet. O ye who believers! You also should invoke blessings on him and salute him with the salutation of peace.” (33:56)

Alhamdulillah, all of us (millions of Muslims) follow the above injunction of the Allah (swt) and recite the Salawat to invoke blessings on our dear Prophet Muhammad (s). All Muslims recite and act upon the teachings of the Qur’an because of our deep love and reverence for our Creator, Allah (swt). Next to the love of Allah comes the love of our dear Prophet, Allah’s last Messenger, Muhammad al-Mustafa (s). Adoration of the Prophet Muhammad (s) is an important aspect of our Islamic way of life.

Allah (swt) has bestowed all human beings with the unique ability to express their love for their loved ones in words and gestures, especially if the loved one has unique qualities of being an exemplary human being. Poems, speeches, and essays in praise of the beloved Muhammad (s) are the rich part of Islamic tradition from the time of Muhammad (s) himself. Writings of such praise are a special genre of literature in almost every language read and spoken by the Muslims around the world.

The tradition of poetry in praise of the Prophet Muhammad (s) began in his lifetime. His uncle Abu Talib was one of the first poets to compose beautiful poems in praise of his supreme attributes and exemplary morals.

Then, there is the loving “Tala’ al-Badru ‘Alayna” the song sang by the children and people of Madinah to welcome the beloved Prophet Muhammad (s) to Madinah. This early song is still recited by Muslims all over the world.

Hasan ibn Thabit Al-Ansari (r) composed many beautiful poems in praise of the Prophet (s). Hasan ibn Thabit was born in Madinah. He belonged to he belonged to the same tribe as Aminah, the Mother of the Prophet (s). He became known as the “Poet of the Prophet.” Many noble Sahabah used to recite his poems in defense of the Prophet (s) and Islam.

Another Sahabi poet was Abdullah ibn Rawaha (r), who was from the tribe of Madinah. He composed moving poetry at the time of Prophet’s Hijrah to Madinah.

So we find that the tradition of composing poems and reciting them was well established during the time of the Prophet (s) himself. It is a beautiful tradition which began in the lifetime of the Prophet Muhammad (s) and continues strong throughout the history of Muslims all over the world.

Most famous of the poems written in praise of Muhammad (s) after his death is the Qasidah Burdah by the 13th century CE North African poet Al-Busiri. The Qasidah Burdah has been translated into many languages. Muslims recite this Qasidah in gatherings to honor the beloved Prophet (s), especially in the month of Rabi-ul-Awwal, the month of Prophet’s birth.

Gatherings of Muslims to attend the celebrations of the Sirah of Muhammad (s) and recite some of the most beautiful songs and poems in praise of the Prophet (s) is one the most popular way to learn about the Sirah of our beloved Prophet (s) and follow his high character.

Persian and Urdu poetry is full of Na`t literature, which is increasing each day.

As we are celebrating the birth and ba`that, of Rasulullah (s) we are also sadly mourning the shahadat of one of the greatest singer, reciter, and muballigh of Na`at and Hamd, Junaid Jamshed. While his death is mourned, his Na`ats are in every Islamic channel and millions of lips. The love of the Prophet (s) is the eternal gift that with which Allah (swt) has blessed the Muslim community. We thank Allah (swt) for this loving gift and pray we live and die with this love and are raised in the company of Rasulullah (s) and drink the water of Kawsar by his blessed hands and stand under of banner of al-Hamd, Ameen ya Rabal Alamin

Quick word from Dr Abidullah Ghazi about the current local and global events

Posted by iqra on Sep 21, 2016 in Featured Article | 0 comments

Quick word from the Chairman of IQRA’ Foundation, Dr Abidullah Ghazi, on the current local and global event.

Please do share your feedback and opinion if you feel the same way about this subject matter?

Sale on Hundreds of Gift Item for Turkey

Posted by iqra on Jul 21, 2016 in Featured Article | 0 comments

Huge Sale on Hundreds of Exclusive Gift Items from Turkey

at – IQRA’ Book Center – 2749 W Devon Ave, Chicago, IL 60659
or – Visit us http://www.iqra.org/Items.aspx?code=ENSAR_TEKSTIL&key=mr

MUHAMMAD ALI: AMERICA’S PROUD MUSLIM SON

Posted by iqra on Jun 13, 2016 in Featured Article | 0 comments

By Dr. Abidullah A. Ghazi

Dr A Ghazi with Muhammad Ali

The death of Muhammad Ali on June 3, 2016, was neither sudden nor unexpected, given his long struggle with Parkinson’s. Yet its news was still received by America and the world with great sadness and grief. In fact, Muhammad Ali’s story is not only that of a Muslim African-American hero but the story of America itself. In the days since the news of his death, eulogies and lifelong achievements have filled TV channels, newspapers, social media, and the internet across the world recapturing inspiring touching historical memories and fond eulogies.

The events that turned an insignificant lad Cassius Clay into a very significant Muhammad Ali and how a man rejected and despised as a traitor rose to become the undisputed hero to his country and globally is truly one of the genuine American stories that our generation has experienced and which future generations will always cherish. Coverage of his life overshadowed a bitter and divisive election campaign and seems to have united us as Americans, if only so fleetingly. Yet his death revealed a unique dimension of American history and society. Cassius Clay becoming Muhammad Ali, adhering to a separatist religious ideology, rejecting conscription, condemning subordination, subjecting himself to ridicule, boycott, financial loss and condemnation, and then eventually becoming a national and global hero – It could only happen in America!

Muhammad Ali was born on January 17, 1942, to African-America Parents. He did not seem to be very strong when his bicycle was snatched by a local thug, yet he realizing his weakness sought to remedy it with gaining power. Fortunately, he found a sympathetic (white) police officer, who initiated him into boxing and turning him a formidable boxer. A spiritual search led him to the charismatic founder of Nation of Islam (NoI), Elijah Muhammad, a man who proclaiming himself the “Messenger of Allah” and re-defined Islam in his own terms as a means for blacks to overcome the centuries of oppression and discrimination. Muhammad Ali came to espouse black supremacy and the notion of the “blue-eyed devil”.
When my wife Tasneema and I met Muhammad Ali in London, just before his bout with Henry Cooper in 1963, he subscribed to that ideology. He warmly welcomed us, offered a £20 (a two-week salary of a teacher or medical doctor, then) to come oversee his practices, however, he rejected shaking hands with a very fair Lebanese man, saying: “I don’t shake hands with whites.” The Arab fellow embarrassingly withdrew his hand saying: “But I’m a Lebanese Arab Muslim.” Muhammad Ali grabbed his hand, hugged him and apologized profusely. Then he ordered tea for us and the other visitors and left for practice with his sparring partner.

Yet it seems that Muhammad Ali’s heart was too big to fit into the narrow confines of racial exclusivity and hatred, and he did not stay long on the NoI’s path. His attachment to Malcolm X is well-known and it was tragically cut short. But it was through Ali’s encounter with Warith Deen Mohammed (seventh of Elijah Muhammad’s children with his wife Sister Clara Muhammad) that the boxer would come to know the Universalist message of true Islam. Muhammad Ali was one of the several thousands of Warith’s followers and his receptive mind must have realized that, just as Warith was moving the NoI away from its racist theology, America too was also moving forward in freeing itself from archaic bigotry, discriminatory laws, and racial injustice. Muhammad Ali was to regain much more than he had lost. The folly of Vietnam and his courage in rejecting the draft was now honored. The Olympic gold medal that he threw in the river in protest was replaced. He received from President Bush America’s highest civic award.

Perhaps one of Muhammad Ali’s and modern America’s greatest moments was the opening ceremony of the 1996 Summer Olympics. He all of a sudden appeared on stage to kindle the Olympic Torch, holding it high, walking with pride, though with shaking hands and unsteady feet. America finally recognized its illustrious son and the son was ready to walk with the torch in hand, taking steps that would take this country – and humanity – to new heights and glory.

Special Ramadan Note from Dr Tasneema Ghazi

Posted by iqra on Jun 6, 2016 in Featured Article | 0 comments

Ramadan NOTE

السلام عليكم ورحمة الله وبركاته

Ramadan Mubarak!

All of us at IQRA’ International Educational Foundation wish you and your loved ones a blessed and fruitful Ramadan! May Allah Subhana wa Tta’ala make this a time of peace, reflection and spiritual growth for one and all! We are pleased to inform you that IQRA’ has reached an important milestone having fulfilled 33 years of dedicated service to the Muslim community worldwide.

We wish to take this time to thank you from the depth of our hearts for the dedication and support with which you have nurtured and supported this unique organization. May Allah swt bless each one of you and make IQRA’ worthy of your continued confidence and support. Nevertheless, this is only the beginning of our journey; for we have much more to accomplish with your du’a and support, inshallah!

As the leading provider of Islamic educational solutions, IQRA’ continues to make the greatest possible impact on young Muslim minds across North America and beyond. We have completed the revision of our entire elementary courses. Our new material reflects changes that respond to the needs of our schools in a changing world. We have also moved into the digital realm and our entire program will soon be available in e-book format. In addition, we have expanded the list of low-income and urban schools and students who receive our material free of charge.

We fervently appeal to you to join hands with us and donate generously to the worthy cause of acquisition and dissemination Islamic knowledge. Your donation is an Amanah and it is only spent with great care in covering the production costs of IQRA’s books. We hold your trust in the highest regard and carry it with sincerity.

Please make your pledge now and send your check along with the ANSAR (http://iqrafoundation.com/donate/) form today. We also request that you remember IQRA’ in your prayers at this sacred time of the year and share this appeal with family and friends.

DONATE NOW – http://iqrafoundation.com/donate/

Thanking you in advance!

Tasneema Ghazi, PhD.

Executive Director

IQRA’ International Educational Foundation