“And united their hearts; had you spent all that is in the earth, you could not have united their hearts, but Allah united them, surely He is Mighty, Wise”. (8:63) Issue 1 : Volume 2. September / October 1996
IUS News
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Editorial
salaamu-Alaikum Brothers and Sisters,
Inshallah this issue of the IUS newsletter reaches you in good health and Iman after the summer vacation. IUS News ¶
Annual General Meeting; the election of the executive committee for the academic year 96/97 will take place. Date 05/10/96 , time 13:00 hrs.
¶
IUS Programme is as follows: starting from Wednesday 9th October will be the regular fortnightly talk by various selected speakers.
¶
Plus every other Wednesday (i.e. starting 6th Oct) the IUS will be holding study circles, subject will be a series on Usool e Din.
The elections for positions on the executive committee of the Islamic Unity Society will be taking place on October 5th 1996 at 1:00 PM in Dar al Hikma. ( 45 Chalton St, London WC1E, nearest tube: Euston)
The responsibility attained by the election ¶ Umrah trip will be going ahead as planned for Christmas Holidays, Please contact group organiser Br Reza Karim (0181 767 5840). We onto the executive committee will be for are seeking a subsidy please call for latest update the academic year ¶ Please send in your membership re-subscriptions. IUS activities such as this newsletter and lectures are run by the funds collected from 1996/1997 terminating on the date of next membership fees. year’s election. ¶ Membership over the Muharram/Saffar period has increased from 130 to 180 members. As per the IUS ¶ The IUS Internet site is in the process of being updating please check it Constitution, positions to see the new look and new resources at your fingertips. on the EC can be filled by a member of a subcommittee. And any member can Contents in this issue of IUSN: have a position on a IUS News / Editorial Genuine Religion (continued) 1 5 Editorial / Activities & Service of the IUS
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Pearls of Wisdom / Importance of Quran
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Importance of Ideology / Importance of Prayer
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IUS Umrah Trip
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Genuine Religion
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What’s On Guide and Dates to Remember
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(Continued on Page 2)
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IUS Newsletter
(Continued from page 1)
sub-committee, So for the majority of members, if you would like to actively participate in the society then you should stand for election onto a sub-committee of your choice, which are Newsletter Sisters Unit Publicity Database Finance Events
ACTIVITIES AND SERVICES OF THE ISLAMIC UNITY SOCIETY Regular meetings every 2 weeks in central London. Inviting different speakers to lecture members. Inshallah new to this year will be study circles alternate weeks such that there will be a general meeting every week. Bi- monthly newsletter, informing all members around the UK of the latest IUS news, what’s on in various Islamic centers and a selection of informative articles. A full library and book purchasing service with over 500 books consisting of over 80 titles.
Your participation is needed for the society to strengthen and continue operating its services to you the members. As little as one or two hours a week can be effective as long as the member is regular and reliable. On the other hand you might want to contribute, but can’t on a regular basis, therefore you might want to do a ‘one off’ project like writing a study / careers guide to your particular area of study / profession. Or simply a recommended reading list. Ultimately this is your society and therefore it’s activities reflects the participation of it’s members. Quite simply the more you participate the more it can do and the more it can progress. If you would like further details on any matter please contact us at the usual address. IUS Executive Committee
A full Internet service, with an IUS home page: http://www.ucl.ac.uk/~zcapn67/ius/ius.html Social activities; Trips & Excursions and provision of Iftar in the Holy Month of Ramadhan. Networking of students within each University, and networking of members in similar subject areas. Advice on study skills, careers etc. These activities and services are here for you, there is no excuse for saying that no-one is doing anything practical to help the type people who make up the majority of the IUS membership i.e. university students.
IUS Newsletter
Importance of an Islamic Ideology “An indifferent, unaware believer could be compare to a soldier in the battlefield, who is fighting naked without armour. Such an ill equipped soldier is most likely to be killed or disappear from the scene during the very first encounter. But an aware, conscientious, and knowledgeable Muslim with Islamic ideology
could be compared to a soldier, who is fully clad in armour from head to foot and is fully equipped with all the required armaments. Obviously, for the enemy to defeat such a well equipped soldier is a relatively difficult task.” Quote from Discourse on Patience, by
Importance of Prayer “There is no other permanent and stronger link between man and God Almighty than the Prayer. The most elementary beginners start their relationship with God Almighty by means of Prayer. Also, the most prominent saintly personalities seek their paradise of solitude with their Beloved during Prayer. This treasurer of remembrance and mysteries does not have limits; whoever penetrates deeper into it, is bestowed more enlightenment. Our people, our society, and specially our youths, who carry the heavy load of trust upon their shoulders, should consider prayer as an indestructible source of power.
They must energize themselves with the remembrance of God and prayer to stand against the forces of corruption, injustice, and perverseness, which are threatening humanity today. The struggle we are facing today, more than ever and more than all others, makes us more dependent upon the powerful support of the remembrance of God Almighty, and be hopeful and confident upon His help and support. The Prayer is such a mountainhead which bestows this hope, confidence, and spiritual strength upon us”. - Abstract from a speech of Ayatullah-al-Udhama Sayyid Ali Khamenei
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IUS Newsletter
GENUINE Religion as the celestial Truth and the divine science of human becoming, perfection, and salvation, like rainwater gathering scum, tends to become contaminated it its historical course through society. In societies afflicted with the disease of worldliness, popular religion degenerates and gradually loses its real content and meaning. All religious traditions, including Islam, in varying degrees have been subject to this kind of degeneration at the popular level. However, the greater the degree of degeneration, the easier it is to draw a line of distinction between the two types of religiosity. Genuine religiosity is based on knowledge, faith and justice. Degenerate religiosity thrives on ignorance and superstition and reconciles itself to all forms of injustice and oppression. Knowledge and learning come to be regarded as irrelevant to piety, and scholarship and research as having no bearing upon the practice of religion. Superstitions and false beliefs take the place of genuine doctrine, and innovated ceremonies and fruitless rituals replace the genuine rites of fruitful worship. genuine piety upholds all higher values among which justice occupies a supreme station. It loathes all forms of injustice and oppression and struggles to obliterate them. Degenerate religion is indifferent to injustice and oppression and conveniently reconciles itself with any kind of injustice and oppression, regarding it a folly to invite the risks and dangers of struggle.
Genuine religion is universal in its appeal and unifying, in that it addresses itself to all mankind, presents its message in universal terms and bases its appeal on the universality of rational principles, emphasizes the common and essential fundamentals of the faith, and seeks to bring about a unity based on the common origin, destiny and end of all mankind. Degenerate religiosity is provincial and decisive, confining as it does, its attention to the community and the sect, and is incapable of thinking in universal terms. It casts aside the essential to devote itself to non-essential and secondary matters, wherein it revels in controversy and dispute. It is inspired by narrow-minded communal and sectarian feeling rather than universality of purpose and is moved by lower interests rather than higher goals. Genuine religion is comprehensive, integrative, and all-inclusive, covering the entire expanse of life, whereas in its degenerative form religion is confined, separative, and disintegrative. It becomes confined to a secluded sphere of its own, separate from the vast expanse of life and incapable of relating in any meaningful and fruitful manner to society’s political, economic, social and moral order and conduct. As the higher predominates all aspects of life and occupies a sovereign station; degenerate religion not only forfeits the sovereign role of religion, it is itself subject to lower and mundane purposes and ends.
IUS Newsletter
RELIGION Genuine religion presents the prophets and Divine messengers as human models to be followed and emulated by all other human beings to the extent of their capacity. Degenerate religion places them beyond the frontiers of humanity and beyond following and emulation, deifying them and turning them into spiritually and morally inert objects of worship and adoration. Genuine religion inspires and requires a constancy of dedication, a continuous and unbroken awareness, vigilance, and self-scrutiny. Degenerate religion does not -and cannot- inspire, or require, anything more than a sporadic and occasional attention: When so ever it gives them light, they walk in it, and when the darkness is over, they halt. (2:20) While genuine religion is like a sunny day of unbroken light -the light of God remembrance and God consciousness-degenerate religiosity is like a pitch-dark night broken by brief flashes of lightening. Moreover, genuine piety views religion as a dynamic process of spiritual and moral development and life as a perilous struggle, whereas degenerate religion views it as a secure and static membership within a creed and community: “ ... when they are careful (of their duty) and believe and do good deeds, then they are careful (of their duty) and believe, then they are careful (of their duty) and do good (to others), and Allah loves those who do good (to others). � (5:93)
Ultimately, genuine religion makes extensive and profound demands upon the pious, as extensive as life itself, and the results it produces are as extensive, deep, and lasting. Superficial and pseudo religiosity neither makes any substantial demands nor produces any significant results, nor does it call for any serious and deep commitment. For it religiosity is little more than a pastime and diversion, while it dedicates itself in all seriousness to the preoccupations of mundane existence, which in itself and in isolation from the life of the hereafter is no more, from the viewpoint of genuine piety, than a diversion and sport. The goal of all divine envoys and scriptures has been to revive genuine religion and to establish God-consciousness and attention to the Hereafter at the centre of the consciousness of individuals and societies. Whenever there has been a relative success in achieving this aim, there has been a stupendous revolution in the lives of nations. The rise of Islam itself was the greatest of such revolutions that the world has ever witnessed. In our own era, the revolution in Iran and the worldwide Islamic movement are based on such a revival. O believers, fear God, and seek the means to come to him, and struggle in His way; haply you will prosper. (5:35) In accordance with this sacred verse, the path of genuine piety and the road to prosperity lies in God fearing, constant search for the means of nearness to God, and struggle against injustice and oppression. Edited extract from editorial of Al-Tawhid Journal
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IUS Newsletter
PEARLS OF WISDOM FROM IMAM ALI (A.S) 1 WHAT
REFINES MAN, IS WORK.
2 WHAT
KILLS MAN BEFORE HIS DEATH, IS DESPAIR.
3 WHAT
IS BETTER THAN KNOWLEDGE, IS EXPERIENCE.
4 WHAT
BRINGS MAN HONOUR AND ESTEEM, IS MODESTY.
5 WHAT
IS MORE CHERISHED WHEN IT IS OLD, IS A FRIEND.
6 WHAT
GIVES MAN TRANQUILLITY, IS THE AVOIDANCE OF ENVY.
7 WHAT
IS INDEED MORE PROFITABLE THAN WEALTH, IS WISDOM.
8 WHAT
IS INDEED SHORT , HOWEVER LONG IT MAY SEEM, IS LIFE.
9 WHAT
IS INDEED TOO MANY, HOWEVER FEW OF IT THERE MAY BE, IS
ENEMY.
10 WHAT
IS INDEED TOO LITTLE, HOWEVER MUCH OF IT ONE MAY HAVE,
IS FAITH.
11 WHAT
IS MORE HORRIFIC THAN ALL FORMS OF LONELINESS, IS
Holy Quran “O’ MY LORD ! EXPAND THOU MY BREAST WITH QUR’AN, ACTUATE THOU MY BODY WITH QUR’AN, ENLIGHTEN MY SIGHT WITH QUR’AN, LIBERATE MY TONGUE BY QUR’AN AND HELP ME TO MOULD MY LIFE ACCORDING TO QUR’AN. SO LONG AS THOU MAKETH ME LIVE, FOR VERILY THERE IS NEITHER ANY POWER, NOR ANY MIGHT, SAVE BY THEE !” The completion prayer for the Holy Quran as narrated by Imam Ali (A.S)
IUS Newsletter
ISLAMIC UNITY SOCIETY presents
Annual Umrah Trip 1996/7 ¶
Friday 20th December 1996 - Tuesday 31st December 1996 (Dates subject to conformation)
MADINA
MACCA
Masjid e Nabvi
Haram for Umrah
Baqi
Jannatul Maula
Uhud
Climb Ghare Hira
Khandak
Arafat
Masjid e Kuba
Muzdalifa
Zul Kiblatin
Mina
& surrounding historical places.
¶ Open to all MUSLIM UNIVERSITY STUDENTS (sisters and brothers) ¶ Air conditioned Travel and Accomodation. ¶ Cost subject to confirmation (£600 all incl. -travel, food, accomodation etc.) (Please note the above price is a substantial discounted student concession, as the average ticket price is normally this much.)
¶ Closing date for applications is Mid-November. ¶ For full details (application form, cost, passport, visa etc.) Contact: Reza 15 Fountain Road London SW17 0HG Tel: (0181) 767-5840 or your IUS Representative. IUS is a non-profit making society run by sudents for students.
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What's On... ¶
The IUS Revision Guide is available as a separate document (first published with issue 5, Volume 1 IUSN). We are also looking to produce a general study guide, so please send in any suggestions, ideas etc.
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Course books are being provided at a discounted price. For further details phone Br.Fida on (0181) 769 4771, Alternatively send the details to the IUS address.
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The Muhammad Trust has kindly offered IUS members discount up to 50% on al their books. For further details please contact the committee.
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Alif International , 109 Kings Avenue, Watford, Herts, WD1 and Al-Hoda Bookshop, 76-78 Charing Cross Road, London, WC2H 0BB, are offering 20% and 10% discounts on their Islamic Books respectively for IUS Members. For further details please contact the committee.
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Pentium computers, upgrades and other computer components are being sold at greatly reduced prices. Phone Br Aezed on (0181) 551 1482.
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Holy Quran on CD-ROM is now available at a reduced rate for IUS members, the prices has been slashed from £69.99 to only £35 for a limited period only. Contact the committee a.s.a.p.
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The IUS library and bookstall is constantly being updated. We now have over 500 books comprised of some 120 different titles. Please phone brother Mohsen on (0171) 723 0247 for further enquiries.
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IUS Umrah Trip 1996/7. Preparations are under way, which will be held during Christmas week. the approximate cost is £600.
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IUS Football, took place every Sunday in Regents Park all through the summer holidays and will continue during term-time Inshallah. For further details on time/location brothers can phone. Kamal Haider on (0181) 572 8960.
Dates to Remember JWiladat Shahadat
Bibi Zainab(A.S) Bibi Fatima(A.S)
5 Jamadi I 3 Jamadi II
19th Sept 16th Oct
Thur Wed
Islamic Unity Society Address: 15 Fountain Road London SW17 0HG
Telephone:
(0171) 723-0247 Email: A.Hasan@cs.ucl.ac.uk (0171) 582-6039 ucecmha@ucl.ac.uk
Facsimile:
(0181) 767-5840
Internet:
http://www.ucl.ac.uk/~zcapn67/ius/ius.html