A Message from Brother Ashfaq

Alhamdulillah, we are very close to reaching our goal for the Ramadan fundraising. InshaAllah, we are going to contact the architect for the conceptual development of the projects at the HCIC.  Based on the needs and the funding, BIS Board has approved the priority as the completion of the parking lot between HCIC and the Running Brook Condominiums along with the creation of storage space.  This will be followed by the preliminary work for the expansion of classrooms for the Weekend islamic School.  

We are in the month of Dhul-Qi'dah and will soon be entering the month of Hajj.  I pray that for those who have not performed this obligation, to make sincere intention and plan to perform Hajj soon.  

Hajj includes rituals that are very simple, but more importantly we need to go beyond rituals and understand the true essence of Hajj.  It should be our goal to make our Hajj, “Hajj Mabroor”. Scholars have explained that Hajj is Mabroor when we make a momentous change in our obedience to Allah after our return.

In Surat Al Baqarah, verse 197, Allah describes three requirements for those who are performing Hajj.  (1) No sexual relations with your spouses (2) No disobedience and (3) No dispute.

Of the three, be very mindful of the last two.  It is very easy to fall in the trap of Shaitan and sometimes justifiably, get into arguments and disputes.  Remember that the challenges you face during Hajj are tests from Allah.