Last month, Ghamidi Center received a question regarding the construction of temples in Abu Dhabi. It was asked whether it is still impermissible for non-Muslims to have permanent residence and build their religious sites in Arab Peninsula. Hassan Ilyas recorded the answer. While answering the question in the light of the teachings of the Quran and Hadith he said that in his point of view, the construction of any type of idolatrous worship places in these countries is an impermissible act from a religious perspective. Our Prophet, upon the guidance of our God, has specifically designated the Arabian Peninsula for monotheism, so permanent residence there is only for Muslims. Only religion of God, i.e., Islam will dominate in these lands, which will be evident with its symbols, no one else is allowed to establish their worship places. This answer consists of two parts, which can be viewed the Ghamidi Center’s YouTube channel.
Presentation Day in Sunday School
Last month, the GCIL Education Committee organized the first Presentation Day for all levels of Sunday School on February 3rd and 4th. More than 170 individuals participated in it, including students from 18 sections, faculty members, parents, and guests. The event was well-received by the attendees. In this competition, students presented their presentations on various topics, and prizes were announced for the students who showed the best performance. The winning students from the first day of the competition included Ahmed Nadeem, Anaya Khan, Safi ur Rahman, Imaan Rahim, Linta Usman, Shaan Imam Ali, Sharique Syed, Sharique Sadiqi, and Fatah Sahil. The winning students from the second day of the competition were Romeeza Fatima, Armaan Shehzad, Zaidan Khan, Durran Ayub, Mohsin Abidi, Imaan Khurram, Syed Adeel, Waiza Arshad, Zaina Sadat, and Zainab Ali.
Worship and Self-Purification
The article titled “Worship and Self-Purification” by Syed Manzoor ul Hassan was published in the February 2024 issue. In this article, he elaborates on worship and how it enhances the closeness of a person with Allah, resulting in the purification of the soul, i.e., through worship, self-purification achieves its perfection. He writes that the most important form of worship is prayer, which purifies a person by distancing him from sins. Although Zakah is spent on social needs, it remains a form of a worship. It is a portion of wealth that purifies the giver along with the wealth. Fasting is a special worship of self-restraint and divine obedience, aiming to attain piety. The worships of Hajj and Umrah symbolize the struggle against Satan and signify success in that struggle. Sacrifice is also an expression of worship to Allah, and its purpose is to thank Allah. As a result, piety is cultivated within a person, which eases the way to attaining Allah’s pleasure.
Defining the word Tabyeen
In the sessions of the video series “What is Hadith?” held last month as part of the 23 Objections, various meanings of the word “Tabyeen” were discussed. While exploring the concept, the question also arose whether the concept of specification, editing, alteration, addition, and abrogation are included in the meaning of the word “Tibyan” or not. Furthermore, the instances in the Quran where the word “Tabyeen” is used were also discussed. Additionally, responses to objections raised regarding the opinions on the meaning of the word “Tabyeen” by Javed Ahmad Ghamidi were provided. The recordings of these sessions can be viewed on the Ghamidi Center’s YouTube channel.
Moiz Amjad Visits Ghamidi Center
Last month, Moiz Amjad arrived in the United States upon the invitation of Ghamidi Center. Moiz Amjad is a student of Javed Ahmad Ghamidi and has been associated with him since 1988. He is also the author of several books and the founder of a website called “Understanding Islam”. During his stay at Ghamidi Center, he will participate in various academic and intellectual gatherings and will also tour different cities in the United States. Additionally, he will record a special series in Ghamidi Center’s studio on Ramadan.
Naeem Baloch Arrives at Ghamidi Center
Naeem Ahmed Baloch has been associated with various projects initiated by Javed Ahmad Ghamidi since 1981. Currently, he is working with GCIL as an editor, scriptwriter, and researcher. His purpose of visiting Ghamidi Center is to conduct recordings on different topics and present various projects for the future. His visit extends from February 21st to April 1st.
Education as a Business
In his article titled “Education as a Business” published in Urdu and English versions of Ishraq US, Dr. Irfan Shehzad challenges the common misconception prevalent in our society that turning education into a business is not a commendable practice. Criticizing this notion, he argues that people generally believe that teaching and education are prophetic professions, hence they should not be monetized or considered for financial gains. However, the reality is that the task of the prophets was to convey the message of God to people and impart religious education, not to teach scientific, social sciences, and vocational skills. He writes that it is regrettable that due to the lack of resources, standard education cannot be provided. According to him, the solution lies not in demanding sacrifice from private educational institutions, but rather in improving resources and the quality of government schools. This article is available in February 2024 issue.
Religious Freedom in India and Pakistan
Last month, Muhammad Hassan Ilyas gave an interview to a TV channel in India, during which he was asked about religious freedom in India and Pakistan. Expressing concerns about religious freedom for Muslims in India, Hassan Ilyas stated that Indian Muslims do not have the freedom to practice their beliefs freely, and there are many restrictions on Muslims in terms of state, society, and law regarding religion. He also mentioned that both Pakistan and India have not fully embraced the principles of a nation-state. The recording of this interview is available on Ghamidi Center’s YouTube channel.
Weekly Quran and Hadith Lectures
In February 2024, during Javed Ahmad Ghamidi’s live Quran and Hadith lectures, the lessons on Quran covered verses 33 to 41 of Surah Bani Isra’il, while the Hadith session discussed the topic of “Elegance in Dressing and Arrogance” based on various hadiths. These sessions of Quran and Hadith lectures can be viewed on Ghamidi Center’s YouTube channel.
Islam Study Circle
Dr. Shehzad Saleem conducts sessions under the name of “Islam Study Circle,” where various religious, ethical, and societal topics are discussed in the light of the Quran and Hadith. These sessions consist of three parts. In the first part, a topic is selected from the verses of the Quran and elaborated upon. The second part involves discussions on selected Prophetic traditions. In the third part, a passage from the Bible is discussed. At the end of the program, questions related to the topic are also answered. These sessions are conducted in the English language and recordings of these sessions are available on Ghamidi Center’s YouTube channel.
Maulana Islahi’s Daily Activities
In the recent episode of “Hayat e Amin,” Naeem Baloch writes about Maulana Amin Aslahi’s daily activities after embarking his professional career. He mentions that Maulana woke up at three in the morning and engaged in Tahajjud prayers before immersing himself in reading. He spent three to four hours teaching at the madrasa every day. After Zuhr prayers, he often went to Maulana Farahi’s room for discussions on various Quranic topics. During the evening, he played football or volleyball. On days when there’s no opportunity for sports, he took a walk for an hour after Asr prayer. He went to bed at nine in the evening and refrained from sleeping during the day. This article can be read in the March 2024 issue of “Ishraq, US.”
Lectures on Miscellaneous Topics by Dr. Shehzad Saleem
Under the banner of the “Lessons of Life Series,” Dr. Shehzad Saleem recorded four lectures in March 2024, with the following topics: “Everything is Good,” “Remembrance of Allah,” “The Sword of Moderation,” and “The Trial of the Rich.” In addition to these, he also delivered lectures on “Humanity” and “Successful Marriage.” These lectures can be watched on Ghamidi Center’s YouTube channel.
Religious Discourse of Change
Under the auspices of Ghamidi Center, a series of discussions titled “Religious Discourse of Change” is ongoing in the weekly question-and-answer sessions. Last month, discussions covered topics such as manifestos, claims, and practical implications of religious, revolutionary, and political groups. Recordings of these sessions can be found on Ghamidi Center’s YouTube channel.
Teaching of Al-Bayan and Meezan in English Language
Last month, Dr. Shehzad Saleem conducted 5 lectures in English on Javed Ahmad Ghamidi’s Quranic interpretation “Al-Bayan” and his book “Meezan” on Islam. In the 4 sessions of “Al- Bayan,” verses 224 to 260 of Surah Al-Baqarah were discussed, while under the series of “Meezan,” a lecture titled “The Social Shariah” addressed issues related to divorce. These lectures can be viewed on Ghamidi Center’s YouTube channel.
Audiobook of al-Bayan
Under the Ghamidi Center’s Tazkir Bil Quran project last month, the recitation and translation of verses 1 to 55 of Surah Al-Ma’idah and Surah Al-An’am were presented. the translation of the Quranic text by Javed Ahmad Ghamidi was read by Shahnawaz Zaidi, while the recitation of the Quran was presented in the melodious voice of Mishary Rashid Alafasy. Each week, a new episode of this audio book is released on Ghamidi Center’s YouTube channel.
Ilm-o-Hikmat with Ghamidi
“Ilm-o-Hikamt: With Ghamidi” is a well-known program on Dunya News Channel Pakistan, which has been airing for many years. It is recorded on a weekly basis and broadcasted every
Ask Dr. Shehzad Saleem
“Ask Dr. Shehzad Saleem” is a monthly live question and answer session where Dr. Shehzad Saleem addresses various religious, ethical, and societal issues that arise in people’s minds. In this session, people can ask their questions in both Urdu and English languages. The recordings of these sessions can be viewed on Ghamidi Center’s YouTube channel.
Saturday. The responsibilities of hosting are carried out by Hassan Ilyas. In February, one program titled “Question and Answer” and three programs titled “Fundamental Elements of Islamic Culture” were aired. These programs discussed topics such as preservation of chastity, preservation of ranks, servitude, religious sensitivity, teaching of cultural traditions, flaws in the educational system, and the significance of prostration in reverence. The recordings of these programs are available on Ghamidi Center’s YouTube channel.
Issues of Parenting, Youth, and Marital Life
Dr. Shehzad Saleem conducts online private counseling sessions with people every month. In these sessions, individuals seek advice from Dr. Shehzad Saleem regarding various personal and familial issues. Last month, people consulted Shehzad Saleem for solutions to issues related to parenting, youth, and marital problems.