Sasha
August 15th, 2008, 16:59
As salaamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakahtuh...
Allahu Akbar!!
Having come all the way from the small island of Bermuda and participating in the AIAT Seminars for the first time...being in Mecca and Medina for the first time...there are no short words...and the only one word I can use to convey my sense of overwhelm is Mashallah!!!
May Allah reward Sheik Zahid Rashid and all of the administration team of Albaseerah for their commendable efforts in bringing about a truly unique and beneficial experience to reality. The Albaseerah team went over and beyond to ensure the success of these seminars and the comfort of the participants with hands on assistance and personal attention.... and they delivered without question! Jazakallah Khair to all of you!! May Allah favour you all with His greatest rewards!
The experience was unforgettable, incredible and totally indescribable although I do not think I will ever stop trying to describe it all...the sights, sounds, smells...the cool feel of the marble in Masjid Haram... but there is more!!! The emotional and spiritual experiences of Rawdah, the Umrah... trying to describe how these experiences have affected my heart is what leaves me speechless (which is a rare joy in this case)...Trying to convey the excitement of a whole new world of ilm...inspiring...The depth and intricacy of the information being conveyed by the ulama... humbling... The AIAT seminar has jumpstarted me towards truly studying and applying...not just reading and appreciating.. Alhamduillah!
Additionally my reflections are upon how Allah is the best of planners and that in every moment of this excursion...in the tests and in the ease of it how Allah's greatness manifested clearly for those who choose to see ... My heart is now in Mecca and in every sense there is an acute awareness...
I emerge from this experience renewed ...in spirit, in my heart, in my mind (intellectually), in my purpose, in my thinking and feeling... It has repositioned me in such a positive way....toward my life experiences... I see it all through such a very different perspective...
To have experiences that leave you so very "vulnerably safe" and knowing that whatever it may be... it is the Qadr of Allah...it brings a sense of relief from the "self deception" resulting from anxiety and "perceived control" that I am used to as a modus operandi.
I now feel satiated and happy in such a more meaningful way... I have peace and comfort in my heart where I did not before. I have gained more self assurance and a better sense of identity as a Muslimah and a firmer understanding about being upon the way of the Salaf. I feel truly empowered as a result of my experience on the AIAT seminar and this has caused me to reexamine my goals. Subhanallah!
I would not hesitate to recommend this experience to anyone and I know that it will be a topic of conversation for many years to come in sha Allah.
To my dear sisters...thank you all of your for being such wonderful resources for information, comfort and reassurance... May Allah be with all of you... I look forward to hearing from you all soon!
Wa Salaam
Sasha (Maryam)
Allahu Akbar!!
Having come all the way from the small island of Bermuda and participating in the AIAT Seminars for the first time...being in Mecca and Medina for the first time...there are no short words...and the only one word I can use to convey my sense of overwhelm is Mashallah!!!
May Allah reward Sheik Zahid Rashid and all of the administration team of Albaseerah for their commendable efforts in bringing about a truly unique and beneficial experience to reality. The Albaseerah team went over and beyond to ensure the success of these seminars and the comfort of the participants with hands on assistance and personal attention.... and they delivered without question! Jazakallah Khair to all of you!! May Allah favour you all with His greatest rewards!
The experience was unforgettable, incredible and totally indescribable although I do not think I will ever stop trying to describe it all...the sights, sounds, smells...the cool feel of the marble in Masjid Haram... but there is more!!! The emotional and spiritual experiences of Rawdah, the Umrah... trying to describe how these experiences have affected my heart is what leaves me speechless (which is a rare joy in this case)...Trying to convey the excitement of a whole new world of ilm...inspiring...The depth and intricacy of the information being conveyed by the ulama... humbling... The AIAT seminar has jumpstarted me towards truly studying and applying...not just reading and appreciating.. Alhamduillah!
Additionally my reflections are upon how Allah is the best of planners and that in every moment of this excursion...in the tests and in the ease of it how Allah's greatness manifested clearly for those who choose to see ... My heart is now in Mecca and in every sense there is an acute awareness...
I emerge from this experience renewed ...in spirit, in my heart, in my mind (intellectually), in my purpose, in my thinking and feeling... It has repositioned me in such a positive way....toward my life experiences... I see it all through such a very different perspective...
To have experiences that leave you so very "vulnerably safe" and knowing that whatever it may be... it is the Qadr of Allah...it brings a sense of relief from the "self deception" resulting from anxiety and "perceived control" that I am used to as a modus operandi.
I now feel satiated and happy in such a more meaningful way... I have peace and comfort in my heart where I did not before. I have gained more self assurance and a better sense of identity as a Muslimah and a firmer understanding about being upon the way of the Salaf. I feel truly empowered as a result of my experience on the AIAT seminar and this has caused me to reexamine my goals. Subhanallah!
I would not hesitate to recommend this experience to anyone and I know that it will be a topic of conversation for many years to come in sha Allah.
To my dear sisters...thank you all of your for being such wonderful resources for information, comfort and reassurance... May Allah be with all of you... I look forward to hearing from you all soon!
Wa Salaam
Sasha (Maryam)