My First Halaqa

I went to my first halaqa last night. I was really excited and anxious. I didnt go to a college with a huge Muslim population, so I basically missed out on the MSA experience, hence I'd never been to one before.

There were two main topics: Prophet Nuh (saw) and Dajjal.

There's a lot that is not known about earlier Prophets' (peace be upon all of them) lives, but we do know that they had very long lives. Out of the 124,000 Prophets sent down to Earth, the Qur'an accounts for around 25 by name and story. If you think about it, it makes you wonder what happened to the rest. I found out that it is okay to look to the Gospel for an account of the earlier Prophets but always bearing in mind that that word has been changed and may not be open for literal translation.

Prophet Nuh (saw) is noted for being one of the most patient of Prophets of all. He lived for over 900 years and preached Islam steadfastly, but in the end only a handful of believers joined him on his Ark. Roughly between 72-80. He endured endless mockery of the people of his time. He was sent to unify everyone under Islam, but at that time there was a great divide between wealthy and educated versus poor and illiterate classes. The powerful wealthy class did not want to be included in the same religion as the lower class, yet, Prophet Nuh (saw) could not leave them out.

There are two Prophets known who had non-believing wives: Prophet Nuh (saw) and Prophet Lut (saw). Prophet Nuh (saw) was promised that his family would be saved from Allah's wrath intended for disbelievers. In the end, his son, who was a non-believer in disguise for his father's sake only, parished. Prophet Nuh (saw) asked why he was not saved since he was from his family. Allah (swt) replied that his son was a non-believer and therefore was not of Prophet Nuh's (saw) family.

Prophet Nuh (saw) said: "0 my Lord! I seek refuge with You from asking You that of which I have no knowledge. And unless You forgive me and have Mercy on me, I would indeed be one of the losers." Surah 11: 45-47

This is a very good dua to recite. These two verses mentioned above. :)

The Dajjal is a very interesting topic, a bit scary as well. Dajjal is the Anti-Christ.

In a lengthy Hadith narrated by Abu Saeed (R.A.), Rasulullah (Salallahu Alayhi Wasallam) is reported to have said: "Dajjal will come but it will be prohibited and impossible for him to enter Madina. He will set up camp in a barren land outside Madina. One person who will be the best of persons will confront him by saying: "I bear witness that you are the very Dajjal about whom Rasulullah (Salallahu Alayhi Wasallam) has informed us."

Dajjal will say to his followers, "If I kill this person and then revive him, you people will still doubt me?"

They will reply, "No."

He will then kill this person, (according to another narration he will split this person in two) and thereafter revive him. This person will say, "I am totally convinced more than ever before that you definitely are Dajjal."

Dajjal will attempt to kill this person again but his efforts will now be in vain. (According to a hadith, after this incident, Dajjal will not be able to harm anyone.)

Interesting Facts/Signs
He will emerge between Shaam and Iraq, and his emergence will become known when he is in Isfahaan at a place called Yahudea.

When Prophet Isa (saw) descends onto the Earth, iA, he will be in time for Fajr but the Iqamah will have been read already. Imam Mahdi will ask Prophet Isa (saw) to lead and he will say --No, the Iqamah has been said for you-- and he will pray behind Imam Mahdi. This will be the first time a Prophet (saw) will pray behind someone.

The Yahudis (Jews) of Isfahaan will be his main followers. Apart from having mainly Yahudi followers, he will have a great number of women followers as well.

He will have with him fire and water, but in reality the fire will be cold water while that what appears to be cold water will in reality be a blazing fire. Those who obey him will enter "his Jannat" while those who disobey him will enter "his Jahannam."

There will be a thick fingernail-like object in his left eye.

The letters "Kaa" "Faa" "Raa" will appear on his forehead and will be deciphered by all Mu'mineen regardless of them being literate or not.

He will have a wheatish complexion. He will travel at great speeds and his means of conveyance will be a gigantic mule. It is said that he will play beautiful music which will attract the music lovers.

Dajjal will lay claim to prophethood. He will then lay claim to Divinity. He will perform unusual feats. He will travel the entire world. He will send down rains upon those who believe in him, which in turn will cause good crops to grow, trees to bear fruit and cattle to grow fat.

He will cause drought to those who disbelieve in him, resulting in starvation and hardship for them. During those trying times the Mu'mineen will satiate their hunger through the recitation of Subhanallah and La'ilaha Ilallahu.

The hidden treasures will spill forth at his command. He will stay on this Earth for a period of forty days; the length of the first day will be one year, the second day will be equal to one month, the third day will be equal to a week and the remaining days will be normal.

He will be unable to enter Makkah because the Malaikah will be guarding the Holy City and nor will he be able to enter Madina because there will be Malaikah guarding each of the seven entrances to Madina; From Madina he will proceed towards Shaam where Imaam Mahdi will be stationed.

Finally Isa (A.S.) will descend from the heavens and pursue him and eventually kill him at present day Lydda (Baad Lud).

I learned interesting facts about Prophet Idrees (saw). I have a nephew named Idrees and this was fascinating to me.

Prophet Idrees (saw) was very religious. When the Angel of Death came for his soul he was in the 3rd of 4th Heaven already. When Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) ascended, he met Prophet Idrees (saw).

Ok so all in all I had a wonderful time. It helps having great friends, mA!!!! Wait -- great friends who loveee your aloo gobi and tell you your hair is so SNIFFABLE! :)

Theres a feeling of excitement that comes over you when you hear about the Last days and the fabulous battles that will take place. Prophet Isa (saw) fighting Dajjal. Its going to be a chaotic time, but the neat thing is that in the end justice will iA prevail and there will be peace on Earth.

We get so caught up in our day to day everyday that it doesnt faze us but when we look at our lives and realize the void we feel is Islam.

There's so much knowledge out there, so much to read. So much to learn. It is said that reading about the lives of the Prophets is not just for passing time, but to have active discussions and heed the lessons that they lived iA.

I cant imagine what it must have been like to live back in that time, to have all that knowledge, in its original form, right at your fingertips. We have to rely on books now, but back in the Prophet's time (saw) people would go to visit him and he would give them advice.

Its scary when you realize just how impressionable people are because its like even the good and strong sometiems succumb to pressures and it scares you to say anything that you cannot 100% backup, because if its not the exact truth in its originality you could potentially disrupt historical fact. Its best to leave it by saying, Allahu Alim, Allah (swt) knows best. :)

I plan on hosting the next halaqa at my place iA. Im searching for interesting topics right now. I am going to talk about Prophet Lut (saw) because I know that came up in our discussion and I want to know more. I also want to discuss the article I read on the position of women in Islam as well. It's imperative for us to know what our rights are in order to know where we stand in society.

If you have any suggestions, let me know. :)