The Meaning of the word “Rabi-ul-Awwal” is the first month of spring.

Rabi’ul-Awwal is the most significant month in the Islamic history, because humanity has been blessed in this month by the birth of the Holy Prophet Muhammad, Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam.

The events are as follows:

1. Saturday evening Study circles about “Know Your Prophet”.

2. Forced Marriage -v- Arranged Marriage event will be held on Wednesday 1 February between 6-8pm.

3. Sisters only Eid Milad-un-Nabi (peace be upon him) event will be held at Makkah Mosque on Sunday 5 February 2012, starting at 12pm. Naats, nasheeds and speeches will be delivered by sisters.

4.  The main Grand Mawlid/Milad-un-Nabi event will be held on Saturday 11 February from 4pm.

For further details of each of these events, please see the web-posts below.

The following topics will be covered from the noble life of the Holy Prophet Muhammad, (sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam):

 1. From Creation to the blessed Birth – Saturday 28th January

 2. Analysis of the concept of celebrating Milad-un-Nabi – Saturday 4th February

 3. Sublime life style of the Prophet (peace be upon him) – Saturday 11th February

 4. Status of the Prophet (peace be upon him) in Islam- Saturday 17th February

The study circles will start after maghrib prayer, around 5pmtill 6:30pm..

Brothers and sisters are welcome.

Programme: The programme is held on Wednesday 1^st of February 2012 between 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm

Venue: Makkah Masjid on Thornville Road/ Brudenell Road, Leeds LS6 1JY.

The following issues will be discussed as part of the event:

• The difference between an arranged marriage and a forced marriage;
• What factors give rise to forced marriages;
• What Shariah Law pertaining to the act of marriage states in respect of forced marriages;
• What effects such marriages have on the families involved;
• What legal recourse is available to the victims of such crimes;
• What action is taken by the British High Commission, Islamabad, when such a marriage is referred to them;
• What the community must be prepared to do in order to challenge such issues.

Imam of Makkah Masjid, Qari Muhammad Asim, who has worked extensively on this issue, said: ‘There is a clear distinction between “forced marriages” and “arranged marriages”. Arranged is where the couple consent to the marriage and families facilitate the marriage, but a “forced marriage” is forced and such marriage is not recognised by Islam.’

People of all faiths and background are welcome.

Refreshments will be provided.

Talks will be given by Scholars of Islam and Nasheed/ Na’at will be sung by renowned Na’at Khawan.

Key Guests will include:

. Allamah Dr Raghib Hussain – Jamia Naimia Lahore

. Muhammad Rauf Qadri- Rawalpindi

. Sabih Rahmani, Karachi 

. Dr Muharraf Hussain Al-azhair – Karimia Institute Nottingham 

. Sahibzada Dilshad Hussain Qadri

People of other faiths shall also share their thoughts about the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him).

All brothers and sisters are warmly invited to what will, insha Allah, be a spiritually uplifting and blessed gathering.

As always, separate facilities will be provided for sisters.

As always, refreshments will also be provided.

Date: Sunday 25^th December 2011, 3-7pm

Venue: Makkah Masjid 36 Thornville Road Leeds LS6 1JY

 Come and learn All about Prayer including:

•  Purpose of prayer
• Conditions for the acceptance of prayer
• Actions that invalidate prayer
• Fara’idh, Wajibat and sunnah actions of prayer
• Practical ways to improve and benefit from our prayer
• Compensations that a traveller or ill-person has
• How a latecomer should complete his prayer

The programme will include Presentations & Interactive Workshops.

Brothers and sisters are Welcome. If possible, please bring pen & a notebook with you.

Refreshments will be provided.

Date: Sunday 18th December 2011

Time: Maghrib prayer 4:00-6:30pm

Venue: Makkah Masjid, 36 Thornville Road, Leeds, LS6 1JY

TALKS WILL BE GIVEN IN URDU AND ENGLISH.

Nasheed Artists will also be paying their tribute to the martyrs of Karbala, in particular Imam Hussain (May Allah be pleased with him).

The commemoration of Imam Husain’s martyrdom has been observed by the followers of Ahlul Sunnah for last fourteen centuries. Honoring the memories of Imam Husain other great martyrs of Karbala who preserved the true form of Islam by sacrificing their lives at the battlefield of Karbala(Iraq) on Ashura 10th Muharram 61 Hijrah.

In order to undersand the the histroy of Karbala and the reasons for whichImam Husain opposed Yazid, please order a free copy of The History of Karbala:

http://www.islamicinformationcentre.co.uk/booksonline.htm

Dates: Sunday 20th November and Sunday 11 December 2011
Time: 6:00 – 7:30pm
Venue: Makkah Masjid, 36 Thornville Road Leeds LS6 1JY

Brothers and sisters are welcome.

In order to receive updates from the mosque about its activities, please register yourselves by texting “LMM” to 07572 201 201.

 Time and Date: 1-3pm Sunday 27 November 2011

Venue: Woodsley Community Centre Woodsley Road Leeds

Last year, 1432 A.H and 2011 C.E, the theme of the Islamic New Year party was peace and security. This year, 1433 A.H and 2012 C.E the theme of the event will be “Healthy Living”.

Islam has encouraged Muslims to try their best to take up a healthy living lifestyle that includes a balanced diet, regular mental and physical exercise and a balance between material and spiritual needs. Makkah Masjid has been working with NHS Leeds on a number of Health related projects.

Leeds Muslim Council takes this opportunity to wish everyone a very happy and prosperous Islamic New Year.

We ask Allah to continue to shower His blessings on all of us and make this a year in which we experience His Divine presence more than ever and live according to the example set by the beloved Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him).

As 1432 AH/2011 CE closes on us, we remember all those moments when our burdens were too heavy to bear; when we wronged ourselves; when we neglected our physical and spiritual being and how at times it seemed that our faith was slipping away from us….recalling those moments, we sincerely seek repentance and thank Allah for being there for us.

The beloved Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) reminded Muslims to take benefit, amongst other things, of health, before sickness [Hadith- al-Hakim, al-Bayhaqee].

‘Domestic abuse – a guide for Muslim communities’ will be launched before Friday prayers at Makkah Masjid in Hyde Park Leeds. The guide aims to help the Muslim community to understand, raise awareness and respond appropriately to domestic abuse.

Thousands of women, as well as men, around the world are victims of abuse every year by their husbands and other family members, usually in-laws. Domestic abuse and violence occurs against women in all societies. However, Muslim victims of domestic abuse find it more difficult to seek help due to cultural pressures.

This new resource helps the Muslim community to identify and understand what domestic abuse is, recognise the signs that someone is at risk of domestic abuse and ensure that they are aware of support services available to them locally.

Bushara Bostan, Health Improvement Specialist for NHS Airedale, Bradford and Leeds, says: “Domestic abuse – a guide for Muslim communities’ deals with domestic abuse in the Muslim community. It aims to help the Muslim community to understand, raise awareness and respond appropriately to domestic abuse. This guide has been produced not because Muslim women are more likely to be subjected to violence than non-Muslim women, but because the way it impacts on them can be different.

“It is hoped that Muslim advocates and communities can use this resource to understand the issue of domestic abuse and provide appropriate support to individuals and families affected by domestic abuse.”

Qari Muhammad Asim, Imam for Makkah Masjid, adds: “Makkah Masjid is pleased to support the development of this guide and hopes that it helps to reduce incidences of domestic abuse within the Muslim community. We also hope that it will help people to talk more openly about any concerns they may have both in their own households or those of their friends and families.

“Domestic abuse and violence occurs against women in all societies regardless of culture, ethnicity, religious background and socioeconomic status. This guide reminds Muslims that such un-Islamic practices should not take place in Muslim households.”

Maulana Shahid Raza OBE, Chair of the MINAB said:

“The Mosques and Imams National Advisory Board (MINAB) welcomes the efforts of the Leeds Makkah Masjid and NHS (Leeds) who have produced this guide to support Muslim communities to tackle domestic abuse. The guide provides practical recommendations to enable faith institutions, leaders and their congregations to respond to domestic abuse.”

 ”This is an excellent example of how faith institutions and statutory agencies can work together to address pertinent issues by providing resources, guidance and advice which is both practical and culturally sensitive.”

 What is domestic abuse?

Domestic abuse (also referred to as domestic violence) is any form of physical, non physical, sexual, emotional or financial abuse that takes place within the context of a close relationship. This relationship will usually be between partners or ex-partners (usually in the home) but it can also occur in extended family situations where abuse may be from other family members.

 Some common abusive acts include:

• physical assaults i.e. hitting, punching, slapping, kicking;
• calling your partner names;
• not allowing them to see friends or relatives;
• refusing to interpret properly; and
• blaming your partner for your own behaviour

 Key facts about domestic abuse

• 1 in 4 women and 1 in 6 men will experience at least one incident of domestic abuse in their lifetime. Women are more likely to experience multiple repeat incidents and fear as a result of this pattern.
• In Europe, domestic abuse is the major cause of ill health for women aged between 16-44, more common than cancer or traffic accidents.
• In the UK at least 2 women are killed each week by a current or former partner
• The Police in the UK receive one call from the public every minute for assistance for domestic violence.
• In an average year 1 in 10 women are known to have experienced violence form a partner or ex-partner. In Leeds this equates to over 35,000 women.
• Although men are also victims of abuse, the vast majority of victims are women.
• Domestic abuse has direct health consequences including higher rates of mental illness in women, contributing to depression, anxiety, stress, self-harm and suicide.
• For children the emotional effects of witnessing domestic violence are very similar to the psychological trauma associated with being a victim of child abuse.

Time: 12-6pm

Venue: Makkah Masjid, 36 Thornville Road Leeds LS6 1JY

Visit Makkah Masjid’s magnificent exhibition and see the beauty of Islamic Art which has inspired people across the globe for centuries.

The exhibition will showcase spectacular handpainted art work and calligraphy on traditional canvases, framed using beautiful coloured material.

Most of the art work is available to buy. Look no further for your perfect unique Islamic New Year gift for family and friends.

Everyone is welcome.