Dualities-Lessons from the Life of Bilal (RAW) [Due on November 16, 2008]

Remember to make connections with our class discussions:
1. What does being a slave to Allah mean to you and what does freedom from Allah mean to you?
2. Analyze the life of Bilal (RA) and list the reasons why Mohammed (SAW) did not follow the suggestions of ringing the bell or other suggestions and instead followed what Abdullah ibn Zayd and Umar dreamed of. How does this event relate to fit-in and not fitting in?
3.How do you explain freedom in the light of Tawheed?

Communication (Social Studies: Due on Tuesday September 23, 2008)

"The colossal misunderstanding of our time is the assumption that insight will work with people who are unmotivated to change. Communication does not depend on syntax, or eloquence, or rhetoric, or articulation, but on the emotional context in which message is being heard. People can only hear you when they are moving toward you, and they are not likely to when your words are pursuing them. Even the choices words lose their power when they are used to over power. Attitudes are the real figures of speech".~ Edwin H. Friedman
Respond to the quote follwing the three steps mentioned below:1. Initial response (paraphrase in your cown words)
2. Agree/Disagree
3. Explain why you agree or disagree with the quote. Remember to elaborate using the strategies of making connections [text-self, text-text, and text-world]and also relate to the intelleginet behaviors.

Tuck Everlasting (Due on Sunday, September 7, 2008)

Compare Mae and Angus Tuck giving proofs from the text. Remember to use the Intelligent Behaviors to analyze the characters.

Happy first blogging!

Roles of Taqwa and Ihsan (Sister Amani Level 3) Very Old

Using ayaat 16 in Surat Dhariyyat وَمَا خَلَقۡتُ ٱلۡجِنَّ وَٱلۡإِنسَ إِلَّا لِيَعۡبُدُونِ [And I (Allâh) created not the jinn and mankind except that they should worship Me (Alone).] , and ayaat 12 & 13 in Surat Mulk إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ يَخۡشَوۡنَ رَبَّهُم بِٱلۡغَيۡبِ لَهُم مَّغۡفِرَةٌ۬ وَأَجۡرٌ۬ كَبِيرٌ۬ (١٢) وَأَسِرُّواْ قَوۡلَكُمۡ أَوِ ٱجۡهَرُواْ بِهِۦۤ‌ۖ إِنَّهُ ۥ عَلِيمُۢ بِذَاتِ ٱلصُّدُورِ [Verily, those who fear their Lord unseen (i.e. they do not see Him, nor His Punishment in the Hereafter), theirs will be forgiveness and a great reward (i.e. Paradise). (12) And whether you keep your talk secret or disclose it, verily, He is the All-Knower of what is in the breasts (of men).], discuss the roles of Taqwa and Ihsaan in a Mo'min's life.

Arrognace and Defiance versus Justice and Injustice (Sister Amani Level 2)

Allah created us and this world. He blessed us with vision and wealth. How may we be thankful to Him and at the same time be fair (just) to our selves? In other words, how may we use Allah's blessing justly or unjustly?

Meaning of Al-Rahman

What does Allah's Name Ar-Rahmaan mean, explain using examples we discussed in class.

Examples of Intelliegent Behaviors in Surat Qaaf

Find the following Intelligent Behaviors in Surat Qaaf from ayaat 1 through 24.

1. Thinking Through
2. Listening with Empathy (Attentively)
3. Learning from the Past
4. Developing Self Control
5. Clarity in thinking and Speaking

The Importance of Doing the Best in Deen and Doing it with Consistency (Due by Wednesday July 16, 2008)

We discussed the meanings of the ayah about how Allah created us to test us and see us do the best of the deeds (ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَ ٱلۡمَوۡتَ وَٱلۡحَيَوٰةَ لِيَبۡلُوَكُمۡ أَيُّكُمۡ أَحۡسَنُ عَمَلاً۬‌ۚ وَهُوَ ٱلۡعَزِيزُ ٱلۡغَفُورُ - Who has created death and life, that He may test you which of you is best in deed. And He is the All-Mighty, the Oft-Forgiving).In this ayah Allah talked about the best deeds and not a lot of deeds. We also talked about the purpose of our creation stated in Surat-al-Z'ariyyat وَمَا خَلَقۡتُ ٱلۡجِنَّ وَٱلۡإِنسَ إِلَّا لِيَعۡبُدُونِ And I (Allâh) created not the jinn and mankind except that they should worship Me (Alone).

Discuss the relationship between the two ayaat and explain how one may become a practicing Muslim by following these two ayaat? Feel free to make connections with the class discusions. Jazakallahul Khair.
Have fun blogging!

Pictures of Hollis Woods by Patricia Reilly Giff

Please post your questions for chapters 1-5. Remember to ask thought provoking and meanignful questions.

The Lottery Rose (Due on April 17, 2008)

What is the importance of family members in one's life? How does lack of love impact a person's ability to establish healthy relationships with others around him? Give examples to explain your reasoning.

Giving Zakah of Our Knowledge (Due Monday, January 7, 2008

We talked about the importance of seeking knowledge and paying zakah of our knowledge. What does the idea of giving zakah of our knowledge mean to you? Please explain in detail. To get the full credit, you must respond to at least to two of your fellow students' coments.