Alhamdullilah its Ramadhan 1430H / 2009!

Alhamdullilah, we're blessed with another Ramadhan to cherish and prove our worth to the Almighty, may He accept our ibadah and our deeds.

As usual, we're hoping to make this Ramadhan more meaningful by organising a few events in hope to cheer the lives of others..

Check them out!!







With all our hearts, we hope to see you there...

Ramadhan Mubarak everyone!

oit! Why so quiet?

Masyallah, a whole year has passed and as much as we've had loooaaads of activities in between, we've been kinda slack in updating the blog. Tsk Tsk Tsk!

But it doesn't mean that we've been quiet. Plenty has been done since the last Ramadhan and Insyallah, we'll blog it soon enough. A glimpse of what we've been up to...

- Night Cycling: XPDC 2
- Camp Alterisk, a collaboration with NTUMS
- Study Mentor Scheme for Madrasah Wak Tanjong students
- Career Day for 'O'- Level students
- Alhamdullilah it's Friday weekly classes

so.. we've got our hands full Alhamdullilah, and of course.. all of the above would not be possible without the wonderful help of our volunteers, may Allah reward you for your kind hearts.

Ramadhan.. sweet sweet Ramadhan

Salam everyone.. and Alhamdullilah, we're blessed with yet another Ramadhan.As always, time will pass by too quickly and before we know it, its going to be the End of Ramadhan, such a sad thought.

So let's make the most of it dear friends!

Youth@Kassim have planned out a few things to keep us all occupied during this festive month and as always, we need a few willing hands to make the activities more meaningful. All our activities fall on Saturday afternoons and we welcome anyone who feels like helping out..

Every Sat

To start with, every Saturday afternoon, we distribute porridge, cakes and dates to residents of Blk 12, Bedok South. We've been maintaining a close relationship with the residents there and in this blessed month, we go the extra mile for them

2nd Week (13th Sept '08)

Ramadhan and You..th!
a) Talk on Volunteerism
b) Ramadhan Awareness Campaign
c) Neighbourly Kindness
d) Youth Iftar
e) Visit Bazaar (after Tarawih)

Briefly, this is a day dedicated to youths which include activities such as...
- Talk on importance of volunteerism and sharing session of experiences
- Distribute bilingual Ramadhan Awareness pamphlets explaining about Ramadhan
- Distribute packed food, greeting cards and delicacies for Kassim Mosque's
neighbours
- Iftar together
- If the volunteers are game for it, time to relax and stroll around the bazaar at
Geylang

3rd Week (20th Sept '08)

Family Iftar “Berbuka Bersama, Keluarga Bahagia”

We'll invite families to have a mass iftar at the mosque and we're thinking of holding a short talk on “Family, Islam and Love” before Iftar.


4th Week (27th Sept '08)

Project Spring Cleaning: Blk 12

We plan to Spring-clean and decorate selected residences. Not only that, we hope to give hampers and kuih raya too to celebrate the spirit of Eid

If you're itching to help, then don't hesitate, email us! And as we strive, may Allah accept our deeds...

Study Mentor programme...

To reach out to more youths, we have implemented a programme for students to encourage them to learn in a cluster environment, under the guidance of a mentor. We want to inculcate an environment of learning and discussion of their school work in study-groups. With the help of qualified Math and English tutors who will be mentors to different clusters of students; grouped according to their academic needs.

To date, we have about 30 students from Madrasah Wak Tanjong and Telok Kurau Secondary School, forming about 6-8 study-groups, supervised by 1-2 mentors who will guide them in their revision and daily work. Alhamdullilah, the programme was held every Thursday from 7pm to 9.30pm and we're taking a little hiatus right now due to Ramadhan but we're eager to jumpstart the programme in October '08 Insyallah.

If you have a passion to teach or feel that you want to contribute your time and knowledge, email us and share your ideas.

There is a Hadith that states that; “The feet of a son of Adam will not be removed (meaning he will be standing for reckoning until he is asked about the following five), unless he is questioned about five things: his life and how he has spent it, his youth time and how he managed it, his wealth from where and how it has been spent, and his actions how close or far they are from his knowledge.”

A reminder from us...

Dear youths,

Dont rush to grow old. Take time to smell the flowers in your childhood and youth. You have the rest of your life to be an adult. Your childhood and youth are only for that short period of time. Once you're an adult, they're gone forever.

- adapted from Teens' Crossroads magazine

AIF so far...

Alhamdulillah, we've had several sessions of AIF (Alhamdullilah It's Friday) with Ustaz Kamal and the response have been growing steadily, so much so that we're now conducting it EVERY WEEK!!

Although we can't really describe everything in this spot, but here are some salient points of discussion we've had so far:

Why are there different Madzabs?

Why do some people pray and practice Islam differently?

What is the significance of Hadiths in our everyday lives?

'Science' of Hadiths? Huh...?

In our multi-religious society, what are the rules of our interactions? Can we attend religious functions of other beliefs?

Marriages and other 'business contracts/partnerships'...

Its been an interesting few months and we've held robust discussions, touching on many topics and issues. We have decided though, to give the sessions a form of scholarly grounding and direction. So at the start of each AIF, we'll go through some Hadiths compiled by Ibn Hajar Al-Asqalani in his book "Bulugh Al-Maram". If you don't have the book, not to worry because we'll provide you with the necessary notes, Insyallah. And the exciting bit will be our Q&A, where participants often ask (sometimes, brutally) honest questions, queries and confusions on Islamic principles, practices and belief. Its been enlightening and we welcome more curious hearts and minds to AIF.

We can't help it, the best way to say Thank You is to FEED you..

To the beloved volunteers of Camp Iktishaaf '07, we say Thank You.

Allah has granted us the blessing of opening your hearts to help and we are in awe at how much energy, passion and zeal you have showed in your varied tasks, usually under duress of time, weather conditions and fatigue.

Its a humbling experience to see so much selflessness, love and ukhwah amongst you that only Allah can repay your kindness, Jazakummullahu Khairan Khathsiran.

And on our part, we do our best to say thank you. By feeding you. Believe us there was a Lot of food that day.


Held at Kassim Mosque's very own scenic roof-top, we had BBQed crayfish, prawns, squid, chicken wings, chicken tandoori, all sorts of sausages imaginable, and to add to the spread; 'sup tulang', noodles, rice, salads and... there's always room for, desserts.

Burp. Alhamdullilah :)

Iktishaaf II: The Discovery Continues...

Youth@Kassim professes the mosque’s relentless effort in connecting with the younger generation. Recognised as an integral part of the Ummah, the youth are the future leaders of our society and we aim to create a symbiotic relationship with the youth by nurturing close ties through activities, events and participation. This is to encourage the youth to have a greater sense of belonging to the Muslim community, to strengthen the bond of the young Ummah and to strive to become a developed society, equip with knowledge of here and the hereafter, Insyallah.

We have always treasured its relationships with others and constantly looking out for opportunities to work with other organisations. It is in line with this effort that Youth@Kassim organised an activity for the residents of Darul Ihsan Orphanage during the December holidays. Darul Ihsan is no stranger to Youth@Kassim as both organizations worked arduously together to produce a memorable activity for the residents last year, Camp Iktishaaf. The response and comments were so overwhelming and positive that the participants were already talking about a second camp.


To improve the close relations we have with Darul Ihsan and also to provide its residents with an chance to learn, discover and enjoy themselves all at the same time, we held a second Camp Iktishaaf. A camp that promised more activities, steeper learning curves and Insyallah, unforgettable experiences. And not to mention how it would be an amazing opportunity for all of us to conclude the end of 2007 / Hijriah 1428 and to welcome the new year with reinvigorated ideas, renewed resolutions and reaffirmation of faith.



ANNNND it went with a blast, Alhamdullilah!




The kids had fun, the facilitators had fun and the organisers, hmm, they were just glad it went smoothly enough. With 40 Darul Ihsan kids under our care, we had a huge responsibility not only to ensure their safety, but harder still, to make sure that they enjoy themselves. We armed ourselves with a brigade of volunteer facilitators, from all walks of life. Special mention to the bros and sis from NTUMS and NUSMS >> YOU ROCK!!




And with as many volunteers as we have participants, there's just noooooo way the kids will not have have fun.




Just a taste of what we have lined up for them;



Day One
Ice-Breakers and Opening Sketch
Night Treasure Hunt

Day Two
Amazing Race
Games
Night Walk - Pusara Aman!!

Day Three
Kayaking
Water-Bomb Galore
Prize Auction
Closing Sketch




Safe to say, it was exhilirating both for the participants and facilitators. During the closing ceremony, emotions were running high and the kids could not hide their tears of sadness. All good things face an impending end, and Insyallah, we'll be back soon enough.

Hari Raya Haji '07

It's EID and we're at it again! What is a festival without celebrations and this year's Eid Adha saw our youth members roughing it out with the kambings (sheeps). Honouring the Islamic tradition of sacrifice during Eid Adha, Kassim mosque arranged for the slaughter of about 70 sheep. Bearing in mind limited space and the press for time in slaughtering, cutting and distributing the meat, Eids like these have always been a logistical challenge for mosques. But with enough manpower and the will, Alhamdullilah it went smoothly but as expected with lots of dirt; practically everywhere :)

And Kassim mosque also warmly welcomed our non-Muslim constituency representatives and students from VJC who were curious to find out what exactly happens during the curtains. It's always enlightening to share our experiences and explain a bit more about our practices and rituals. Our guests were given an introduction of the significance of Qurban and the Hajj, a brief history of Islam and the Abrahamic tradition of sacrifice, and lastly an explaination of how its practiced in Singapore. The guests were repeatedly warned that witnessing the actual slaughter was really not for the faint-hearted...

Batam Project

Masjid Kassim has been fortunate enough to have worked closely with Masjid Al-Mutaqin in Kampung Batu, Sungai Bedor, Batam. As a sister mosque, Masjid Kassim has been gradually helping its counterpart in building up the mosque.

The cooperation between these two mosque has just entered a new level and Youth@Kassim is exploring the possibilities of joint programmes and looking into ways that we can help the community in Sungai Bedor, Batam.

The reception we received upon our arrival was, quite simply, overwhelming. The mosque was filled with people, of all ages. We found that that they had some teenagers excused from school so that thay can attend the event. An event, which we weren't exactly expecting. It was a show of kampung hospitality that we, Singaporeans, have definitely lost touch. That aside, it was quickly back to business as we went straight into discussions. Many issues were raised; problems that their community faced, challenges to overcome and there was a sharing session where we exchanged approaches and honest, probable solutions. We had a tour of the surroundings; the mosque, study areas comprising of bare-classes and an orphanage, or better known as "panti asuhan".

Even when you first set foot in Batam and look around at the living conditions of the people there, its easy to realise that there is much work to be done. When we did leave the place, it was obvious that we can't just sit around and think that we only have our problems to deal with, because there are so many others, especially those in Kampung Batu, who could only dream of a little taste of the luxuries that we have. Its time to start work on Masjid Al-Mutaqqin, Insyallah.

akan datang...

We have always treasured relationships with other organisations and constantly looking out for opportunities to work together. It is in line with this effort that Youth@Kassim humbly propose a 3D/2N Camp, organised for the residents of Darul Ihsan Orphanage in Dec 2007. Darul Ihsan is no stranger to Youth@Kassim as both organizations, with the help of NTUMS, worked arduously together to produce a memorable activity for the residents last year, Camp Iktishaaf. The response and comments were so overwhelming and positive that the participants were already talking about a second camp.

To improve the close relations we have with Darul Ihsan and also to provide its residents with an chance to learn, discover and enjoy themselves all at the same time, we are proposing YOUTH IKTISHAAF '07 . A camp that promises more activities, steeper learning curves and Insyallah, unforgettable experiences. And not to mention how it would be an amazing opportunity for all of us to conclude the end of 2007 / Hijriah 1428 and to welcome the new year with reinvigorated ideas, renewed resolutions and reaffirmation of faith.

By encouraging learning, exploring and discovering knowledge, we hope to act as positive agents of change. The camp is an important window of opportunity for both the volunteers and participants to learn about organizing events, leadership skills and it creates the awareness that anything is possible if you put your mind to it. The pursuit of learning is an eternal journey and we hope the camp will be the catalyst, the spark that ignites that spirit of self-discovery and motivate them to be a dynamic individuals and more importantly, good Muslims.

We hope that Youth Ikhtishaaf ‘07 will be a valuable platform where youths can share their ideas, exercise their creativity and enliven the spirit of volunteerism, Insyallah.

Alhamdullilah It's Friday! (AIF)

As much as we have been planning events to strenghten our ukhwah, we are not forgetting our higher, more important obligations; to share and spread knowledge.

So Insyallah, we're going to start off our first AIF:

Friday, 16th Nov, after Isya at Level 2 Wisma Indah

(Masjid Kassim)

For those who are curious about AIF, it's generally an usrah or discussion, held every Friday night. One friday we'll be sitting around discussing issues that matter; spiritiual, contemporary or traditional and the following friday we'll be under the guidance of Ustaz Kamal Mokhtar (http://www.aqiqahkorban.com/) who will share with us his ideas and advice on anything and everything under the sky.

We're hoping to garner young adults who share a passion for learning and have that insatiable curiosity for knowledge of living life as a good Muslim. Being in a multiracial and multi-religious society, every single day we are challenged by new situations, new questions on how we can conduct ourselves to try to be the best Muslims that we can be. We have to admit that some, if not most of us, have been brought up with a rather dogmatic view of religion; we are told of what's Halal and Haram, to pray five times a day, to fast, etc. and seldom do we ask, what is the wisdom behind it and why really, are we doing all these? Islam is a way of life and it should immerse comfortably with every aspect of our lives - our quest for spirituality, our work and our social circle. But being in Singapore and with the hectic pace of life that we have, more often than not, a lot of things have been compromised and the issue of faith often lag behind our list of priorities.

The series of AIF discussions hope to churn out issues of the everyday, problems and questions that we face daily, making sense of what we see, hear and watch around us and most significantly, relate everything that is happening to our faith. May one day Insyallah, we'll be blessed for our efforts in trying to gain knowledge of the Deen.

We welcome you with open arms and open hearts, to just check it out and see how you feel about it. Let us all create a learning culture that revolutionises the way we think about religion and interact with our faith.

Let's Paint the Town EID!!!

Joyous occasion, momentous day, plenty of laughs, loads of fooood and .... pictures, pictures, pictures!

Who says you can't improve silaturrahim and have fun too.... :)

Appreciate.. Realise... Understand Ramadhan '07

As we bid farewell to the month of Ramadhan, may Allah accept our repentance and our deeds. It was an enjoyable month of ibadah and bubur for Kassim Mosque and Youth@Kassim as we sweat it out to distribute food to the kind residents of Bedok South Blk 12.




BLK 12 has always been close to our hearts and during Ramadhan, we tried to put in that extra bit of effort to share with them the spirit of Ramadhan. SO there we were, every Saturday during the fasting month, knocking from house to house to distribute porridge for Muslim residents.

This year however, we decided on something a bit different. A bit more special.



We wanted to spread the word of Ramadhan. We wanted to create an awareness of why Muslims have to fast and the significance of fasting. So on the 22nd of Sept, Sat, we had the Ramadhan Awareness campaign where we distributed information flyers printed in English and Mandarin to explain more about the fasting month. Besides that, we distributed porridge and dates to every household in Blk 12. The scale was massive and the response was even better Alhamdullilah. The spirit of Ramadhan became truly alive that day!

During the last weekend of the fasting month, we wanted to end Ramadhan with a bang and show the Muslim residents of Blk 12 that we care. Collecting kind donations from various people, we managed to set aside a humble amount to buy gifts, kueh-mueh and also green-packets. We also offered to clean some of the resident's houses and for those who need assistance, we were more than happy to point out to them the avenues where assistance can be sought.

And how can we even think of ending this post without thanking all those whom tirelessly came to help, week after week to give their time and energy for the sake of Allah. Jazakumullah Khair my brothers and sisters in Islam. May Allah reward you for your kindness and may all our deeds be accepted by the Allah the Forgiving and the Merciful.

Neighbourly Kindness

In light of maintaining good relations with Kassim Mosque’s neighbours, we distributed packed food for staff, tenants and occupants of the surrounding eateries and shops. As a gesture of thoughfulness, we also gave them Eid greeting cards and popular raya snacks.. yum!

Again, we were overwhelmed by those who came to lend us a hand. Week in week out during this amazing month, we had people from the far reaches of Singapore come to Masjid Kassim to partake in its humble activities. Jazakumullah Khair!!

The Prophet s.a.w. said "Gabriel continued to recommend me about treating the neighbors Kindly and politely so much so that I thought he would order me to make them as my heirs.” – narrated by Aisha r.a. (Bukhari)

Month of Ramadhan '07 Grand Plan (Volunteers needed please..)

Alhamdullilah, we are blessed with another month of Ramadhan and there is no better time to do more good deeds and increase our acts of ibadah. With that in mind, the mosque, in collaboration with Youth@Kassim, plans to implement a few programmes to make the most out of this special month. May our effort and intentions be accepted, Insyallah.

Programmes

1) Weekly – every Saturday – bubur giveaway
2) Ramadhan Awareness Campaign - 22nd Sept, Sat
3) Mass Family Iftar - 29th Sept, Sat
4) Neighbourly Kindness – 30th Sept, Sun

Grand Plan

1) Weekly Bubur Giveaway

• Every Saturday after Asar
• To residents of Blk 12, Bedok South Ave 1.

The Prophet s.a.w. said “ He who provides for the breaking of the Saum of another person earns the same merit as the one who was observing Saum”- related by Zaid ibn Khalid Juhni (Tirmidhi)

2) Ramadhan Awareness programme

• Carrying on with our tradition of distributing bubur, this time around it will be quite different.
• BIGGER scale and we are hoping to distribute bubur and kurma to non-Muslims.
• We will also distribute pamphlets written in 3 languages to explain and create awareness on Ramadhan.
• Saturday, 22nd Sept '07
• Starts at 3pm

3) Mass Family Iftar

What can be better and more blessed than to have iftar with family and loved ones at the mosque.. this time around, it will be with many many many families. Insyallah, it will be good family fun. Join us on Saturday, 29th of Sept.

The Prophet s.a.w. said, “Eat together and not separately, for the blessings is associated with the company”. - Ibn Majah

4) Neighbourly Kindness

In the spirit of maintaining good relations with Kassim Mosque’s neighbours, we will be distributing packed food for Shell staff, Telok Indah occupants, surrounding eateries and shops. We will also be giving them an Eid greeting card as a gesture of thoughtfulness. Sunday, 30th Sept after Asar.

The Prophet s.a.w. said "Gabriel continued to recommend me about treating the neighbors Kindly and politely so much so that I thought he would order me to make them as my heirs.” – narrated by Aisha r.a. (Bukhari)

And as with all such events and activities, we need the help of volunteers to help us in ensuring that the event will be a success, Insyallah.

Do contact us at youthatkassim@gmail.com or sms us at 8115 2750.

Jazakh Kumullah Khair.

Check us out at the Masjid Kassim Bazaar!

If you're feeling peckish... or want a full meal... or maybe just a little dry from thirst, come down to Youth@Kassim Booth at the Masjid Kassim Bazaar. Look out for our banner (below), drop by and take a look.

You'll be pleasantly surprised at the array of food, drinks and products that we have to offer; from Sup Tulang to Sabsuka to Brownies and Cookies, we also have Isotonic drinks for you to quench your thirst and replenish your energy after a long day of fasting.

We'll be setting up shop on Fri, Sat and Sun... So come by and check it out!!

Muslim Leaders – How Do We Produce Them?

“Islam is a revivalist religion that supports creativity. Indeed, revivalism and traditionalism are two faces of the same coin…reviving to the original essence,” said Dr Zachariah Matthews, a Muslim leader who actively works with the youth and contributes to local community-based organizations.

Dr Zachariah Matthews most proficiently provided a backdrop for an Islamic pedestal if you will, for future Muslim leaders. Stressing on education as a foundation for a person to change himself or the people around him or her, he aptly put it that belief in the Qur’an and Sunnah settled in the heart. A Muslim must first cure the diseases of his or her own heart, and for perfection we must fear Allah the Almighty through constant awareness. He also called for burying old disputes, rejecting innovations in Sufism but not all of its teachings, and not going to extreme lengths in obeying a sheikh. In other words, there must be balance. It is this kind of wisdom that nourishes a leader. But we must be careful to draw a line between leading and managing as they are not the same thing. Leaders must be able to influence others, grow, be patient with time and disciplined, challenge excuses and have the humility to admit to their mistakes.

Dr Zachariah Matthews lamented the fact that many of the student organizations were run like “dictatorships”, and there ought to be mutual consultation or shura when electing leaders. It is also the leader’s duty to train his peers and invite and encourage participation.

“He who thinks he leads, but has no followers, is only taking a walk,” Dr Zachariah Matthews cited from a book.

The life of Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) must be seen as the highest inspiration for Muslim youth, and indeed it is through his example that we can produce adept and rousing Muslim leaders who are motivational, just and “ambassadors of change”.

As `Urwah ibn Mas'ud al Thaqafi, a delegate of the Quraysh, said of Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him), on returning to his tribe:
“O Men of Quraysh, I have visited Chosroes, Caesar, and the Negus in their respective courts. By God, I have never seen a king attaching himself to his people as Muhammad does.”

Community Participation

Diversity is part of the plan of Allah the Almighty and there can be no clash of civilizations, for we are all one people and the sons and daughters of Adam (peace be upon him). Yasser Soliman fascinatingly pointed out that in Surah al-Mumtahinah, verses 7-9, Allah the Almighty repeats the Arabic word used toward parents as in another verse to describe those who do not fight Muslims because of religion or persecute them. He also mentioned that Allah the Almighty loves those who are just. Perhaps in the present circumstances, it may be a reminder to those Muslim groups which have caused fitnah by their terror acts against innocent civilians.

What does it mean for the overwhelming majority of Muslims?

Muslims must not ghettoize or isolate themselves from mainstream society.

With global hostility and Islamophobia burgeoning, it is imperative for Muslims to participate in the community, and foster friendship and trust with those around us. While we aren’t all the same, because we have dissimilar beliefs, we can work together. Imam Mahdi Bray called for Muslims to be more active in environmental, animal rights and social justice causes, and he delightfully scoffed at the contention that we already have too many problems to solve: “I believe that Allah created us such that we can walk and chew bubble-gum at the same time.”

Syukran, Thank You, Terima Kasih, Xie Xie

Rasulullah saw said : "He who does not thank people, does not thank Allah"- related by Abu Hurairah ( Ahmad, Tirmidhi )

The recent events held by Youth@Kassim would not have been possible without the support of the Mosque Management Committee (MMB), the endearing Mosque Staff and of course, providing the muscle for the events, our cherished Volunteers. As a gesture of our deep appreciation, what better way can there be other than Makan, Makan, Makan!!! It was to show the Youth@Kassim EXCO's gratitude to all those who played a part in the event and we had our mothers cook most of the food, so that it was cooked with LuRrrvE.. :)

wisdom of meetings

Islam greatly exhorts the practice of Mashwara (mutual-consultation) in all matters of importance. Whether relating to individual issues, matters relating to the home, matters relating to the community or a country, Islam emphasizes the importance and great benefits of Mashwara. This meritorious practice of great benefit is strongly encouraged by the Quran and Hadith.















MASHWARA AND ISTIKHARAH TWO INGREDIENTS FOR SUCCESS

All Muslims must strive to bring alive this vital practice in all facets and matters of their individual and collective lives. Whenever any issue of importance arises; before making any decision, always resort to

1. MASHWARA

2. ISTIKHARAH

We have been informed by the most truthful of men, Rasulullah s.a.w. in one of his gems of wisdom: "He who resorts to Istikharah will not be at a loss; and he who resorts to Mashwara will never regret."

Furthermore, we have been commanded by Allah s.w.t. in the following aayah

"And make Mashwara (consult) with them in affairs (of importance). Then when you have firmly decided, have trust on Allah. Verily Allah loves those who have trust (in Him)" – al imran 03:159

Lessons from this aayah:

1. Rasulullah s.a.w. was not really in need of the views and consultation of the Sahabah r.a., because he was educated and taught directly by Allah s.w.t. through Wahyu. Allah Ta'ala could have guided him to the correct decision even without mutual consultation. Yet we find the Quran has instructed even Rasulullah s.a.w. to resort to Mashwara with his companions. This alone speaks volumes on the importance of Mashwara.

2. What is the reason for Rasulullah s.a.w. consulting and making Mashwara with his companions? In order to emphasize the importance of Mashwara, he practically carried it out and showed them the ways and etiquette of Mashwara. In this manner the importance and method of Mashwara was embedded in the minds of the Sahaba r.a. and thus this practice gained prominence and priority in the life of the Sahaba and those that followed their ways.

3. Islam has always advocated the policy of adopting the means first and then trusting upon Allah - Tawakkul. "Tie the camel first, then trust upon Allah." This is the true concept of Tawakkul from Quran and Hadith. It is this same principle as far as Mashwara is concerned; first adopt all the means: Consult, collect all the views and deliberate on the issue at hand from all angles, then take the decision and leave the rest to Allah Ta'alla- thereafter trust on Him alone.

4. Although this aayah is directed to Rasulullah s.a.w.in the first instance, it applies to all Muslims in general by way of implication. By directing Rasulullah s.a.w. firstly towards this command, it emphasizes the importance of Shura in the life of a Muslim, whose affairs of life pivot around Mashwara.

May Allah grant all Believers this great quality.

XPDC '07 rolls out..

To commemorate the opening of our Youth Hub, Youth at Kassim organised a night cycling event, XPDC 2007, on the night itself. In conjunction with the period of Is’ra Mi’raj, the event gains more significance as the participants can experience travelling by night and at the same time contemplate upon the beauty and wonders of creation. The volunteers, amounting to more than forty people, were the backbone of XPDC 2007 as they helped organise and execute the plans for the events. With more sixty participants, there was roughly a hundred people involved in the event and all thanks to Allah it was a resounding success. Of course, success is measured in many different ways. Looking at how the volunteers worked seamlessly carrying out theirs tasks as station masters, facilitators, marshals and especially the unsung ‘logistics’ heroes labouring through the night, it was magical. The way everyone worked together towards a common goal, without pride, without personal aims and just wanting the event to go on smoothly, Masyallah it was a blessing by it itself. It showed that anything was possible if we put our minds and hands together.

Of course, some things did not go as planned. We had to cut short the route to allow more time for the participants to come back to Kassim Mosque in time. With the ages ranging from 15 to 55, it was obvious that we could not cater to everyone’s needs. But I believe there was much wisdom learnt from that experience. As much as some of the groups were exploding with enthusiasm to carry on cycling, they had to wait for the rest of the participants. The long wait wore their patience and zeal down, some got frustrated, some were relieved. To reflect, it gave an invaluable insight on what it takes to be in a group and to work together as a group. There will always be times where we would not get what we want, but we always have to think in the interest of others, evaluate the circumstances and at times, come out with painful decisions. The decision to cut short the route was definitely painful but it was taken after much careful thought and in the interest of the majority, Allahu’alam. The experience was a great learning lesson, which we were thankful for.

Launch of Youth Hub '07

The launching of Youth Hub itself was quite an event, with more than 100 guests from a myriad of organisations curious to know what Masjid Kassim has in store. It was short and sweet, with guests treated to the amazing vocals of Madrasah Aljunied Nasyid group and of course, a sumptious spread of food. More inportantly, the event was also a useful meeting point for volunteers and activists alike to get to know each other better, in hope of creating sparks for planning future events. Insyallah it will be a start of a melting pot of ideas where different organisations work hand in hand towards the same goal; to answer to our higher calling and be of service to the Ummah.

Youth Hub is ALiVe!!

The spirit of youth activism came alive last Saturday, 18^th August, when Kassim Mosque officially launched its Youth Hub. A concept that was spawned by the mosque management committee, it paved the way for the set-up of Youth@Kassim - the mosque’s youth wing, to start planning its approach to attract youths the mosque. Barely one year later, it was decided that the mosque needed a centre catered for youths. The youth centre will provide not only a place for discussions and meetings, but it will also be an enclave where they can unwind. Emboldened by its new motto “Bringing the mosque closer to YOUths”, the relatively new team of volunteers started their proposal to build the Youth Hub. Designed to be the nerve-centre of its future operations, the Youth Hub will be the headquarters, classroom and lounge for its members. Equip with new electronic gadgets, DVD players, X-Box and speedily hooked up the internet, the Youth Hub aims to attract youths from all backgrounds to make it into a cosy meeting point.

The Youth Hub became a reality last Saturday as it was unveiled in a visual splendour of lights, sounds and melodic singing of nasyid by students Madrasah Al-Junied. The Kassim Mosque Management Committee and Youth at Kassim exco, accompanied by the distinguished guest of honour and invited guests, were treated to a grand opening ceremony of the Youth Hub; consisting of pyrotechnics and an electronic plague signed by the guest of honour. The opening of the Youth Hub entails the mosque’s relentless effort in connecting with the youth. Recognised as an integral part of the Ummah, the youth are the future leaders of our society and the mosque aims to create a symbiotic relationship with the youth by nurturing close ties through events and participation. The mosque hopes to encourage the youth to have a greater sense of belonging to the Muslim community and to strengthen the bond of the young Ummah.