*Bismillaahir-Rahmaanir-Raheem. Alhamdulillaahi Rabbil-‘aalameen. Wa salaatu was-salaamu ‘alaa nabiyyinaa Muhammad wa ‘alaa aalihi wa as-haabihi ajma'een.
I praise and thank Allaah, Ar-Rashid, who has guided me to this most perfect way of life and who has guided my parents before me. I pray that He continues His favor upon us, keeps us firm and guides my children after me. I pray that He aides the Muslimeen in every place and purifies our hearts so that we may recognize the beauty of His most perfect, complete path.
Indeed, one of the greatest blessings that Allaah bestows upon a person is giving him/her understanding of this way of life. The Messenger of Allaah (salallaahu ‘alaihi wa salam) said, “Indeed when Allaah wants good for a person he gives him understanding of the deen (religion, way of life).”
Allaah, Al-Hakeem, in His most infinite wisdom has chosen to send His final message to mankind in the Arabic tongue. All praise is due to Ar-Rahmaan who, with His abundant mercy, did not limit that message to the ‘Arab. What is upon us as non-arabs is to strive to the best of our ability to gain understanding of this message. Professor Safwat, may Allaah bless her, is giving Muslim women the opportunity to begin this process.
I feel that Allaah guided me to these classes with Prof. Safwat. They have been an answer to my supplications. I am a second generation muslimah and I have been striving for quite some time to learn the Arabic language. Alhamdulillaah, before this class I had met with some success. I understood some basic rules and vocabulary and could form a few sentences, but I was totally incompetent when it came to conversation and understanding Qur-aan and ahaadith. Now, maashaa-Allaah, after studying with Prof. Safwat for close to a year I am actually able to hold a meaningful conversation with ‘Arab women who speak little to no English, and they actually understand me! I can actually have a conversation that is more than, “As-salaamu alaikum. Kaifa haaluki? (How are you?).”
This is exciting, but even more exciting, even more wonderful, even more dear to me are the aayaat from my Lord that I am able to understand. Did you read that?! I have been listening to the Qur-aan and all of a sudden an aayah, one I have probably listened to hundreds of times, becomes clear to me! Allaahu Akbar. This is a ni'mah from my Lord. This is a major step in understanding this deen. Allaah says in surah Yusuf (translation of the meaning), “Verily, We have sent it down as an Arabic Qur-aan in order that you may understand.” Subhaanallaah! May Allaah facilitate understanding for me and all of the Muslimeen. Aameen.
I can't leave you with out first mentioning that the process has not been with out frustration. Many times I have lost the zeal that comes with focusing on the aakhirah. Often times my everyday life has made it seem impossible to go on. Commitment, drive and focus are not constants, they fluctuate and along with them fluctuates your interest. Everything you study may not be exciting and wonderful. My advise is to beg Allah for sincerity, consistency and success. It also helps to constantly refocus. Keep focused on the Jannah. My children, may Allaah preserve them, are constant reminders for me. I do not want acquiring the Arabic language to be an issue for them when they are my age. Just studying with Prof. Safwat and using some of what I have learned in the home my children are effortlessly picking up the language. It is amazing to see. Could their children grow up never knowing what it means to have Arabic as a second language? Could this struggle of mine actually remove that barrier from their path? May Allaah give us success.
I pray that Allaah enables me to continue my studies and helps me to show gratitude to Him for this blessing. I pray that He blesses all of my sisters in Islaam with the opportunity to further their understanding of Al-Islaam by learning the language in which it was revealed. May Allaah aide Prof. Safwat in her noble endeavor and may it weigh heavily on her scale of good on Yaumul Qiyaamah. Aameen
Umm Aasiyah Inshirah bint ‘Umar ‘Abdur-Rauf |
