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| Bismellah wa salatu wa salamu ala sayedenaa rasulellaah salahualayhe wa
salam:
I promised to write this a long time ago. Since thetranslators blog is down
and will not be up for at least a month. Here is a brief run down on what is
required for admission. It isour hope that this information is made
available to the vast majority so that the admissions process is clear and
inquiring students of knowledge can benefit from it:
What you need to know to get into Al-Azhar in Brief:
1. Try to have no less than 2 juz of Qur'an memorized.
2. If you are not fluent in Arabic consider studying in an Arabic center in
Cairo for a year before taking the exams. al-Azhar has no department for
teaching Arabic to non-Arabs. In addition, teachers utilize both Egyptian
colloquial and Fusha. However, most of instruction in al-Azhar is conducted
in Fusha and if requested, Fusha it will be employed to accommodate you.
3. Being a student of knowledge is a serious endeavor. Thus, I advise
brothers and sisters to exhaust all their local resources before setting off
to study in Egypt. It is wise to utilize the scholars and Imams in your
locality before setting abroad. This is also the is the Sunnah of the Ulema
–to learn firstly in one's locality before traveling abroad to seek
knowledge. Once you have exhausted your resources then you should prepare
yourself to study abroad.
It makes little to no sense for a person to travel to Egypt to learn a basic
book of Fiqh, Tajwid or some other science that can be learned in our lands,
in the West. The Islamic sciences can be learned at a basic introductory
level in our home countries as we have many teachers who are well qualified
and experienced in teaching at this level. Also, failing to study in our
countries for introductory level instruction undercuts the efforts of the
Institutions in the West that are aiming at disseminating Islamic education.
4. It is beneficial to remember that al-Azhar, in its hey day, existed in a
first world setting. Currently, Egypt no longer occupies a first world
position as it once did. This is why the student of knowledge encounters
many challenges and tends to be saddened by his or her experience.
Despite the challenges one may face given third world conditions is one is
patient there is much benefit to be found in the Azhar of today that exists
in a third world setting. Currentyl, al-Azhar is witnessing a revival so
classes are to be found in the masjid at various levels and are possessed of
a high degree of organization despite the environmental pressures. Cairo is
one of the world's largest cities numerically being thus one finds all the
problems of a big city. Despite, pollution and the hecticness of life in
Cairo and the city slicker attitude one comes to encounter there is much
knowledge to be gained and many lessons to be learned in the city of a 1000
minarets. The student should not expect utopia but that does not preclude
that he or she will not find the intellectual and spiritual jewels that
prompt the student of knowledge to travel. It must be said that these jewels
are found only by the student who is willing to endure and struggle and
sacrifice for knowledge and seeks to please Allah {swt} in the contemporary
world.
5. Having Ikhlaas and a heart dedicated to your Lord in the process of
registering. You are required to have 5 photo copies of your passport, three
passport pictures [to be taken in Egypt] , a letter from your embassy
granting you permission to study in Egypt. In addition, you are required to
have blood work done either the Hussein Hospital or the Zahraa hospital both
which are under the supervision of al-Azhar and yo must have paper work
given to you by the majma bahouth [registrar's office] so that the results
of your blood work is recorded and presented to al-Azhar so that your paper
work is complete. al-Azhar recognizes blood work from the two hospitals
mentioned as they are under the Azhari system.
You may need proof that you are Muslim if your name Islamic and written on
your passport. You can a certificate declaring your profession of faith from
the mashaikha or the office of Shaikh al-Azhar which is close to the
al-Azhar masjid.
Subject matters that compromise the entrance exam:
1. Hadith
2. Nahu
3. Sarf
4. Balagha
5. Fiqh according to one of the four schools
6. Aqeeda (according to the 'Ashari school [what is required in this area is
very basic information] )
7. Sirah
8. Tafsir
You can find the books that will help you for the entrance exams behind
Masjid al-Azhar in the Dar al-Atrak area. There is a book shop known as
al-maktab al-Azhariyah and they have what are known as the Tawdih series
(Yes, Azhari cliff notes) for every subject that one is tested in.
There are oral exams along with written exams. After you take the oral exams
you will be placed in the part of the examination process which requires
writing it consists of the eight subjects listed above. Depending on how
well you prepare for the tests you will be either placed in the middle
school or the high school. Most students who prepare well invest 1 to 2
years in the high school wherein they study al-Fiyah ibn Malik, a madhab,
arabic rhetoric and literature and hadith and tafsir etc. The base of Azhari
education is in its high school system. Education there is not bad at all,
you will study a number of good traditional texts there.
After a few months (because the exams to get in are in the middle of the
year) you will be eligible to take two exams:
If you failed to make it to the last year of high school then you can test
for the next year (to move up a grade). Or you can take the test to get into
the university (in other words kinda like a test for the high school
diploma.) If you pass the exit exam you can chose from one of the following
colleges:
* Usol al-Din
* Shari'ah
* Arabic language
* Qur'an (eight year program)
* Dawa
* Islamic studies
The first two have the best reputation. However, don't expect anything like
your used to back home. there is NO ORGANIZATION so you must have a great
deal of patience.
6. Exams start in late October early November. Thus, you need to have your
paper work turned in to the office of foreign students in Nasir City by
September/late August.
This office is behind the Women's dorms located at the intersection of
Mustapha Nahas and Tayran streets. It is one the sixth or eighth floor of
the building. The building is simply known as the Idara. Go there around 10
am. The will close very shortly after the noon prayer.
7. Finally, Egypt is made up of all types of groups from the Salafis to the
Shadhulis. Thus, students who have a balanced outlook and avoid being too
extreme, and carry themselves in a balanced manner are successful in Egypt
as they are able to deal with the diversity which represents the society and
the Muslim ummah.
Remember the statement of your Lord,
"Thus we've made you a balanced nation." Although you have these different
groups there is a general feeling of love and brotherhood amongst most of
them which we lack in the West."
Why al-Azhar?:
One of the reasons that I chose al-Azhar and why I would recommend it, is
because of the depth and maturity in outlook that the program cultitvates.
You will not come out of Egypt hating sufis, bashing salafis and spending
your life on mundane issues. You will, inshallah, come out with a profound
respect for others and a love and concern for humanity. You will learn to
appreciate your condition and strive harder to be a better human being and
service society muslim and otherwise. It is really something incredible here
to meet, live with and read from so many persons of different thoughts,
ideas and orientations, so many scholars.
Note:
If you want to come here to start the latest click, cool fad or are bent on
being intolerant of others then this is the wrong place to come. People come
here to help the Ummah and be of benefit to humanity.
I encourage all of you, who are serious students to come, I'm your brother
here and you will find me more than willing to help you the best I can. We
have now, by Allah's blessing, around 10 students in al-Azhar form the West
and a few more entering this year. Thus, you are welcome.
Which is better Syria/Egypt?
This is really a very harmful question. All of these places have benefit.
I've seem some amazing students come out of all of these lands and I've seen
my share of flunkies. As one of our teachers told us, "99% of it rest on the
student's heart and his hal with Allah." Thus, let's avoid this type of
dangerous competition and say, "All are, inshallah, on goodness from Allah."
I have nothing but respect and awe for the students of knowledge from Sham
and other places and feel that they are really very special people. Let move
towards developing each other and not destroying each other.
Costs:
1. Up until now Al-Azhar is free although there is a rumor that they will
begin to charge Westerners $400.00 yearly next year. However, books and
everything are very cheap here in Egypt. For example I bought the 'Amir's
printing of Lisan al-'Arab for $75 USD.
2. Living is cheap as well for many. But for families it can get
interesting. There are a number of Islamic schools for children here and
some of them can get a little pricey. At the same time there are others that
are good and the price is decent.
3. If you are married make sure brothers to involve your wife in the
process. There are many great Women scholars here and a number of places for
women to study. However, it is important to get out and not live in the
Arabic language centers. That is a first step and you should try to move
beyond that after you have a good mastery of the language.
4. It is important to surround yourself with Westerners who can help you and
keep you cool. Egyptian people are very good but poverty is eating at the
faith like a termite eats wood. Things are not easy for them. You will see a
lot of boy friend girl friend stuff, people smoking weed, robberies and
other things. Thus, you need your fellow students to offer you support and
fraternity in such situations.
5. It should, if all goes according to plan, take you 6-7 years to complete
the Azhari program.
With love and respect.
Suhaib D. Webb
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| Assalamu alaykum all, i had completly forgoten that i have this xanga. muahahahha and now that i have found it i can waste countless of hours. Muhahahah shaaz | | |
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Assalam Alaykum
Usally i dont post stuff but i have decided to make an exception in my boycott of xangas
One thing i hate more then useless xangas are stupid crazy liberal modern feminsits (hijabis or not).
Therefore with much pride and joy I give you
PK POWERHOUSE'S
Declaration of Independence
from the Oppression, Idiocy, and Constant Complaining of Feminist.
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Dear Readers,
As an honorary member of the NFL, I would like to set things straight. Many of you have read the H.O.O.C.H.'s side of the story; now its time to get renigged.
On the night of Tuesday June 14, the NFL started its 'Experiment Dirty Diapers', which would teach them vital tips on how to deal with the increasing H.O.O.C.H. insurgence. Much like a pimple that wouldn't go away, the H.O.O.C.H. insurgence was becoming increasingly annoying as time passed. The noble leaders of the NFL, thinking good of their fellow human beings, thought that anyone with half a neuron would realize the ridiculous nature behind such a wayward organization. The words of Albert Einstein rang true however-"Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the universe"-and it baffled the human mind as to how many could actually join this insane operation. Yet, there are many phenomenons that cannot be understood, and despite the advances in human genetics that have diagrammed the entire human genome, no mere mortal has been able to figure out what mutated gene on the X chromosome codes for such imbecilic behavior. Considering that half the X chromosomes in a female's body are inactivated anyway-implying that half of what constitutes a female is useless--this may have had something to with this absurdity. Despite this, however, there had to be an inner explanation for this insanity.
So the wise leaders of the NFL were content to wait it out and hope that as certain cancerous tumors go away on their own, the H.O.O.C.H. would also go back to the abyss of primordial ignorance from which it was spawned. But they forgot one thing: the H.O.O.C.H.'s source of power was Iblis himself, and so long as they drew their inspiration and strength from the Dark Prince, they would continue to attract followers. So long as the H.O.O.C.H. were allowed to survive, all living things were in jeopardy. The stones and trees, the whales and fishes of the ocean, the tiniest ant and the mightiest elephant were screaming out in fear of what would happen if this were to come to pass. Mother Nature herself lamented her regret that her daughters had been so corrupted that it shamed her. In such an atmosphere of darkness and chaos, the luminous leaders of the NFL convened an emergency council and decided that decisive action had to be taken before mankind suffered.
The benevolent NFL leaders decided that to confront such a dark force, more needed to be learnt about how their satanic powers worked. It was thus decided that the heroic campaign must be conducted in phases: phase I called for infiltrating the enemy. Led by the wisdom of Grandmaster Jedi KR (hardcore DB), this select group initiated the first wave of infiltrations.
Many of you might ask why this elite group within NFL called Fasting for FRICS would want to command the 'Order of the H.O.O.C.H'. Shaykh Fakhruddin Butt, patron saint of the NFL, described why this action was necessary, "We needed to set the record straight. I want my kids to grow up in a society where the kitchens are always cooking, the pants are perfectly ironed, and the bathrooms always spotless. If Mother Nature, the paradigm of what it means to be a woman doesn't talk back, why are these chicks talking?"
Brigadier General PKPowerhouse explained: "H.O.O.C.H. was going places no organization had gone before. We realized we had to save these poor girls from their own self-delusions. They may not thank us now, but they sure will thank us someday."
As we look around, we see Muslim society being corrupted by Muslim girls who haven't learned from the mothers of the past. Without proper cooking and cleaning, how do we expect our children to grow up and succeed in both worlds? Nowadays, Muslims girls want to be "liberated" and educated; they spend 15-20 years of their lives believing this lie, trying to attain every single degree possible… but then as soon as they get married, they end up sitting at home and watching soap operas all day long. Even worse is how they watch Oprah and consider her to be a prophet of some kind, hearing and obeying everything that she tells them. Since they're going to end up at home anyway, why not prepare properly for the upcoming tasks?
The new Head Nigger of H.O.O.C.H., Nigger-ul-Haq, later added, "This infiltration will last as long as it has to. This is our Jihad. We will purify this society by our actions. Let future generations compose songs and poetry and immortalize us in legend so they may reflect upon these times of darkness, and know there were still forces of light who stood as defenders of mankind."
Shaykh Fakhruddin Butt (db) concluded the press release by giving a short speech.
"I have a dream that one day, American Muslim girls will learn to cook as well as our Ammis--
I have a dream, that one day, American Muslim girls will stop talking back and thinking they're fashion models when in reality they're the complete opposite--
I have a dream that American Muslim girls will stop destroying society with their wayward and rebellious ways-
And I have a dream that one day, they will all realize that H.O.O.C.H. stands for Horrendously Over-pampered Outwardly-evil Crybaby Hijabis and get back to the kitchens where they belong." |
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Defenders of Mankind,
N.F.L. | | | | |
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