A summarized translation of a classical manual on purification of the heart by Ibn Qudama Al-Maqdisi (d. 620 AH)

10 foundations for those seeking nearness to Allah. Each night we will go through a foundation

The deceased is followed by three, his family, his wealth, and his deeds. Two return, and one remains - his deeds. Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith 6514

Dr. Zohair takes us through a powerful double session on both the *Journey and Salvation in the Barzakh*.

The transition from this world to the next is among the most profound moments in our existence. And while this mystery has perplexed humanity for centuries, the Quran and Sunnah describe it in vivid detail. Every soul will undertake this journey—some will be received with comfort and peace, while others may face hardship and regret.

🌌 The Barzakh is closer to us than we think, and an incredible reality awaits us: the *descension of angels*, the *soul’s flight through the heavens*, the *grave’s expansion or constriction*, and the *meeting of souls*. But more importantly—what will determine whether that experience is one of *tranquility* or *torment*?

This week, we'll also focus on what we can do to prepare for that moment.

📖 What We’ll Cover:

💨 *The Departure of the Soul* – What happens at the moment of death?

⚖️ *The Interrogation and Conditions of the Grave* – Which questions will we face, and how do we prepare to answer?

🤲 *The Honouring of the Martyrs* – How are the righteous and martyred received and remembered?

🕯️ *Good Deeds That Protect* – What actions follow us into the grave and stand beside us?

📿 *Duas, Salah, Sadaqah & More* – What are the most powerful acts that grant salvation in the Barzakh, and how can we create a legacy that continues to benefit us?

There is a world you can't see... But it can see you, and you're only one step away from it.

Some of us see the Barzakh as something distant, and a realm that we only interact with after death, but in reality *we are connected to it even now.* The unseen world is not entirely seperate from us, we interact with it without even realizing. *The Quran and Sunnah* reveal that the realm of the *Barzakh is interwined with our existence here*, but what does this teach us about the *unseen forces that shape our reality*, our *purpose in this life* and *our ultimate destination*?

Join us for the first session of our Ramadan Faith Circle series, where Dr. Zohair will take us through the role of the Barzakh in our lives today, the unseen connections between this world and the next, and how our existence is already linked to what awaits us beyond the grave.

📖 *What We’ll Cover*:

🔹 *The Barzakh & Our Lives Now* – How does the unseen world affect us?

🔹 *The Connection Between the Living & the Dead* – What happens to those who pass before us? Can our loved ones perceive and hear us?

🔹 *Soulmates & The Soul's Journey*: Do we have an affinity with others because our souls recognize each other? What does Islam teach us about the connection between souls?

For many of us family serves as our greatest source of *love and support*, but this can also be our trying test. The Quran is filled with wholesome stories of strong and beautiful family bonds, but what are we taught about *toxic families, oppressive households and deadly rivalries?*

Join us this week at *Faith Circle, Thursday February 20 at 6:30pm at the Islamic College of Brisbane* as Dr. Zohair will take us through how to navigate family tensions through the lessons in the Quran.

_What can we learn from a mother and young man of unmatched faith who endured in a house of tyranny?_

Despite Firawn being the *worst human in history*, from his household emerged *two of the greatest people to ever live*. If righteousness can prevail from the depths of despair and toxicity, what lessons can we take from this when facing struggles in our own lives?

📖 *What We’ll Cover*:

💔 *Sibling Rivalries* – How envy destroys families, from *Habil & Qabil* to *Yusuf (AS)* and his brothers.

🏠 *Toxic Households* – How can faith withstand any environment?

🔑 *The Key to Redemption* – Can broken relationships be healed? What does the Quran teach us about overcoming family conflict? How can parents protect their families from trauma and resentment?

The pursuit of the right spouse is an imperative part of life and an integral part of our faith, but in today's world the search has become more difficult than ever. With countless options, external pressures, conflicting cultures and fitna permeating our society, how can me wake the wisest decision?

💭_But this isn't a new struggle, one of the most powerful stories in the Quran gives us guidance for this important choice!_

*Prophet Musa* (AS) fled his home and found himself exhausted and alone. However, through his *integrity, diligence and kindness*, and *sincere plea to Allah*, he was granted a marriage opportunity which changed his life.

What lessons can we draw from this remarkable tale, and how does it address our challenges today?

🤔 _How do you even find a spouse?_ Exploring family recommendations, online platforms, and traditional vs. modern approaches.

👀 _Rose tinted glasses make red flags look like regular flags_ What are red flags? How can infatuation cloud judgement and how do we safeguard ourselves from this?

🧠 _Understanding surface-level cues_ — how do subtle behaviours reveal deeper personality traits?

💞 _Compatibility_ - How can we go about understanding ourselves, to know what kind of partner matches us?

Don't miss this opportunity to seek clarity for yourself and those closest to you!

Faith Circle: Parenting in a Secular World – Kids Delay or Decide? 🌟📢

Raising children in today’s world, especially in the West, comes with significant challenges. 🌍 How do we uphold Islamic values and protect our future generations in an environment that often clashes with our beliefs? How do we instill Faith, Purpose, and Steadfast Resilience in our children?

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Ustadh Hisham holds a Bachelor of Arts in Islamic Studies from Al-Azhar University, serves as the Academic Director at Roots Academy, and is a married father of three. His unique insights will provide practical guidance for parents striving to raise children with strong Islamic values.

What We’ll Be Covering:

📖 Navigating Parenthood in a Secular Society – How can we draw from the Quran and Sunnah to be the best parents?

👨‍👩‍👧 Intergenerational Differences – How do we relate to our children and adjust our parenting approach while acknowledging the different environments we grew up in?

🍼 Kids: Delay or Decide? – When is the right time to have children, and how do we prepare for the responsibility?

This week, we were be joined by Sheikh Hatem Al-Haj - a world-renowned scholar and expert in Islamic studies. He holds a PhD in Comparative Fiqh, a Master's Degree in Islamic Law and is currently serving as a Pediatric hospitalist.

Advice to the Muslim couple focuses on how to build harmony between spouses.

Father-son relationships are a unique bond. The father sacrifices to raise the son, and then the son sacrifices to care for his father.

The Quran speaks of the strongest bond ever forged between a father and son—a legacy we are reminded of every single day of our lives: *Ibrahim and Ismail* (AS).

Join us at Faith Circle, this *Thursday, January 23* at *6:45pm at Islamic College* of Brisbane as Sheikh Zohair takes us through a reflection on the legendary partnership of Prophet Ibrahim and Prophet Ismail (AS) that established our most sacred place of worship and produced a progeny that culminated in our last and final Messenger (SWAS).

Through this story, we will reflect on:

🤝The *model father-son* relationship and unwavering faith and connection of Prophet Ibrahim and Prophet Ismail (AS)

🤲The immense trials and sacrifice of Ibrahim AS, forging an unbreakable familial bond built on *faith and trust*

🕊️ How to leave a lasting legacy that rewards even after your passing.

*Bonus*: Learn about how _hardship and sacrifice_, not peace and ease can be the ultimate way to bring us closer to Allah and strengthen our relationships.

Alhumdulilah we'll be kicking off the first Faith Circle of the year, and our new topic of Families in the Quran

with Miraculous Bonds. In this session Sheikh Zohair will be taking us through on some of the most remarkable and noteworthy connections found among Families in the Quran:

✨ *Zakariyya & Yahya* AS: A story of *heartfelt dua* and *steadfast patience*, and Allah's response with the gift of wisdom and rightenousness.

✨ *Maryam & Eesa* AS: An extraordinary bond, exhibiting resilience and Allah's mercy in refuting accusations into *ultimate vindication* and testament of virtue.

✨ *Ibrahim & Ishaaq* AS: The legacy of a *deep and bright lineage*, driven by a *commitment to righteous leadership* to fulfil the divine mission which resonates with us today.

Through these stories, we’ll reflect on:

📖 How *patience, reliance on Allah*, and faith can guide us in modern life.

❤️ The *importance of rebuilding and maintaining family connections* in today's disconnected world.

🌟 *Practical lessons* we can apply to navigate *personal struggles, strengthen relationships and find purpose*.

✨ *Special Addition*✨: We will be going over The Wisdom of Allah in Creating us as Families and what we can derive from this.

Did you know that some of Islam’s greatest contributions to science, spirituality, and governance came from Africa?

This week at Faith Circle, we are honored to host *Sheikh Mustafa Briggs* for an enlightening session on the profound contributions of Black Muslims throughout Islamic history. 🌍✨

About Sheikh Mustafa Briggs:

Born and raised in London, Sheikh Mustafa Briggs is a graduate of Arabic and International Relations from the University of Westminster. He furthered his studies with an MA in Translation at SOAS, University of London, specializing in Arabic and Islamic Texts, before pursuing Islamic Studies and Arabic at al-Azhar University in Cairo, Egypt. Sheikh Mustafa is renowned for his book ‘*Beyond Bilal: Black History in Islam*’.

✨ Key Topics We’ll Cover:

🔹 The Legacy of Bilal (RA) and Other Pioneering Black Muslims

🔹 Africa’s Influence on Islamic Scholarship and Civilization