the 1 couple course 2013 - world federation course... · to perform the ziyarat of imam al-ridha...
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بسم هللا الرحمن الرحیم
The 1st Couple Course 2013
The World Federation of KSIMC
Islamic Education - Qum Office
Introduction
It was the first time, couple course has been organized, where couples from UK, Canada,
Tanzania and Qatar spent ten days in the Islamic Republic of Iran attending various classes and
cultural activities along with the Ziyarat. The first successful couple course has led a firm
foundation that this course should be organized every year
Mosque of Jamkaran
Objectives
The course aims to serve as a post-Madrasah education initiative; integrating academic Islamic
scholarship with an experience of the cultural relevance of Islam in the modern age. It is
packaged along with a sense of enhanced self-knowledge and understanding leading to higher
levels of spirituality; as an end result it inspires the participants to a greater service to humanity
and their communities back home.
The course objectives could be described as follows:
To enable participants to discuss various challenges they face and to seek advice and
guidance on these issues
To provide participants an overview of Islamic Family Ethics.
To seek academic and authoritative responses to the various ideological questions on
Islam.
To share the rich experiences of participants with experts and specialized teachers in the
Islamic Seminary.
To achieve spiritual upliftment through a number of spiritual programmes and ethical
discussions.
To meet and interact with some renowned scholars & Maraje
To Interact, exchange ideas, and to network with like-minded individuals
To perform the Ziyarat of Imam al-Ridha (as) and Sayyida Fatima al- Ma’sooma (sa)
Course Preparation
This being the first year, the World Federation of KSIMC’s Qum Office had the honor of hosting a group
of 5 couples - 10 participants from four continents and from a variety of academic, familial, geographic
and linguistic backgrounds. The course planning began couple of months prior to the arrival of the
participants in Iran and was backed up by the constant and selfless administrative and logistical support
of the WF Islamic Education department.
Venue
The first week of the course was almost set in the spiritually charged city of Qum al-
Muqaddasah, where the couples resided in hotels in the proximity of Haram of Bibi Fatima
Ma’sumah (sa). During their stay in Qum, they participated in many activities within the city and
at the suburbs, where they visited historical, natural, pilgrimage sites and Islamic institutions
and Scholars. The remaining days of second week was spent in the Holy city of Mashhad, with a
half day trip to Nishapur in the middle, visiting the holy shrines and holy places. The
participants resided in a hotel nearby Haram which resulted into the most beneficial ziyaraat of
our beloved 8th Imam (as) and shopping; while on the other hand benefitted from scholars who
accompanied the participants from Qum.
Course and Participants’ Details
Dates : 15 April 2013,Monday – 26 April 2013, Friday
Participants:
Two couples from Dares Salam
One couple from London
One couple from Toronto
One couple from Doha
Shabbar & Suhaila from Dar es Salaam
Rizwan & Zahra from London
Arrivals
All the couples arrived Qum on time by 15th April except two couples from Tanzania, who faced
some visa problems but they also managed to arrive a day later, i.e. on 16th April.
The participants were welcomed by Qum Office Volunteers. Although tired from the long trip,
they were eager for their classes to get started. The first day was mostly spent resting and
settling into rooms. As the hotel was very near to the Haram of Sayyida Fatima al-Ma’sumah
(sa) and the participants were also keen for the ziyarat, they grabbed every opportunity to
perform ziyarats. In the evening the couples went to Dar al-Zahra (sa) for the opening ceremony
which included welcome speech by Sheikh Kumail; the students were briefed about the goals
and expectations of the course and were advised on health and logistical tips for the duration
of their stay in Iran, the schedule was also discussed and suggestions were taken to make the
course more flexible and better. The programme ended up with dinner.
Course Outline
The course was aimed to bring a hawza experience to the participants and its timetable was
founded on a balance between Islamic education, spirituality, and cultural as well as
recreational activities. But as all the participants were enjoying the classes and wanted the
maximum from Ziayarat, they decided to drop the field trip to Isfahan and waterpark
programme in Mashhad.
Qum – Education Programme
The education component of the Course engaged the minds of the participants and was
designed to provide participants an overview of Islamic Family Ethics and inspire them to
furthering their study of Islam. In Qum, this programme consisted of classes everyday on a
variety of different topics, including Tawheed, Akhlaq, Child Upbringing………etc. Informal
question and answer sessions, debates as well as discussion circles on various topics also took
place.
INSTRUCTORS SUBJECTS TAUGHT
Sayyed Asim al-Hashemi The keys to understanding The Holy Quran
Sayyed Aaqib Jaffery Aqaid
Sheikh Muhammad Khalfan Child Upbringing
Sheikh Tahir Ridha Jaffer Marriage in the light of Qur’an and Hadith
Sheikh Ali Azhar Arastu General topic and Q & A session
Sheikh Salim Yusufali General topic and Q & A session
Sheikh Shomali Visit to his institution
Sis Batul Arastu Ahkam related to women
Paying tribute and reciting Fateh for the grave of Aga Mirza Jawad Maliki Tabrizi 9ra): Grave
yard of Sheikhan, Qum
Waiting for Chelu Kababs in an open traditional restaurant in Qum
Qum Cultural/Recreational Programme
The primary aim of the cultural program was to provide the participants a perspective on ‘living Islam’
and its manifestations in our day-to-day life. This consisted of performing Ziyarats of the progeny of the
Imams (as) buried in Qum, visiting the Jamkaran Mosque of the Imam of our Time (atfs), meeting with
high-ranking scholars, gatherings in house with senior students of Hawza and also takes part in various
recreational activities such as hiking at Mt. Khidr.
Reciting Dua e Nudbah at Mt Khizr
LIST OF PLACES VISITED
Tour of Haram and resting place of many great Scholars & Maraje
Shaikhain Graveyard and graves of great scholars around Haram
Masjid-e-Jamkaran (Dua-e Tawassul on Tuesday)
Bait al-Noor: The worship place of Sayyida Ma’sumah (sa)
Chel Akhtaraan (Resting places of progeny of Aemmah (as))
Dua-e Kumail program in Haram (on Thursday night)
Meeting with Ayatullah Mehdi Hadavi Tehrani
Visit to International Institute for Islamic Studies - Agha Shomali
Ansariyan bookstore
Hiking at Mt. Khidr (as)
Sisters at Behisht e Zahra (sa): Tehran
Qum to Tehran-Mashhad
Qum being the preparatory grounds, the couples charged with the spiritual energy finally
started their journey towards the essence of the program – Ready for more knowledge, classes
and spirituality. With a crystal clear perspective that true understanding of the religion is the
essence for gaining closeness to Allah (swt) and hoped that they will gain that closeness to Allah
(swt) by establishing a special connection with Imam Raza (as). However, before catching the
evening plane, the participants were taken on a tour of Tehran, where they visited Imam
Khomeini’s shrine, Beheshte Zahra (graveyard of the martyrs), Holy Shrine of Shah Abdul Azim
(as) followed by house of Imam Khomeini (ra) at Jamaran.
Humble steps towards Imam Raza’s holy shrine
The five days in Mashhad were scheduled in a way that allowed participants to spend maximum
time at the haram, and gain knowledge from the Instructors who travelled all the way from
Qum for the very purpose, The programme also included a half day trip to Nishapur, visiting the
allied foot prints of Imam Reza (as), Shrine of Bibi Shateetah (as) and the shrine of Imamzadeh
Mahrooq The highlight of the Mashad trip was, of course, the Ziyarat of the 8 th Holy Imam (as).
During the Mashhad stay, they made their way to go to Naishapoor to visit the place where
Imam Raza (as) has said the golden chain tradition and the graves of Aulama and the progeny of
Ahlul Bayt(as)
Enjoying heavenly weather in Naishapoor
LIST OF PLACES VISITED
Tour of Haram and graves of scholars inside Haram
Dua-e-Kumayl
Local Shopping malls and Bazaare Imam Ridha (as)
Institute of Hayate Tayyabe Mahdaviyyat
Participants, knowing the importance of the islamic education and the golden opportunity to
gain the optimum benefits, classes and teachers were increased compared to what was
planned initially with important topics covered including Q&A session
INSTRUCTORS SUBJECTS TAUGHT
Sheikh Muhammad Khalfan Etiquettes of Ziyarat, Child Upbringing
Sayyed Shabbar Maher Shah Biography of Imam Raza (as)
Sayyed Mohammad Kazmi The goal of life
Sheikh Kumail Rajani Nafs and its stages
Sis. Najiya Shabbar Shah Child upbringing and its importance
Sayyed Shabbar describing the life and sirat of Imam Raza (as)
Sayyed Muhammad Raza Kazemi’s lecture in Mashhad
Closing Ceremony
After a life-changing few days in Qum and Mashhad, participants began to prepare to say their goodbyes
to Iran, and to the close friends they had made from around the world. The closing ceremony provided
an opportunity for participants to share anecdotes, feelings and thoughts from the course, and to thank
the organisers and teachers. …….
The WF-Qum Office would like to thank and sincerely appreciate the efforts of all participants involved
to make the course yet another cherished experience, and prays for the continued progress of all
towards Allah (swt).
Sisters in Jamkaran