Coming into ALIM, I had absolutely no idea the whirlwind
I was in for, nor did I expect to be challenged on such
an intellectual level. The month was to be a retreat from
everything I knew, a time to grow into my true spiritual
self. The first day of classes at ALIM shattered that image.
After realizing that ALIM was not going to be the typical
spiritual haven, I questioned whether my faith was strong
enough to be questioned, and ultimately, to be victorious.
It was. Every day at ALIM has been an amazing experience
that is both intellectually and spiritually stimulating.
Being in a room with 35 intellectuals allowed me to see
first-hand the wealth of knowledge available in the world
and motivated me to think on a much higher level. Once I
began to scrutinize my beliefs so as to give myself true
answers to the questions everyone outside of ALIM seems
unwilling to acknowledge, I began to grow spiritually and
understand what it truly means to be a Muslim.
The professors are so brilliant in both intellect and approach,
forcing you to think outside of the box so that you believe
because Islam is what is in your heart and not simply because
you were born into it. In essence, ALIM allowed me to rethink
what I believe in a controlled environment so as to know
that when I leave here, it will be with solidified faith,
not the shaky deck of cards tower that seemed to shatter
so easily on the first day. With every passing day I seem
to be growing more and more, not only as a Muslim, but also
as a person and a world citizen. ALIM has taken the worldview
that I had and forced me to look instead from different
angles, again forcing me to rid myself of my inhibitions
and look forward with confidence. Pinpointing what I have
learned is the hardest task I could be asked to do because
not only did I gain the type of knowledge, but learned life
lessons that I will carry with me to college and beyond.
The opportunity to attempt to find solutions to problems
unheard of by the laity is one no other program affords
and, for that reason, I cannot imagine another program where
I would be able to gain the type of knowledge that I learned
at ALIM, knowledge that spans disciplines of Islam that
I previously knew little to nothing about.
The benefits of ALIM are too significant to be limited to
a short reflection because they are expansive and with each
new day comes a new professor willing to give you an education
you would never find anywhere else. But one of the best
things about ALIM is that it does not limit you to just
the classroom setting and, while the program is quite intensive
and time-consuming, ALIM also allows you to connect socially
with some of the best people you will ever meet. ALIM affords
you an opportunity you may not have in your nuclear community
in that it allows you to meet people with whom you share
the greatest commonality: love of Islam and a genuine desire
to increase your knowledge. Together, you question, critique,
and grow until you leave knowing that, not only are you
a better person, but so are the 35 people you walked in
with the previous month. During breaks and through living
on the same floor, you meet and get to know people in a
very fun, social way; it is through the classes you share,
however, that you truly get to know your fellow participants.
Throwing caution to the wind, students really jump into
the ALIM experience and it is thanks to this fearlessness
that you get to know the amazing personalities behind the
people. Through ALIM, you connect with people from states
as far-reaching as New York and Florida; and, as was the
case with our class, you may even gain insight into what
it truly means for a person to say, “You’re
never too old to learn.” That is just a fraction of
what the ALIM experience is: a wealth of knowledge from
some of the most brilliant minds our community has to offer,
but also, some of the most genuine people. The pioneers
of this program don’t know the great service they
have provided for the coming generation and it is only with
continued support and attendance that one can truly know
what ALIM is all about.
~ Farha Tahir
Islam feels so accessible now with the equipment that
our teachers patiently handed to us, though it was initially
against our instincts to accept the critical discussions.
I am so grateful for that lengthy second thought that I
now give whatever I am about to say about Islam, and even
more grateful for the times when those second thoughts evaporate
and I’m left with a dozen more curiosities. For this,
I am incredibly indebted to especially Dr. Fareed and his
“batty ideas,” as well as Dr. Jackson for broadening
my thought process. May they (and everyone else who worked
on this program) get the best of this life and the next.
Ameen.
The classroom experience, in some ways, was expected—but
I never expected to develop such pure bonds of friendship
at ALIM. We were all so different in outlook and experience,
and still had honest relationships with each other that
ran deeper than hollow pleasantries and having to dig for
terrestrial things we had in common. Our deep-set link,
our connection to Allah, was almost imperceptible in the
sense that it was difficult to feel judged and inferior
even though I knew I was among some of the most insightful,
intelligent, and sincere people I have ever known.
Between classes, tajweed, deep conversations, and everything
else, one of the greatest lessons I learned here was that
spirituality is not a thing of isolation and it is not independent
of challenging your brain. It’s hard to believe that
ALIM was only a few weeks long when I feel a few years’
worth of change for the better.
~ Atiya Husain
I decided to come to Alim about four days before its
started. Alhamduilah, it turned out to be a good last minute
decision. I have learned so much in the past month. I know
that I can take the information that I have learned into
the real world and use it for good personal use. I would
love to have all of my friends come to Alim for one summer
and experience what I have experienced. It is beneficial
for all ages. I have grown to appreciate the scholars who
have taught us so much. The most important things I have
learned from them are life lessons that will never be forgotten.
Inshallah Alim program will last for years to come. The
knowledge that my instructors have inspires me and others
to be more knowledgeable Muslims. All the scholars are brilliant
and each have their own way of teaching that appeals to
all students. I hope one day inshallah, my children will
be able to attend Alim.
~ Deniz Gunduz
Coming into ALIM, I had a very set notion of what the
world was and how my religiosity incorporated itself into
my reality, but as the days progressed and the confines
of my mind were broken down I begin to discover that the
boundaries of my mind were, in essence, truly the boundaries
of my heart. By this I mean that I was able to discover
that the intricacies of my thought and the unease in my
heart were not separate entities but rather interconnected
through my very foundations of faith. What I began to discover
was that my mentality and my perception of reality would
inevitably affect my very basis of emotional faith and belief
and that by the same token, that same emotional core had
the same, if not stronger, influence on my intellect.
ALIM, in a sense, served to break apart and then break down
those two aspects of my being and proceed to build them
back up, not on the grounds of conventional thought, but
rather, with the emphasis on my personal ability to choose
using both facilities. ALIM gave me the knowledge of different
perspectives and challenged my faith to the extent where
it became my responsibility, to myself, to take the emotional
and the intellectual and create the foundation of my faith
as oppose to simply believing things on the basis of my
idealized Islamic education and blind practice. Thus, not
only was I able to better support my ideologies because
I now had reasons and methodologies, but I was also able
to more honestly and effectively incorporate the idea that
Islam truly does transcend through every aspect of life
as it serves as both the means and the end to many obstacles
I faith as a struggling Muslim youth living in a predominately
morally ambiguous society.
Aside from personal development and enlightenment, ALIM
provided me the opportunity to get to know people from all
over the country and thus the opportunity to get in touch
with the reality of Islam in America, where we are in this
day and age, and what obstacles we as a community must face
together. More importantly I believe I’ve truly come
to appreciate how important that idea of “together”
truly is.
Insha’allah, as I move forth in my personal life and
continue to work with my community at large, I hope to use
what I have learned here at ALIM and the experiences of
communicating with some of the most devote and intelligent
young minds of my generation, to present a more clear, less
skewed and by extension more effective vision of Islam in
regards to what it truly was in the past, what it is in
reality, and what it, Insha’allah, has the potential
to become with the right knowledge and appropriate approach.
~Wafa Unus
The ALIM Program has been an interesting experience
for me to say the least. Before coming I was seriously reconsidering
whether I really want to go through the program or not.
From what I thought I new about ALIM, it didn't seem like
my kind institution, with my sort of opinions, or with classes
taught from my perspective. After reading through some sample
schedules online, and seeing class topics, I thought this
would be a nice spiritual retreat. Thus I decided this would
be too beneficial an experience to simply pass up.
The image I had of ALIM in mind turned out to be very wrong.
First off, classes are taught from varying perspectives.
We are constantly thrown several different ideas from which
we would have to think for ourselves and come up with our
own opinions. Imam Muneer was the biggest shocker. I went
from hating his teaching style to absolutely loving it.
I did not want to say goodbye on his last day. I'm glad
I came in expecting to disagree with the Scholars, because
this way Imam Muneer could never phase me with any of his
outlandish comments. I took everything he said, thought
it through, and whether I agreed with him or not, I still
came out of each class a wiser person.
ALIM taught us different perspectives in the classroom through
classes on Shiism, comparative religion, sufism, etc. But
it wasn't just a classroom learning experience. We visited
several interesting places like the Shiite Masjid and at
another masjid we participated in a dhikr circle with a
Sufi sheikh. Many students had never experiences these things
before. And this is exactly what ALIM intends to do; they
take students out of their comfort zones and show us the
reality of the Muslim predicament.
An unexpected part of ALIM was its social aspect. Coming
here I didn't expect to form any real friendships. I expected
to be a loner, selfishly focusing on myself and independently
working to improving my deen. Instead I made 15, Alhamdulillah,
great sisters. Every last one of these girls has been a
positive influence on me and being in their company honestly
helped me develop into a better Muslim. I was so pleasantly
surprised by this blessing.
So what am I leaving ALIM with? An open mind, that’s
full of new knowledge and ready to continue taking in more.
And also, a new family I hope I remain close to in the future,
cause these people are too great to ever forget. Ameen.
~Amina Butt
Alim program: not a spiritual camp but a very enlightening
one. After staying here for a month, you realize that the
extent of your knowledge of Islam is small. The program
really motivated me, challenging me intellectually and inspiring
me to seek out more knowledge. Teachers at Alim were great
and kept my attention for 4 hours straight, which is a real
accomplishment. Also, having 34 students was fabulous; it
helped having a closer relationship with the scholars. Even
if at some point, they destroy your perfect little image
of what Islam is, they present you with a new vision. What
makes Alim so special is that even if we’re here learning
and being with Muslim sisters and brothers we’re still
interacting with the community, the real world. That was
a great reminder that what we were learning in Alim had
to be put in application into that society. Last but not
least, this is a perfect occasion for anyone who wants to
practice their English.
~ Dania Suleman
Alim is one of the best experiences of my life thus
far. I came here with the expectations of learning more
about this beautiful religion of ours in hopes that it would
bring me closer to Allah (swt). Alim exceeded my expectations
and left me with a greater love, respect, and appreciation
for Allah and His Messenger (saw). The scholars did an awesome
job of engaging us in each course. Alim challenged me to
think critically and helped me to build a strong Islamic
foundation. It helped me to develop a better sense of brotherhood
and acceptance of my fellow Muslims. I encourage anyone
who wants a deeper understanding and love of Islam to participate
in this program.
~ Nafisah Abdul-Rahim
ALIM provided a forum for discussion and discourse
that is very distinguished from other intellectual media
because of the input and proximity to scholars as well as
ideas from various backgrounds by the class participants.
The class itself, with its range of ages, understanding,
and levels of education helped facilitate this discourse
and brought insights from differing experiences.
These discussions not only challenged the elementary version
of Islam, to which many of us were exposed, but also our
level of thought and understanding of our religion and its
relation to the world in which we live. I believe I have
attained this higher level thinking and critical analysis
as well as removing myself from paradigms that are bred
from Western thought which entraps us to a limited frame
of thought. The information and knowledge presented in the
classes were invaluable, but what were more important were
the questions that were posed by the scholars. These were
integral to the development of a more peripheral vision
and shed light to future goals for an Islam indicative of
America.
I now feel better equipped to contribute to intellectual
dialogues with the knowledge and the method of thinking
that entails a more comprehensive mentality and tolerant
discourse, ideas that ALIM has illuminated. I feel I can
engage in discussions with my professors and colleagues
utilizing a better understanding of Islam and method of
discourse.
I was not expecting ALIM to leave me with ways in which
to improve my thought and approach to knowledge while at
the same time relating it to the present day, but alhumdulillah
I leave having grown intellectually, stronger in character,
and sense of motivation so vital to the improvement of society.
~Sumerah Bakhsh
It is ironic that amongst a group of thirty-something
amazing brothers and sisters, I have learned what it feels
like to be alone. To sit and contemplate, far from home.
So far that you practically forget home and all its attractions
and distractions.
You can stand in a jamaat and completely neglect your prayer,
or you can stand before the Lord of the worlds and have
your insides quake because you feel so supremely powerless.
And no one around you can tell the difference. Sometimes
even you yourself cannot tell the difference. Because you
are empty inside.
And then it becomes very difficult to sit at a picnic table
by yourself and actually listen to what your soul is saying.
But if you are quiet enough and patient enough, you can
still hear. In the midst of reciting Surah Rehman, you will
hear “Kullu man alayha fa’an…”
*All that is on earth will perish. But will abide forever
the Face of thy Lord, full of Majesty, Bounty and Honor.
Then which of the favors of your Lord will you deny?*
And thus I am reminded, as many of our scholars stressed
to us, that the one relationship you must rekindle, preserve,
hold fast to, is that with Allah. I was created by Allah
and then blessings were showered upon me like rain and still
I am plagued with diseases that prevent me from being grateful
and subservient to my Creator.
I am grateful for these moments of solitude, because it
is really not loneliness that I feel. It is the feeling
of being with Allah, protected by Him and sustained by Him.
I learned many things at ALIM but every lesson sent me running
back to Allah and I was reminded of Allah’s presence.
Because so often we forget.
~Naazia Husain
ALIM 2005 – wow. I’ve been in a whole slew
of Islamic camps, conferences, and conventions, but none
of them were like ALIM. Okay, first the bad news. ALIM is
about 9-10 hours of lectures every day, no exaggeration.
It’s intense courses, nothing you’ll yet bored
with, but they’ll burn you down – like a candle;
twice a day.
The good news is that you’re practically one-on-one
with these high caliber scholars. ANY question you have,
any doubt in your minds these guys will take it out. What’s
more, they aren’t afraid to tell you the whole truth
about Islam. They’ll tell you not only the virtues,
but also all about the vices of the sahaabah. They’ll
tell you the full breadth of Islamic history and theology
that will keep your mind in an almost constant state of
revolution and shock. But ultimately, your faith will become
so much stronger, because you’ll see the whole beauty
of Islam, and not just the silly Sunday-school whitewashed
version.
I’m not gonna go into the ‘par excellence’
food, immense bonding and camaraderie of students, and other
tertiary benefits of ALIM that can be received anywhere
else. The real benefits are the ones I discussed earlier.
Come to ALIM with an open mind or even a CLOSED mind, either
way you will still learn. You WILL learn, you may enjoy,
and one way or another I KNOW you will benefit. Not just
Islamically, but practically, theoretically, spiritually,
and socially as well.
~ Ahmad Rasheed
ALIM was an experience full of great personalities,
intelligent and eccentric scholars, regimented scheduling,
and more lectures than really should be halal for a single
summer. In addition to cultivating personal relationships,
we explored and discussed various topics, some relevant
to our everyday lives but others so academic as to be validated
only through such debates. The program provided a good opportunity
to become acquainted with the basics of Islamic sciences,
from which I learned two main things. First: Islam is rarely
black and white. Second: we know next to nothing of all
there is to be known about our faith. In that respect, the
program was humbling – it gave us a clue of just how
much there really is to studying Islam. I leave the program
with a revised perspective of our Prophet (PBUH) and our
religion, having come to appreciate them both more. Priceless.
~ Omar Pardesi
ALIM was definitely a unique experience for me in many
ways. First, I studied many facets of Islam in a critical
manner. I learned how Islam is not so cut and dry, but actually
varied in interpretation and catering to humanism.
In terms of my peers, this was the first time in which I
was ale to spend time with genuinely concerned and “progressive”
Muslims discussing burning issues in an uninhibited environment.
In other words, we arose questions that we would be apprehensive
or tentative to arise in our indigenous communities. What’s
more, we established a mutual trust that will remain for
our collective future. Insha-Allah, we will work together
for the betterment of the Muslim community in the US.
The faculty was unmatched with the likes of Dr. Fareed,
Dr. Jackson, and Sheikh Ali in addition to the guest scholars.
Other programs do not assemble a faculty of this stature.
The professors pushed us intellectually and spiritually
to our limits but always managed to pull us back into reality.
The activities were fun and gave us opportunities to bond
with each other, although I wish the brothers had more opportunities
to play basketball. Masha-Allah, ALIM was a great experience
and Insha-Allah I hope to be part of this program’s
future to promote Islamic literacy in this part of the world.
~ Haseeb Chowdhry
Attending the Alim has been educational and rewarding
experience. I am so grateful to Allah (SWT) that I had his
experience. The whole atmosphere of Alim allowed me to understand
what it takes to be a good Muslim. All of the classes at
Alim were very beneficial. I gained plethora of knowledge
and understanding of Islam. I also understand how little
I know about Islam. The Alim program was a great foundation
for me and will help me in the future to grow in my Islamic
studies.
Before coming to Alim, I was a person who tried to pray
five times a day and read Quran once in a while. The counselors,
students, and scholars pushed me to strive for more. I am
leaving Alim with more patience, humbleness, and the desire
to want to more knowledge and understanding of Islam for
the love and mercy of Allah(SWT). I never experienced the
bonding and friendship among a group of brothers. All the
brothers that I met are incredible and wonderful human beings.
I am leaving Alim with 20 close friendships and Insha’llah
we are all going to keep in touch.
~ Abdul Hannan Malik
I came here looking for a spiritual camp, but I found
something much better. It is hard to describe exactly how
Alim opened up my mind. Imam Muneer Fareed cleared away
all the misconceptions I was brought up with. A process
which I didn’t know existed to such an extent, because,
based on how much I liked to argue with traditionalistic
people, I thought I couldn’t be too far off from what
Islam really is. At first my mind seemed almost lost but
three weeks in I have more confidence then when I started,
but I also know how little I know. I learned more life changing
knowledge than I could have imagined before coming here.
~ Abrar Ali
ALIM has enabled me to achieve a great deal with regards
to my deen in ways I never expected it to. I came expecting
a spiritual improvement, and increased knowledge of Islam
on a practical level. What I got instead were the tools
to assess my knowledge and the know-how to make real-life
decisions. I now have the foundation to confidently strive
to do what I can to help the ummah, and especially the Muslim
American community. The strength of the brotherhood here
is unmatched and definitely gonna last a life time. So much
information has been stuffed into my mind, but more importantly,
fundamental ideas have as well. Most of it is kinda just
stuck in my head, but in time it will slowly start to make
sense, and I feel it’ll come when it’s needed.
Two words wrap it all up: Asabiyah and Muruwwah.
~ Ahmad Salah
The Alim program has increased my knowledge of the
history of Islam. It has also changed my views on many topics
dealing with Islam today. Now when I think of Bukhari or
what Sunni or Shi’it really means, I know how they
came to be and can even explain it to others. I thank Alim
for expanding my knowledge.
Now on the other hand the Alim program has giving me an
opportunity to meet new people that I feel very connected
to or have bonded with very closely. It is as you can say
an asayabah that was formed, alhamdullah. The group of people
that I have connected with here will be and stay in my life,
at least heart and prayers for as long as I live.
This program in all seriousness is a program that will drill
you day in and day out, it will change you, transform you
and make you more informed of your surrounding. It will
challenge every thought of Islam, history and present, but
best of all it is surrounded by fun. The people you will
meet will make it very entertaining as well as spiritual.
Ohh ya I loved my counselor.
~Ali Dia
I didn’t really know what I was getting into
when I signed up for ALIM. I felt that I “knew”
Islam and just wanted to focus on it more. Instead, Alim
was sort of a baptism by fire, stripping away my comfortable
illusions. For the first time I was aware of how little
I actually knew about Islam (I thought Sahih was Bukhari’s
first name), and how nebulous was my concept of history
and religion. The first day of lectures forced me into reality,
and it was painful in the beginning. I realize now that
there’s so much I’d been avoiding, and it caused
me to feel a schism between Islam and my modern ideals.
For the first few days, I was struggling against doubt;
but in reality I was struggling to hold onto my comfortable
ignorance. Masha’ Allah, knowledge of Islam brought
everything back together. ALIM helped me realize what Islam
truly represents, by examining all sides of our religion
rather than plugging one school of thought. The focus is
on educating the next generation to be more Islam-literate,
developing an appreciation for our religion as well as a
framework upon which to investigate it.
I now find it less difficult to face conventional challenges
to my faith, because the scholars doggedly challenged us
in a controlled setting. Of course, one month of lectures
won’t make anyone an Alim, but now I’m equipped
with a hunger for knowledge, as well as a healthy dose of
cynicism. The greatest danger to our youth these days is
that their hearts are rebelling against the draconian and
fossilized worldview of their elders, and they cannot distinguish
it from Islam. I know I was surprised to discover just how
enlightened and accommodating Islam is. Programs like ALIM
are crucial today because subversive information is ubiquitous,
and Muslims can no longer hide from it as they had in the
past. We must face it head on, and ALIM grants the opportunity
to do so under the guidance of some of the greatest scholars
in America. Salaamualaykum.
~ Hassan Loutfi
Alim has truly been an amazing experience which has
been one of the most important events of my life. In the
past three or four years I feel that I have been moving
closer and closer to Islam and this has been the biggest
step. Being able to spend time with these enlightening scholars
has priceless experience that most Muslim in the world will
never experience. Not only did my knowledge of Islam expand
exponentially I was able to enjoy amazing brotherhood and
as a person who grew up separately from a Muslim community
I truly appreciate it.
~Humza Khan
Well, to be honest, before ALIM, I was “Islamically
stupid;” I had only a relatively simple understanding
of Islam and I had not yet devoted enough of my efforts
to increasing my knowledge. So, with the intention of changing
all this, I arrived at ALIM. Immediately I felt that everything
at ALIM, from the students, counselors, volunteers, and
college cafeteria cooks, to the amazing scholars, created
a comfortable and welcoming environment. Despite the many
hours of classes, lack of sleep, and complete mind discombobulation,
I looked forward to every new lesson. All the scholars had
their own distinct style of teaching and each one was able
to touch my heart in a different way. Each class had something
new and profound to offer, as well as something that would
rock your mind and make you question your previous understanding
of Islam.
Fortunately, I was able to learn a great deal not only from
the scholars, but also from the counselor and brothers with
whom I spent most of my time. I formed a very close bond
with many of the brothers who came from all parts of the
country and had different experiences to share. The ALIM
program really makes you reevaluate your understanding of
Islam, while at the same time, fortifying it with priceless
knowledge. The aim of ALIM is to mold students into leaders
that can go back home to strengthen their communities and
make a contribution to the building of a Muslim identity
in America, and I feel strongly that ALIM has inspired me
to do just that.
~ Mohsin Ali
ALIM was one of the most interesting experiences I
have had. The professors were all people that I now look
up to. Their opinions hold a high position in what I think,
though they have helped me realize that I can follow Islam
better if I question them and everything else I learn. I
am happy to say that I don’t follow my faith blindly,
Alhamdulillah.
The people I have met at ALIM are ALL great people. They
are smart and cool in their own ways. I hope I can stay
in contact with them after we all leave and get back to
the real world. I have learned a lot from each of them and
we have all learned a lot from the lectures together. Our
discussions have shown me different perspectives and allowed
me to open my mind to new ideas.
I was expecting ALIM to be a lot more spiritual, but it
has instead been more intellectual. I think I’ll have
personal time to work on the spiritual part after I leave
here though Inshallah. I think with the new knowledge and
outlook I have, the spiritual part will be much different
from now on. Personally, the biggest lesson I’ve learned
since being here is to follow my heart and not be scared.
I have just this moment realized what that really means.
~ Omar Ahmed
Although I admit the ALIM program wasn’t as I
expected it to be, alhamdulillah I am pleased with what
I have gained from the experience. The lectures were extremely
stimulating and the speakers were generous enough to entertain
all of our questions, however tangential they may have been
at times, without complaint. It is quite comforting to know
that our leaders and teachers are striving hard to preserve
our Islamic legacy, especially in such hard times. The program
also served as an excellent opportunity to engage and interact
with youth across the U.S. who share my sentiments, my hardships,
and my ambitions in surviving as a Muslim in this society.
Perhaps the most lasting impression that I will leave the
program with is the hope that I have brewed after living
with my ALIM brothers for four weeks. Alhamdulillah, the
knowledge, sincerity, and motivation shared by these brothers,
through the wisdom of Allah, promises prosperity for the
future generations of Muslims to come. On a more intimate
level, I have built strong, personal bonds with all of my
brothers here that I will continue to nurture in the future
insha’Allah. The program was enriching on all accounts
and I would highly recommend it to anyone who is interested.
~ Rehan Khan
I’m not really one to write much, especially
when it comes to revealing feelings. InshAllah I will try
my best to reflect on my ALIM experience. ALIM is truly
just an amazing experience. Many times I wonder what I will
do after gaining such an amazing experience. I then realized
this program is meant to change my attitude towards how
I view Islam. This program enables me to simply make rational
decisions based of the Islamic knowledge that is needed.
InshAllah I plan to get involve in my community to the greatest
extent of my ability.
I know I feel more comfortable about Islam than I ever did
before. Many issues that I questioned myself about Islam
were answered, and I began to feel less blasphemes. I am
not really sure how I can teach this knowledge to other
peers and Muslims, but inshallah I will try my best.
~ Sadiq Mirza
I cannot find the words to describe how humbling this
past month has been. Alhamdulilah, Allah (SWT) has blessed
me with the opportunity to learn from some of the greatest
minds in the country. He has blessed me with the opportunity
to meet with fellow brothers and sisters whose taqwa and
understanding of the deen far surpass mine, and He has allowed
me to think of them as my brothers and sisters. In this
indescribable month, He has allowed me to see how modest
my understanding of Islam is, the weakness of my Iman, and
the impurities of my heart. He blessed me with so many things
that I did nothing to deserve, and I can never be grateful
enough to Him for allowing me to experience ALIM.
I pray that Allah (SWT) allows us to maintain the bonds
of brotherhood and sisterhood made here. I pray that Allah
makes us among those who constantly work in His way, and
I sincerely pray that He allows us all to meet again in
Jannatul Firdous. Ameen
If I, at any point in the program offended any of you in
any way whatsoever, please forgive me for my shortcomings.
Please keep this sinner in your du’as,
~Shad Siddiqi
The ALIM Summer Program has been a very unique experience.
It has provided me with a month of unforgettable memories
with some of the most enlightening scholars the world has
to provide. The personal experiences that have been shared
have contributed their own type of enlightenment. Although
we have all come to ALIM from diverse points off the spectrum
of life, we cannot deny that all of us have left changed
in ways that are just as diverse. Some have gained great
amounts of knowledge, others developing life-long relations,
and many a completely different outlook on life itself.
But I believe what we have all shared has been a respect
for this diversity that Muslims share. Unity is not conformity,
but it is a respect and tolerance to diversity. This has
been an experience that is a challenge to articulate without
doing it any injustice, it must be experienced.
~Maher Afana
The program starts with an uneasy feeling…a
wariness of the unknown. Settling into dorm rooms after
registration, icebreakers soon follow in the classroom,
and slowly the bonds of brotherhood and sisterhood begin
to take form. Everyone comes to recognize that whatever
lies ahead, it will be a shared experience, good or bad.
As a class, these seekers of knowledge are immersed the
first day in the ALIM experience, not knowing exactly what
to expect from the seemingly stern scholar at the front
of the class, the scholar who one comes to find wields the
intellectual equivalent of a wrecking ball…and so
it begins, the deconstruction of naïve world views,
disposing with apologetics and polemics, and engagement
with the critical issues and dire needs of the Muslim American
community. No one escapes unaffected. The nuanced perspectives
and unique insights quickly demonstrate that the high caliber
of thought and deep reflection insisted upon at ALIM are
on a higher plane than that which passes as such in the
varied locales from which all hail. Mental pacifiers and
safety blankets become quickly obsolete, and dazed and confused,
class draws to a close, with the promise of a new day and
the anticipation to sift and discover what more pearls of
wisdom can be gleamed from the oceans of knowledge in which
the seekers now find themselves amidst.
As the program progresses, the students’ propensity
to meaningfully engage the scholars does so as well. Far
from distant, the intimacy and safety of the classroom that
the scholars ensure and their accessibility yields a truly
blessed environment. The rare opportunity for the eager
to avail themselves these renowned scholars, to ask their
questions and debate in earnest with and amongst equally
motivated participants proves unmatched in America, today.
There is no limit but that which the students place upon
themselves, no question un-addressed but the question that
remains unasked.
By the end of the program, the participants leave enriched,
pregnant with thought. Leaving ALIM, one moves from a state
of higher consciousness and grappling with complex issues
back to the everyday ordinary. The true extent to which
one benefits from this unique experience, in the end, depends
upon the extent and depth of reflection upon all that one
leaves with, heavy periods of ponderance in the quiet of
one’s heart and mind. What is a definite is that the
tools and perspectives imparted at ALIM, as well as the
relationships developed with scholars and the other participants
will remain with each person in one way or another, continuing
to mold and develop them long after the program has finished.
~ Abood Shebib
