Dua Iftitaah

Liverpool Shia Society congratulates commencement of the holy month of Ramadan, the month of blessing, mercy and forgiveness.  Called as the ceremony of the Almighty Allah (SWT), Ramadan is the peak month of the year from its spirituality point f view.  The gates of forgiveness are open side to side; an especial mercy of the Almighty Creator (SWT) showers and He invites all to seek His blessing throughout this holy month, day and night.  Even sleeping time of the faster in this month is considered as he is continuously worshiping the Almighty Allah (SWT).  This is not surprising where the God (SWT) Himself says, “Fasting is [a worship particularly] for me and I myself will be rewarding it [differently].”

الصوم لی و أنا أجزی به

One of the elements of worshiping is to pray to the Almighty Allah (SWT) and, in the Islamic concepts, it is known as ‘dua’.  Dua is actually the speech of the servant to his/her Master, Allah (SWT).  However, how?  How should the servant put the words in context to talk and whisper with his/her Master?  The best people who can put the most suitable words, concepts and orders together to connect to the Creator (SWT) are those who have been authorised by the Creator (SWT) Himself to bridge between the creatures and the Creator (SWT).  They are the Almighty Allah’s (SWT) special reasons (hujjat/ hojjat), i.e. the Messenger of Allah (PBUH&HF) and his Ahl al-Bait (PBUT).  The current Imam (may Allah hasten his advent) has issued out a piece of dua, known as ‘Dua Iftitaah’, via one of his representing bodies, Muhammad Ibn Uthman.  Dua Iftitaah contains very high concept and leave an extraordinary impression when recited every night over the holy month of Ramadan.  Paying enough attention to the meanings embedded in this dua assists in understanding and receiving the message of Ramadan, in-shaa-Allah.

Please do remember your family and friends when reciting duas.

Liverpool Shia Society

Birthday Anniversary – Great Lady Fatima (PBUH)

When Sayyeda Zahra (PBUH) was born, the Prophet was informed by Gabriel (PBUH), the angle of revelation.  Gabriel (PBUH) was the carrier of Allah’s (SWT) message to the Prophet and said, “The Almighty Allah (SWT) has sent His regard (salaam) to you and also, has sent another regard (salaam) to your newly born baby.”  The Prophet prostrated to thank and appreciate his creator.  He was extremely happy, as one of the Allah’s (SWT) promises had taken shape.  A verse had been already sent to the Prophet, promising that his posterity will be carried on but his enemy’s will not.  Also, revelation carrier (PBUH) told him that, “her (Fatima’s (PBUH) generation will be pure and auspicious. And the Almighty Allah (SWT) will put your generation continuation from her.  Great men of God (Imams) will be brought up by her and Allah (SWT) will make them His representatives on Earth after you when no revelation will be sent to people.”…

Congratulation on Sayyeda Fatima’s (PBUH) birthday anniversary.  Congratulation on the birthday anniversary of the greatest lady of the world and thereafter – as the Prophet (PBUH &HF) said.  Congratulation on the birthday anniversary of a daughter whose fragrance reminded the father (PBUH&HF) of paradise fragrance.  Congratulation on the birthday anniversary of a lady whose satisfaction was the Prophets satisfaction – as the Prophet (PBUH&HF) said.  Congratulation on the birthday anniversary of a part of the Prophet (PBUH& HF) – as he said.

Thanks to the hard work of the brothers and sisters at Liverpool Towhid Centre, Sayyeda Zahra’s (PBUH) birthday anniversary will be celebrated at this centre on Tuesday, 23 May 2011.  The programme will start at 8 pm and will finish at 10 pm with Sunset (Maghrib) and Night (Ishaa) Prayers which will be done in group prayers.  The event includes lecture, poems and fun programmes like questions and matches.  At the end of the event, the guests will be served for supper.

As Sayyeda Fatima’s (PBUH) birthday anniversary is celebrated as Ladies and Mothers’ Day in Iran, all the ladies attending the event will receive a special gift from Liverpool Towhid Centre.

Hoping to see you all there, please publicise the event to your friends and those who may be interested.

Liverpool Shia Society

Thursday Meeting   –   11 November 2010

Below is the timetable of the meeting:

18.20 – 18.30: Meeting up
18.30 – 19.00: Dua Komayl and Salavaat to Imam Baqir (PBUH)
19.00 – 19.30: Movie. “Miracles in Birds” – Part 2

The venue of the meeting is:

Prayer Room (Ground Floor)
James Parsons Building
Liverpool John Moores University
Byrom Street
Liverpool        L3 3AF

Hope to see you all again.

Liverpool Shia Society

Group Quran Recitation with Quran 120 Scheme

فـَاقرَوا ما تَيَسَّر مِنَ القـُرآن

Recite, then, as much of the Quran as you may do with ease.

Quran 120 is a group which manages Quranic e-mails to its subscribers, and runs schemes related to Quran. As a tradition, Quran 120 runs group Quran recitation every year after Great Eid Fitr. Last year, this scheme was successfully performed, and thus, the team are going to run it again with the help and will of the Almighty Allah, gifting the reward to our Imam, Baqiyyat Allah A’zdam (PBUH).

Every member of the scheme is responsible for reciting half of a Hizb (حزب), starting from the point which is assigned to that member. You will be provided a table in which the detail of your daily recitation has been tabulated, and you can tick when you have accomplished the mission day by day. After 120 days, you have completed a full Quran recitation. Nonetheless, as the scheme is looking for 120 members who recite their own daily share, then you will commit in whole Quran recitation every day.

The scheme is going to commence by 10 September 2010. If you would like to join to this scheme, please express your interest by e-mailing to Quran120@gmail.com. You will be contacted to receive the details of your contribution.

If you have found this scheme interesting, please let the others know about it.

Liverpool Shia Society

Thursday Meeting   –   05 August 2010

Below is the timetable of the meeting:

19.00 – 19.10: Meeting up
19.10 – 19.30: Mounaajaat Sha’baaniah – مناجات شعبانیه
19.30 – 19.50: Discussion on LSS programme during Holy Ramadan

The venue of the meeting is:

Prayer Room (Ground Floor)
James Parsons Building
Liverpool John Moores University
Byrom Street
Liverpool        L3 3AF

In previous years, as the set time of Thursday meetings coincided with the Maghrib Adhan, and also as fasting days were long, not leaving good time after breakfast for the students to gather for the meeting, no meeting was set for the holy Ramadan while all loved to had attended LSS meeting at least once a week. Therefore, we will discuss about the ideas on how to keep the programmes of LSS ongoing during holy Ramadan. LSS, thus, invites all the members to kindly make their programme to attend this Thursday meeting so as to successfully schedule for holy Ramadan. However, LSS, due to its limited resources, reserves this right to waive meetings during holy Ramadan.

The moon crescent is getting thinner and thinner to end Sha’baan and deliver the opportunities of the faithful brothers and sisters to holy Ramadan. However, still Sha’baan is on, and it is to us to do our best to gain further boons and gifts of this bounteous month. Having been said from Imam Ridha (PBUH), the Almighty Allah releases lots of His servants from the fire flames they have created due to their faults just to greet and respect holy Ramadan. Again, fasting the final three days of Sha’baan, and fasting on the last Friday of Sha’baan has been highly advised by Imam Ridha (PBUH). He has asked us to find our own way to get rid of the effects of the faults we have made. For instance, whispering the following dua (which can be used within Qonut section of daily prayers) has been recommended:

اللـّهُمَ اِن لــَم تـَکـُن غـَفـَرتَ لـَنا فیما مـَضی مـِن شـَعبان، فـَاغـفـِرلـَنا فیما بـَقـِیَ مـِنه

Please have a look to your Mafaatih for further information about the final days of Sha’baan.

Hope to see you all again.

Liverpool Shia Society

Imam Mahdi’s Great Birthday Anniversary

Congratulations on the birthday anniversary of Imam Mahdi (May the Almighty Allah advent his return) who is our live Imam. Such a birthday has been concurrent with a great day which has been appreciated since the time of the Messenger of Allah (PBUH&HF), and thus, has added to the value of this day. Further to celebrating this event which is a must for a true Shia, some other activities have been recommended by Ahl al-Bait as well, which includes full ablution (qasal), vigil and visiting Imam Hussain (PBUH) or reciting Ziaarat Ashuraa. Further items have been well mentioned in Mafaatih ul-Jinaan. The night of 15^th of Sha’baan is a special night as well, as Imam Sadiq (PBUH) has narrated from his father, Imam Baqir (PBUH), that such night is the greatest after the Night of Qadr, and great Mersey of the Almighty Allah will be flowing.

Now, just imagine we are approaching to such a birthday; birthday of a person who is the reason of life, who is the connection between the Almighty Allah and anything else, who is God’s only survivor, who is our only saviour, who is the only infallible in the Universe, and many others… So, what is our duty for his birthday anniversary?

Our Shia lovely friends in Liverpool have worked hard to arrange for a memorable programme at Liverpool Towhid Centre. The event will be celebrated on the birthday anniversary of Imam Mahdi (PBUH), Tuesday, 27 July 2010. The programme starts at 8 pm with a ziaarat (probably Aali Yaasin) followed by lecture, mowludi, group prayers and supper, ending at 10.30 pm. The venue of the programme is as follows.

Cochrane St
Heyworth St
Liverpool   L5 4LJ

For further information about the address, you may try the post of 10 Feb 2010 or simply visit the Contact Us page of the web site of Liverpool Towhid Centre. Parking is available on site, and those using bus should take bus No. 17 from Queen Square Bus Station.

Another event will be held at Manchester Islamic Institute on Monday, 26 July 2010. The event will start at 7.30 pm and it looks that there is no end limit for it. The programme includes Holy Quran recitation, game, lecture, mowludi both with experts and kids, lecture and a clip show from the first MII-arranged Omrah journey which was performed recently. Just as a tradition of MII when holding big programmes, please send the number of the people attending the programme to mii_cs@yahoo.co.uk. MII has been located on the address below:

5 Sidney St
Off Oxford Road
Manchester   M1 7HB

Hope to see you all in the events.

Liverpool Shia Society

1400 Salawaat to the Messenger of Allah (PBUH&HF) and Imam Ja’far Sadiq (PBUH)

“God and His angels shower their blessings on the Prophet; O believers, you should also send your blessings on him, and salute him with a worth greeting” (33:56)

اَللّهُمَ صَلِّ علی مُحَمّدٍ  و آل ِ مُحَمّدٍ

Liverpool Shia Society congratulates the great birthday anniversaries of the Messenger of Allah (PBUH&HF) and Imam Ja’far Sadiq (PBUH).

Liverpool Shia Society commences a one-day scheme for reading 1400 salawaat to gift it to the holy Prophet and his son, Imam Ja’far Sadiq (PBUT) to treasure such invaluable anniversary. The Commander of the Believers, Imam Ali (PBUH), has mentioned, “when he (the holy Prophet) was born, the idols located in Ka’bah fell down all on their faces, and at the night, a sound announced from the sky that, ‘the truth has come, and the falsehood has nullified; verily, falsehood is perishable’, and…” [Montahi al-Aamaal]

Should any of us read 90 to 100 salaawat, it is predicted that 1400 salawaat will be fulfilled today. However, it would be most grateful if you could send off this massage to your family and friends to rocket up the number of salawaats gifted to the holy Prophet and Imam Ja’far Sadiq (PBUT). Let’s recall two traditions about the tail benefits of salawaat, further to its substantial phase which is showing your respect to the holy Prophet and his family (PBUT).

“Whoever reads just one salawaat, the Almighty Allah will open the window of health and blessing to him.” [Jaam’i al-Akhbaar]

“Whoever reads salawaat to the holy Prophet, the Almighty Allah and His angels will shower him with their blessing.” [Osouli Kaafi]

Therefore, it is worth to circulate the massage amongst your family and friends.

Liverpool Shia Society