"The Invulnerable Fortress" - Sanctuary in Prayer
Suheil Laher
Wed Jan 23, 11am-12:00pm, 1-135
No enrollment limit, no advance sign up
Levantine scholar Ibn al-Jazari compiled numerous supplications reported from the Prophet Muhammad. He named the book "The Invulnerable Fortress," finding spiritual refuge in it from the bleak conditions surrounding him. We, too, may face various types of turmoil and uncertainty in our lives.
We shall examine the opening section of "The Invulnerable Fortress," which provides an overview and insights into prayer and supplication in Islam, and look at a selection of particularly beautiful prayers (in English translation) from the book.
"People are under severe strain….water-supplies have been cut off, [all] hands are raised [in supplication to God]….Everyone is fearful….I therefore make this [book] my fortress, and place my reliance in God [who] suffices me."
[Postscript to "The Invulnerable Fortress"]
Web: http://web.mit.edu/~msa_imam/www/SanctuaryFlyer.htm
Contact: Suheil Laher, (617) 448-6361, msa_imam@mit.edu
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Film Series: Exploring Islam through Movies
Zahra Khan
Wed Jan 9, 16, 23, 30, 06-09:00pm, 1-150
No enrollment limit, no advance sign up
A weekly series of films portraying various aspects of Islam and Muslim history. For details, see the link below:
Web: http://web.mit.edu/~msa_imam/www/IAP07Movies.htm
Contact: Zahra Khan, zeik@mit.edu
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Islam 101
Suheil Laher, Nancy Khalil, Omar Abdala
Mon Jan 7, 06-07:30pm, 1-135
No enrollment limit, no advance sign up
- Is Islam a religion of peace, as President Bush declared after 9/11?
- What is the Muslims' concept of God? The afterlife?
- Who was the Prophet Muhammad?
- What are the 5 pillars of Islamic practice?
- What is the Shariah?
Here is your opportunity to get an overview of what Islam is really about, with Omar (an MIT alumnus) and his wife Nancy (Wellesley's Muslim Chaplain).
Bring all your questions, there will be time for discussion!
Web: http://web.mit.edu/~msa_imam/www/101Flyer.htm
Contact: Suheil Laher, msa_imam@mit.edu
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Islamic Angelology
Suheil Laher, Aaron Spevack
Mon Jan 28, 06-07:30pm, 1-135
No enrollment limit, no advance sign up
Single session event
What do Muslims believe about angels and demons? Do we know what angels look like? Was Satan a fallen angel? What are the jinn? Is there such a thing as demonic possession? Join us to explore these and other related issues. Bring with you any of your own questions.
Contact: Suheil Laher, W11, (617) 448-6361, msa_imam@mit.edu
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Islamic Spirituality
Suheil Laher, Aaron Spevack
Mon Jan 14, 06-07:30pm, 1-135
No enrollment limit, no advance sign up
Single session event
The Prophet Muhammad spoke of three core elements of Islam: Law, Faith, and Spirituality. Most great scholars of Islam -- from Rumi to Saladin -- practiced some form of mysticism, seeing it as an indispensable component of Muslim practice. Join us for a discussion of Islamic Spirituality and Mysticism, and the various views, practices, and teachings of Muslim mystics.
Contact: Suheil Laher, msa_imam@mit.edu
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Islamic Theology
Suheil Laher
No enrollment limit, no advance sign up
Participants welcome at individual sessions (series)
Three lectures with Q&A sessions. This series explains the three core concepts of Muslim theology: Belief in God, Prophethood and the Afterlife. It is suitable both for non-Muslims, who would like to gain insight into the subject, and for Muslims, who wish to have a more detailed understanding and/or review. Topics covered include: Reason in Islam, Islamic Concept of God and His Attributes, Revealed Books, Prophets, Resurrection and the Hereafter, Destiny and Free Will.
Contact: Suheil Laher, W11, (617) 448-6361, msa_imam@mit.edu
Concept of God
Suheil Laher
This session focuses on the first and most important core belief: belief in God (Allah). We will start with an overview of Islam, and some other preliminaries, including the role of reason in Islam, then move on to talk about the existence of God and God's attributes. We will also touch on the concept of human free will.
Tue Jan 22, 06-07:30pm, 1-134
Scripture and Prophethood
Suheil Laher
This session focuses on the second core belief of Islam, which is the belief in prophets as mortal human beings who conveyed God's guidance to mankind. We also talk about books (scriptures) which some of these prophets may have received from God.
Thu Jan 24, 06-07:30pm, 1-134
Eternity
Suheil Laher
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The final session in this series explores Muslim belief in the life after death, including concepts of the soul, human responsibility, and judgment.
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Tue Jan 29, 07-08:30pm, 1-135
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