p.s. cover your hair when you come to the mosque for Rumi discussion group

The mosque requests that women cover their hair when they enter and all dress modestly. We will have extra scarves to lend if needed. Call or e-mail Hilal at 614-446-3337, hilal1001@sbcglobal.net

Rumi study group

Come, seek, for search is the foundation of fortune

A group studying/reading the works of Mevlana Jelaladdin Rumi, 13th century poet and Islamic scholar will meet the 2nd and 4th Thursday of every month beginning on 4/28/2011, 7:30pm at Muslim Community Center, 1677 Oak St Columbus, OH 43205.
If you have favorite poems or books bring them along, we'll read various translators and interpretations, look into Qu'ranic references and discuss our own impressions.

^ ^ ^ ^ ^

Come, seek, for search is the foundation of fortune:
every success depends on focusing the heart.
Unconcerned with the business of the world,
keep saying with all your soul, "Coo, Coo," like the dove.
Consider this well, O you whom worldliness veils:
God has linked our invocation to the promise, "I will answer."*
When weakness is cleared from your heart,
your prayer will reach the glorious Lord.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hin be-ju keh rokn-e dawlat jostan ast
har goshâdi dar del andar-bastan ast
Az hameh-ye kâr-e jahân pardâkhte
ku o ku mi gu be-jân chon fâkhteh
Nik be-negar andarin ay mohtajeb
keh do`â-râ bast Haqq bar "Astajib"*
Harkeh-râ del pâk shod az e`tedâl
ân do`a-'esh mi ravad tâ Zu al-Jalâl

-- Mathnavi III: 2302-2305
Version by Camille and Kabir Helminski
"Rumi: Jewels of Remembrance"
Threshold Books, 1996
Persian transliteration courtesy of Yahyá Monastra

*al-Mu'min, 60

^ ^ ^ ^ ^

Feel free to call or e-mail Hilal at 614-446-3337 hilal1001@sbcglobal.net if you have questions

Zikr Fatiha, April 23, 2011, 7:30 pm

^ ^ ^ ^ ^

The Fâtihah* is unique in attracting good and averting evil.
If anything other than God appears to you,
it's the effect of His illusion;
and if all other than God vanished from sight,
it's the effect of His awakening you to what is real.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Zânkeh u-râ Fâteheh khvod mi keshid
Fâteheh dar jarr o daf` âmad vahid
Gar namâyad ghayr ham tamvih-e Ust
var ravad ghayr az nazar tanbih-e Ust

-- Mathnawi VI:3355-3356
Version by Camille and Kabir Helminski
"Rumi: Jewels of Remembrance"
Threshold Books, 1996
Persian transliteration courtesy of Yahyá Monastra

From Ibrahim Gamard:

*Fatihah: the first chapter of the Quran, consisting of seven verses
which are repeated numerous times each day by Muslims. It is a prayer
asking to be rightly guided, rather than led astray. A contemporary
(non-literal) interpretive translation for Americans (based on extensive
study of the Arabic root meanings of every word) is by the Muslim sufi
teacher Imam Bilal Hyde:
(1) "We begin in the Name of God, Everlasting Mercy, Infinite
Compassion.
(2) Praise be to God, Loving Lord of all the worlds.
(3) Everlasting Mercy, Infinite Compassion.
(4) Eternal Strength of every living being, Whose Majestic Power
embraces us on the day of the great return.
(5) Only You do we adore, and to You alone do we cry for help.
(6) Guide us, O God, on the path of Perfect harmony,
(7) The path of those whom You have blessed with the gifts of Peace,
Joy, Serenity, and Delight, the path of those who are not brought down
by anger, the path of those who are not lost along the way.

Amin. So be it."


^ ^ ^ ^ ^

Munira Elizabeth Reed will lead Zikr al Fatiha
7:30 pm Saturday, April 23
Zawiyya al Mu'min
1000 Urlin Ave.
Grandview Heights OH 43212

Followed by sohbet, sweets and hot drinks

Questions? Call Hilal at 614-446-3337 or e-mail hilal1001@sbcglobal.net