“Don’t cry that it’s over. Smile that it happened” ~ Dr. Seuss
Dr. Seuss’s quote pretty much sums up what many of us are feeling right now. This school year like many previous ones has come to an end. And though we feel sad to go away from our friends, learning coaches, mentors, and colleagues we have to be thankful that Allah S.W.T. gave us the opportunity to be in each other’s company to learn and benefit from. Graduation time is an exciting time for everyone because it is both the ending and also a beginning. It is beautiful memories from the past year and big dreams and goals for the future.
This has been a year of many challenges. We all experienced the Covid-19 outbreak take over everyone’s lives. While it was a very mind blowing and scary experience, things are settling down now. The world is learning to come to terms with the new normal which is “social distancing”, masks, gloves and quarantine. These terms have become part of our daily vocabulary. We have learned that dealing with this pandemic is not a one man job, rather we all have to do our part to help “flatten the curve” world over by maintaining social distancing, washing our hands and taking care of ourselves and our families.
There is a big lesson we can learn from this pandemic and we have. I’ve learned that Allah S.W.T. can remind us of His magnificence by using a microscopic virus to change the face of this planet. Subhan Allah! I’ve learned that we should never underestimate the power of even the smallest organism. It is Allah who can use the organism in ways that it can become the controlling factor of everyone’s lives.
In the midst of all these events we had to move our Learning Center online. I have to admit, it was a relatively smooth transition. Alhamdulillah our students did not miss any days of school, and they were still receiving the same quality education as they were while studying from the center. On the other hand, I saw students in regular brick and mortar schools struggling with getting help from their teachers and completing their work at the end of the school year. Alhamdulillah for this blessing called Sanad Prep that we have.
This year is also significant to me because it is the last year my family and I will be attending Sanad Prep on site. By Allah’s will we are moving away to Tampa. Sanad will always be a part of our family and we will always be connected to Sanad in some way. This is where Dr. Seuss makes the most sense “Don’t cry that it’s over. Smile that it happened” 🙂
Sanad Prep uses a blended learning model. Our students receive face-to-face instruction from qualified learning coaches in addition to learning through the use of technology and our AdvancED-accredited K12 curriculum. Like a traditional classroom, our students spend much of their time doing offline work – reading books, solving math problems on paper, drawing, and conducting science experiments.
Sanad Prep Application period for the academic year 2020-2021 now open with limited open seats. Applications are considered on a first-come, first-serve basis. Admission is not guaranteed. Application deadline is July 3rd.
Sanad Prep students are nurtured to develop good character and moral etiquette in order to bring a healthy balance to their life, personality and identity. We will ensure that along with the development of their minds, Sanad serves the needs of their souls as well. We focus on instilling in our students empathy and honor for the seerah, as well as sound comprehension and appreciation for fiqh and aqeedah.
Sanad Prep Application period for the academic year 2020-2021 now open with limited open seats. Applications are considered on a first-come, first-serve basis. Admission is not guaranteed.
Our Prophet – peace be upon him – was a revolutionary not just in the sphere of Divine belief, but in all our belief systems. He broke down false doctrines both in the divine, as well as the constructs of society.
When you look at the people whom he held close — outside of the Quraish, the Ansar, and the Muahjiroon — you see demographics that include among others the people of Yemen, womenfolk of his family and childhood, and Africans that lived in his community and beyond.
I think about my life, what I’ve learned, and the work that I’m currently doing and see so directly how these three demographics have shaped me. The scholars of Hadramawt, the many teachers of African descent in the US and beyond, and the strong women that continue to surround me to date.
The video and last words of George Floyd transported me to the side of Bilal (may Allah be pleased with him) — the noble African companion of the Prophet Muhammad that was being choked by his oppressors. “I…can’t…breathe” are words that have been said for thousands of years from the depths of so many souls. How veiled are we that we do not hear them still?
If these words still do not affect us, let us define what it means to breathe then. The permission that God has given you and me without any effort on our part. What does it mean to breathe? The blessing of filling and emptying our lungs. A thing that you and I take for granted every second of our lives. We take on average 20,000 breaths per day. Have we reflected upon what it means to have the delivery of oxygen, this human right sent by Allah, cut off by someone in absolute arrogance with the Creator? If nothing moves in us, then we are the ones who have been cut off.
Breathe, think, reflect, listen, learn, and grow.
This is an opportunity for many of us to listen and to learn and finally understand. We may not all be the leaders that we think we are. In fact, we may not all be leaders…period. We may not be all as ethical and moral and unbiased as we have presumed. We are also not all the most eloquent and intelligent people we thought we were either, but do we have to be? Let’s first become better listeners…more genuine, more empathetic, more loving, more concerned.
We don’t all need to lead. We don’t all need to be activists.
We do all need to be responsible. And we do all need to respond.
Identify whatever role we have played in this tragedy. Whether our role was overt or passive, near or far, foreground or background, explicit or implicit. Let us begin at the nearest places…our intentions, our consciousness, our character. Let us also evaluate our communal constructs and organizations in the same manner, from the inside out.
Our family in humanity is grieving, we are obliged to be a part of the procession in any way we can. It’s a procession of millions, but it should be one of the billions. Let’s follow the lead of our family members in the black community. Let’s amplify their voices.
They have rights upon us to support them in every way. Grief, love, pain deserve compassion, empathy, and embrace.
Let’s not presume to know the pain. When you lose a loved one, it is never exactly the same as another person’s loss…not even in the same family. Even if you’ve experienced your own pain, it is unique and personal. And it’s important for us not to be presumptuous and think that it is the same equation for us all and that we carry the same formulaic solution.
Allow our family to breathe in their grief, pain, anger, and action….to move, to swell, and to sway. Let us be a sustaining force. Let us join in a manner that doesn’t disrupt the procession but supports it. Carries it, moves it forward. And most important let us for once be humble enough to allow our black brothers and sisters in faith and humanity to lead.
We have leadership in the black community. They exist, their voices are here and have always been…including right here in South Florida. It’s important for us to center this moment on their leadership and on their voice.
This tradition of noble, intelligent, compassionate, qualified leadership and spirit has been in our faith since Bilal and Barakah (may Allah be pleased with them both) and has been in our community in South Florida since Malik el Shabazz (Malcolm X), Muhammad Ali, and WD Muhammad established the first Muslim community here; and it is alive today too.
The difference. Is that the Prophetic character of both leadership and layperson has gone. Where the Prophet – peace blessings be upon him – consistently and overtly expressed love for his black family and companions, and centered them in his life without reservation or hesitation, we have marginalized. Where the Prophetic community strengthened themselves by their diversity, we have segregated ourselves and become weaker.
Let us in this moment be like the Prophet, by centering and amplifying the voices of our African American brothers and sisters in every way that we can. And let us, like a Prophetic community, support and strengthen one another. And let us always raise our hands higher to God for the oppressed.
May Allah forgive us and enable us to answer His call.
Sanad Prep Learning Coaches are a part of your family’s team and will work with you to ensure your child develops intellectually and spiritually. We will walk with your child and not lead from a distance ahead.
Sanad Prep Application period for academic year 2020-2021 now open with limited open seats. Applications are considered on a first-come, first-serve basis. Admission is not guaranteed.
This week Sanad Trust Foundation will be launching an enrollment campaign for Sanad Prep. I have two requests. First, for those in South Florida, if you have school-aged children, consider Sanad Prep as an option for your children. There may be narratives out there that we are virtual, online, or in a bubble, etc. That’s simply not true. We are in fact an innovative blended model that takes the best parts of other pedagogies and brings them together in a morally and spiritually sound environment.
Our curriculum is accredited and overseen by certified teachers and county administrators whom we work directly with. Learning takes place on the ground with the guidance of qualified and trained learning coaches, personal interactions, and companionship between adults, students, and peers. It also takes place during the sacred spaces in between…morning assembly, duha prayers, and afternoon prayers, discussion during classes, and even play. It’s a robust endeavor that has been happening for over a decade now. Our student body is diverse, our learning approach is advanced, and our results are outstanding.
Every child is unique and every learning model should be evaluated accordingly. The strength of our model is that it is an empathetic and adaptive learning model. We may not be best suited for every child or family, however, the children that have come through our center, that we currently serve, and those who have now graduated from Sanad Prep have been offered Prophetic light every day, guided to high academic achievement, and been motivated to have noble and aspirational goals.
Sanad Prep is a center for advanced learners that have the potential to navigate the pathways of Spiritual, Emotional, Academic, and Social learning (the SEAS). Our methods are not just developmental but proven and effective based on a decade long track record.
We are inspired by scholars who began teaching a few students in their home and are now affecting the world. And we are inspired by our children who have a right to learning environments that preserve their souls, inspire their intellect, and develop good character.
The application period is open. Applying does not guarantee admission. The Sanad Prep admissions process takes into consideration many factors mentioned above and we try to be honest about which students and families would benefit most from our model.
A good place to start the consideration process is to discuss these questions with your family:
How important is it to integrate my child’s spiritual well-being and character in the learning environment they are in for 7-8 hrs every day for 180 days? And where can that best be done?
How do I define success for my child and myself in this life and the next? If different, are they being prepared for both?
Do the adults that assist my child and the organizational environment orient them to a Creator and reflect Prophetic character?
What is the quality of the curriculum and delivery? Does it prepare students to be self-directed learners, to be adaptive to new learning modes, and enable them to learn in a nurturing environment?
Is the leadership of my child’s school comfortable and willing to help me answer these questions?
My second request is to share our enrollment campaign with others who may have school-aged children. I am also asking that you share our organizations’ work with philanthropists, business leaders, and innovators that want to be part of developing and establishing a network of community education centers that meet the current and future needs of soul-centered children, families, and elders. We are motivated to learn and present our philosophy, model, and vision with anyone who is interested and inspired to join the effort to build something great insha’Allah.
To learn more about Sanad Prep as well as Sanad Trust Foundation visit our website at www.sanadtrust.org/youth/sanadprep and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
As this blessed month comes to an end we look back on what our intentions were for this month. As an organization we entered the month after having canceled our annual benefit dinner, with nearly 30 students and their families that dependent on us to offer a high quality, soul-centered education.
We were in the midst of a global pandemic, but, Ramadan came…as a saving grace from Allah. We found our focus, our purpose, and made our intentions for the month: to trust that Allah will provide for the Foundation as long as we remain sincere, to not make any excuse to lower the standards of the Foundation’s Sanad Prep Learning Center, and to sincerely serve humanity through our skills and programs.
These past few months were also about adjusting to a “new normal”. Yet, we remained committed to nurturing, developing and sustaining the intellectual and spiritual growth of youth, families, and community; to provide the resources and environment for individuals to learn about their world, their life and themselves; and to be a means of outreach and support to those inclined to guidance. We continued to serve the community through an online children’s series, counseling services, offering Sanad Prep classes for free, sharing our morning assemblies live on social media, and more.
Now, as we pass through dangers as well as blessed days, it’s important to remember that Allah remains, always. We need to focus on the work we’ve always been doing. Which is why I’m sending you this message. We are still here, creating something special – a new kind of community education center that meets the cognitive, spiritual, emotional, and social needs of children, families, and seniors….and we will continue as long as God gives us permission.
I invite you to help support the community around you. In these last hours increase in your generosity and reap the rewards of the closing of Ramadan. Let’s all seek out opportunities to ensure children and families are always cared for with love. If you have not had an opportunity to consider Sanad Trust Foundation for your sadaqa, I hope that you might. In fact, we have a matching grant from the American Muslim Community Fund for anyone who donates $1,500. Your gift today will sustain our efforts to have adab, share knowledge, and show love through this crisis.
If you have shown your generosity to Sanad Trust I thank you and encourage you to continue to seek out other organizations and causes. We can all benefit each other now in an impactful way as social distancing relaxes and we try to regain normalcy.
My teacher was asked what intentions should be made for after Ramadan? He answered that it is good to make these intentions before Ramadan is over so that the reward for our intentions is multiplied. Among the intentions he advised to make are that we intend to serve the Ummah in the best way by focusing on the three objectives of knowledge, devotion and service and that we intend to seek the pleasure of Allah and to make His Messenger ﷺ happy in all that we do. These are our intentions insha’Allah, what will be yours?
Time is not the same for all of us. Nor is it measured the same way. Although we appear to be moving through it all the same. We don’t feel its constrictions or expansions at a physical level but they are a reality. The concept of time and barakah (blessing or increase) coincide a lot in the Islamic tradition. So one may ask for an increase in our wealth, health, livelihood, knowledge, careers, etc. This Arabic word however is not limited to a physical increase. It may be that God permits a person to achieve more with fewer resources, or accomplish a lot over a small period. It is this increase that creates a mystery about time and its relation to achievement. So begs the century old question, why are some people able to achieve so much more in short periods of time while others cannot?
Understanding the concept of barakah in Islam can help shed some light on this mystery. Today, we would like to share some highlights of the life of an incredible person in history, Muhyi al-Din Abu Zakariya Yahya bin Sharaf al-Nawawi or also known popularly as Imam Nawawi. He was born in the village of Nawa near Damascus in 631 A.H. From a young age, Abu Zakariya was known for his interest in the pursuit of knowledge and did not have any inclinations for play like his peers. Therefore, his father facilitated his interest and the young lad studied with the most prominent teachers of the time in Damascus mastering diverse sciences in a short period of time including hadith, tafseer, fiqh, and more. He was much loved and celebrated by his teachers because of his capacity for learning and disseminating knowledge. Imam Nawawi is described by his teachers and students as simple, modest, grateful, honest and just. He did not live a long life but he lived an expansive life.
He passed away around the age of 44 but those 40 odd years of his life were filled with incredible achievement and success. Allah gave him barakah in almost everything. Although he wrote dozens of books including the popular Riyaad as-Saliheen, he is most famous for his compilation of the Arba’ian or the 40 Ahadeeth of Imam Nawawi. In this 40 hadith compilation, the Imam captures a condensed version of knowledge that every Muslim is at minimum obligated to know. The subject matter of the hadiths are diverse yet relatable in a timeless manner making them relevant to any age and time. His legacy of 40 years stands tall in Islamic history. It’s no coincidence that he became most known for the compilation of 40 hadith. Less can be more. It depends on what you do with what you are given. Some may be given a lot but they waste it so it never amounts to much. Others are given a little yet they expand its impact in unimaginable ways.
In this day and age, time is what everyone seems to complain about or not have enough of. But is it really time that we do not have, or is it that we no longer have barakah in it? What can we do to achieve this barakah in our time and our lives extending beyond our breathing moments on earth?
Maybe what we do with our time makes a difference. Maybe the company we keep in the time makes a difference. Maybe the intentions we have for a given time make a difference. Maybe the commitment we make with our wealth, health and resources in a time makes a difference. Even in our brief overview of Imam Nawawi’s life, we see the embodiment of so much that Allah mentions in the Qur’an about barakah. Allah truly blessed Imam Nawawi with barakah. In his time. In his life. In his knowledge. And in his legacy. So much so that even after 40 generations since he left the world, we continue to benefit from the barakah Allah provided for him.
As we conclude the 40 series, we invite you to join this legacy and pass this barakah on to the next generation. At Sanad Trust Foundation, our focus remains inculcating prophetic principles and values into the next generation. We are filling the gaps so guidance never fades away. Today, we invite you to build a legacy. For Allah, His messenger, our faith and the hope for our children’s collective future. Together, let’s make history, build a legacy, get connected.
What a remarkable Ramadan this has been. In times like these, there’s nothing easier than getting caught up in the day-by-day news cycle. But hopefully, we all take a moment to remember the Prophet (ﷺ) said, “The most true words said by a poet were the words of Labid, ‘Verily, everything except Allah is perishable’“. At some point Allah will give his permission and the world will go on. We will move forward, insha’Allah, more aware of the Owner of Majesty and Honor.
When we do, we’ll all need to be more mindful of our purpose than before. Sanad Trust Foundation is no different. We haven’t forgotten the mission we promised to fulfill: to serve the intellectual and spiritual growth of youth, families, and community. And we hope you haven’t forgotten why you chose to stand by us in the first place.
While most of us can’t solve the COVID-19 outbreak, we can continue to do our part to keep the community healthy and spiritually strong. So, as we practice social distancing and do our part to flatten the curve, we hope you’ll also remember the importance of our vision of having adab (moral etiquette), sharing knowledge, and showing love in order to strengthen youth, families, and communities.
Your donation will be tremendous help in keeping our mission alive. We will continue to provide a soul-centered K-12 education, purposeful family services and unique community programs. But, to do this, we need your help.
If you have already had an opportunity to give to Sanad Trust this remarkable Ramadan, we ask that Allah accept and shower you with His Mercy and acceptance, and humbly ask that you share this opportunity with others. If you have not, please accept our invitation to do so now.
On behalf of the children, families, and community members we serve, thank you in advance! May you have a blessed conclusion to your Ramadan.
Mountains call you differently than caves do, if they do at all. Prophet Muhammad – peace be upon him – chose to retreat inside of a cave, which was on top of a mountain but we seldom talk about the mountain. And not without a reason. The cave for the prophet Muhammad – peace be upon him – is a reclusive retreat from the paganistic practices that are ubiquitous in Arabia. He is 40 years old. It’s a time of introspection and deep contemplation with a tenacious desire for clarity and answers. While Musa is asked directly by God to seclude himself and make the journey on top of the mountain for 40 days for worship, solitude and physical endeavoring, Muhammad eagerly waits in the cave of Hira until he is visited by Angel Gabriel who presents him the invitation from God. Musa becomes the guest of God in his journey while Muhammad yearns the visit from the Divine, like a fervent host awaiting the most beloved guest. Different experiences. Yet, same purpose, same message, same mission.
Human Beings are like that though. Even if each of us walked the same path, climbed the same mountain or swam in the same sea, our experiences would be very different. However, there is something that can unite us in these moments and that’s our purpose. If you’ve ever traveled to a region surrounded by mountains, you know the feeling of benevolence. As grand and magnanimous their presence, you feel something that’s bigger. You feel small yet are awestruck by your mind’s capacity to grasp and take in all that is around, not just of the terrain but everything the vision meets over the horizon, or wondering about that which it cannot.
In the story of Musa, the mountain he climbs to be with Allah for 40 days and receive the 10 commandments for his nation certainly stands atop. It happens soon after Musa leads the tribe of Israel into safety from the oppression of Pharaoh. One of the most phenomenal aspects of Musa’s journey for 40 days is what transpires amongst his people during his departure away from them. His people begin to worship a statue of a calf while he is away. This is despite his leaving his brother Haroon with the responsibility of keeping them steadfast. The nation proves to be difficult with Haroon and ignores him. When Musa returns from the mountain with the clear message of guidance for the people, he is astonished and infuriated by their turning away from Allah and worshiping the calf. Even after witnessing Musa’s staff turning into a miracle that swallows everything around to the parting of the sea, as well as their deliverance from misery and oppression to safety and peace, it takes 40 days for the message to fade and most of them fall prey to a trap. In this is a great lesson, as Allah often repeats this verse for people of intellect and understanding.
So what is that lesson for us in this day and age and what is our responsibility if we understand it?
This 40 day gap between the guidance of Musa and his people was enough for them to be distracted and turn defiance. Can we assume though that it was an unexpected anomaly. Despite having witnessed the truth and living it through oppression and then freedom, the people just forget and turn away from God. It takes just 40 days. How would we fare? What about our children?
Answering these questions require deliberation, active contemplation and curiosity to understand something beyond face value. A deep perspective. A real education in the making. These questions and striving to answer them motivate us and are at the core of what it means to “educate” Sanad Prep Learning Center.
Sanad Trust Foundation is ensuring that our children do not fall into these gaps. What questions do we need to be asking to ensure that their intellect is being called to think and understand realities at this level? Although it feels impossible to get through some days, Sanad’s team is committed to stand tall amidst all trials for the sake of our students, so that no gap is between them and knowledge Allah and His beloved Prophet peace be upon him, and themselves.
Be among the forty that travel with us every month.
When you only look at the opening of a cave, it can be misleading. You see a small, narrow passageway that hollows into an unknown darkness and you may be right, if that’s all you are permitted to see. Perspectives are a great blessing from God. Although intangible, they build our frames of references and allow us to experience our life and those around us as we know it. When the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) sat in the cave of Hira on a silent, dark night, he may have initially felt alone, small and uncertain. We all know the tradition that he did not leave that cave after his first encounter with Angel Gabriel with the same perspective. What we often forget is the significance of all that came prior to that moment. The Prophet (peace be upon him) was being prepared for 40 years before the message was revealed to him as a final proclamation to his people and humanity. So what comes to pass before is just as important as what will happen in the next 20 years of his life.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) is surrounded by incredibly strong, upright and special people throughout his life of the first 40 years, shaping his development and character. From his righteous mother Aminah who gives birth to him and nurtures his beautiful character for six years to Halima Sa’diyah who feeds him and reaps the blessings of his presence for her entire family. From Barakah whose gentle embrace comforts the young Muhammad at the passing of his mother to the protective brace of Abdul Muttalib, his grandfather who favors him because of the light he sees in him. And from Abu Talib, his kind Uncle who takes over the guardianship of Muhammad to Lady Khadijah whose heart is captivated by the immense grace and beauty of his character. His environment cultivates his Prophetic Character until he stands to attest to the message of tawheed and complete God’s favor on mankind.
Now, it is time for us to continue this legacy of our beloved Prophet (peace be upon him). Prophets do not leave behind wealth or treasures. They leave behind knowledge and those that take part in preservation of that knowledge and teachings are the true heirs of the prophets. We have an obligation to strive towards preserving his way, his message and his teachings to the next generation. This will not happen without our concerted and diligent effort. Sanad Trust Foundation and all of its services are in part an effort to preserve this tradition and the connection to Allah, the Quran and the Beloved of Allah’s way (peace be upon him). The question should not be IF we want to produce the likes of Abu Bakr, Omar, Uthman and Ali, or Khadijah, Aisha, Umm Salamah and Somayyah, but rather WHEN will we produce the likes of such great women and men. We must be willing and ready to step forward and invest our wealth, resources and assistance and say the time is now, today. Let’s invest in the Sanad Trust Foundation to build the next generation of Muslims. Let’s create our future together, today.
“… When he comes of age and reaches forty years, he says, ‘My Lord! Inspire me to give thanks for Your blessing with which You have blessed my parents and me, and that I may do righteous deeds which please You, and invest my descendants with righteousness. Indeed I have turned to you in penitence, and I am one of the Muslims.” (46: 15)
The number 40 has a lot of significance dating back not just at the advent of Islam but in previous faiths. According to monotheistic traditions, Adam and Hawa repented to Allah for 40 days before their plea was accepted. Musa is known to have traveled to the top of Mount Sinai for 40 days before descending back with the ten commandments from God. Eesa is known to have fasted for 40 days and 40 nights in the desert as well. The Prophet Muhammad received revelation at age 40.
The number 40 seems to have a universal significance amongst these traditions. So we made an intention this year for Ramadan 2020 to share some inspiring stories highlighting this number. We may not truly understand the reality of this number, but we cannot deny its prevalence and importance. We invite you to accept this invitation of 40 and become a part of building a lasting legacy that will help produce the next 40 generations insha’Allah.
