Dawa Club News
MSA Representative Speaks to High School Girls
By Ysra Zarzour, Head of the Dawa Club Shura Council and Dawa Club Editor-in-Chief
February 28, 2011
On January 06, 2011, Shahinaz Ahmad, the Moraine Valley College MSA president (at the time only the public relations coordinator) came to speak to 9th-12th grade girls on the topic of Hijab. She highlighted the importance of Muslim girls wearing the headscarf, and she described the many benefits of such a practice. The girls truly enjoyed her speech, and she related to them her own personal stories, with which the girls were more easily able to connect. Inshallah Shahinaz will continue to motivate many other young Muslim girls.
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Mrs. Khudeira and Shahinaz |
Shahinaz addresses Mrs. Martini’s class |
Quran Project a Success
By Ysra Zarzour, Head of the Dawa Club Shura Council and Dawa Club Editor-in-Chief
February 28, 2011
Every year the Dawa Club distributes pocket-sized Qurans to the Universal School 8th-12th students, staff, and administration and every year, they never have to pay a penny, Alhamdulilah. The 2011 Quran Project was funded by Senior Amgad Karim, head of the Dawa Club Shura Council, and his family. Each Mushaf was personalized for those receiving them, with a sticker bearing their name and the sentence “Courtesy of the Universal School Dawa Club”. Dawa Club Advisor Dr. Fadhli stated that he hopes the students will feel more encouraged to use the Quran because it is personalized. He also suggests that if students will not use it for them selves, to pass it on to a loved one who will. May Allah grant the success of future similar projects.
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Senior girls organize the distribution of the Mushafs |
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Friday Kutbah Program: Khutba at Al-Furqan Academy
By Ysra Zarzour, Head of the Dawa Club Shura Council and Dawa Club Editor-in-Chief
February 28, 2011
On Friday, January 1, 2011, Junior Mohammad Hassan delivered a Khutba at Al-Furqan Academy. The topic was on Salat Alfajr; he had given the Khutba at Universal School a few weeks before. The Al-Furqan Academy Khutba was attended by the principal himself, and Hassan’s classmates Baha Amra, Harris Arshad, and Ahmet Sakiri accompanied him. Their visit came to a close with a tour of the new school building by the principal of Al-Furqan Academy, Ms. Haiat Bousmaha.
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Young student from Al-Furqan gives athaan |
Mohammad Hassan delivers the Khutba |
Al-Furqan Academy Grateful for Universal School Student Khutbas
By Ysra Zarzour, Head of the Dawa Club Shura Council and Dawa Club Editor-in-Chief
February 28, 2011
For the past two years, Universal Students have been giving Khutbas at Al-Furqan Academy in short intervals as apart of the Dawa Club Friday Kutbah Program. Al-Furqan Academy is located in Boligbrook, IL, and was initiated in the 2008-2009 school year. The school has always appreciated the Universal School students dedication and commitment, as expressed by Principal Haiat Bousmaha: “I would like to take this opportunity to thank you and thank the Universal students about giving the meaningful speeches to our students. May Allah reward you and the students.”
The DAWA Club Friday Kutbahs Program at Moraine Valley Community College and Al-Furqan Academy
By Ysra Zarzour, Head of the Dawa Club Shura Council and Dawa Club Editor-in-Chief
January 5, 2011
On Friday, December 10, 2010, Universal School Senior Amjad Karim delivered a Khutba at Moraine Valley Community College concerning the topic of “Time”. It was a great success, alhamdulilah, as Amjad received an abundance of positive feedback from those in attendance. One particularly interesting admirer of the Khutba was a non Muslim man who claimed that he was unsure of which religion to follow. He explained that he was searching for which to believe in, and had been attending religious gatherings of many different faiths. Marvelously, he reported that the Khutba was the best event he had attended yet, stating that the environment was a comfortable one, and the topic was one he could easily relate to his daily life.
In addition, Sohib Boundaoui delivered a Friday Kutbah at al-Furqan Academy on Friday December 17, 2010 on the topic of patience. It was attended not only by the students but by the principal and the chairman of al-Furqan Academy, who commented positively on the khutba. May these truly beautiful stories motivate not only Amjad and Sohib but many other young people to continue valiantly spreading the message of Islam.
The DAWA Club Organized a Workshop about Islam for Students from Thornton High School
By Ysra Zarzour, Head of the Dawa Club Shura Council and Dawa Club Editor-in-Chief
December 27th, 2010
On Monday, December 6, the Dawa Club of Universal School held a workshop with students from Thornton High School . The session began with the recitation of Surat al-Fatiha in both Arabic and English, and was followed by several short talks on topics such as the pillars of Islam and the reasons why Muslim women wear Hijab.
Through a series of contributions, the Dawa Club succeeded in setting up an Islamic exhibit, which included such things as Islamic calligraphy , pictures of Masjid al-Aqsa and the Kabah, and traditional dress worn by Middle Easterners. The students were also shown a small clip from the movie “ The Message ”, which signaled the end of the program. Before returning to their school, the visiting students were given a full tour of the school, and were presented with traditional Hatas as gifts. Their teacher commented that it means so much more when the program is given by students, as her students were able to connect more easily. Dawa Club Ameers, Ameeras, and members who participated included Shereen Abdeljaber, Iman Kort, Ysra Zarzour, Dania Atalla, Duaa Mohamed, Abdelkarim Atek, Amjad Karim , Hasan Khatib, and Adham Sahloul. Alhamdulilah, it was a successful event, in which Universal and Thornton students benefited.
Dawa Club Parents' Week
By Ysra Zarzour, DAWA Club Member and Editor
November 5th , 2010
During the week of October 25-29, and continuing into the week of November 1-5, the Dawa Club held its annual Parents' Week, in which students took an entire week to honor their parents more than usual. 
Students participated in daily Halaqas and khatiras concerning the topic of respect to parents, and the Friday khutba, given by Dawa Club Shura Council member Amjad Karim (senior), emphasized on this important task as well. The Dawah Club distributed decorative cards for the students to take home to their parents, and chocolates and flowers were sold during lunch time for those who wished to include them with the card. Dawa Club Shura Council Members Shereen Abdeljaber, Iman Kort, Ameera Nahhas, and Ysra Zarzour gave talks to the elementary students on the importance of obedience to parents. To end the week off, Dawa Club Ameer Talat Suleiman gave a khutba at Moraine Valley Community College concerning the topic of trusting in Allah. The Khutba was given in honor of the college's Muslim Awareness Week held by the Muslim Students Association.
The Parents' Week was a great success, Alhamdulilah, as a great number of the students participated. May Allah (SWT) grant our parents al-Firdous al-A'la. (Ameen).