Usrah at Stoke on Trent

29 Nov. 2008 - Thanks to Mr. Rameez, one of our Phd candidates at Keele, for the effort to invite the director and me to their first usrah session for the season. It's not the first time for me coming to Stoke, but it's the first time to be able to meet Malaysian students and researchers who are pursuing their studies there. Many thanks to Mr. Senek Baba, the Penghulu and Mr. Najib and wife, Mrs. Nik Salida for hosting the event at their place. What a small world, I was recalled by Nik Salida that we were once speakers st the same event of Forum Perdana Ehwal Islam, at SMK bandar Tasik Selatan. I'm terribly sorry for somehow it slipped from my memory. Apart from quite a number of that forum that I've involved, couldn't find any other valid excuses. Anyway, it's good to have her and husband here in UK, and she's now pursuing her Phd at Keele Univ. As usrah literally menas family, the session is tend to build the awareness, knoeledge and responsibilites towards each member, as one family. And having the opportunity to know, learn and understand Islam from various perspectives, it is essential that every 'family member' can participate in it. Most important, we need to address responsibly with the goals of having the usrah session, which are understanding Islam and creating a descent way to be a good muslim. It's all about knowledge and awareness, and far away from hatred, group or personal advantages. Usrah should now be transformed from having it in a close session and selective members, to be widely receptive and open invitation. My humble suggestion is that, we've passed the period where it has to be under secrecy, selection figures and goals set up to fulfil only one organisation. Islamic movements should extend the chances of having the participants not only to selective personnel, but to the most people out there who, should we not address and invite and approach them to the session, there's nothing much that they can do. In many cases, the particular usrah members are all ok and what they need is a continuous guidance, where as as long as dakwah is concerns, the real challenge is to be able to deliver the message to all types of backgrounds. Make it open, the beauty of Islamic thoughts can be shared in wider range. You may realize at the end of the process, peoples who are not an usrah member, are the one who needed knowledge and guidance most. My humble experience in conducting usrah or circle for newly converted muslims and non partisan of any Islamic movements and organisations, really shows that they're the one who really need extra care and hunger for the knowledge. Take them as your family member, take them in as your family, you'll find the fruits of dakwah. After the director's speech, I was given the chance to deliver some notes, circling on the important of knowledge, and some current muslims issues. Thanks to all our students and families at Stoke on Trent for the warmthwelcome and their attentiveness. We did feel at home. Till we meet again.