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Assalaamu ’alaykum..
It’s a new month and at Maktabah, this means a new book & schedule!
But it’s been a while since I emailed you on what’s new and what’s good at Maktabah. So, here is what you missed.
As you may know, when I first lauched Maktabah, I lauched it with Muslim Mums in mind. I was in my phase of reading parenting books (still mostly am) and with the one million and one conversations and questions resulting from those conversations, I thought it was a great idea. And it may have been.
In Ramadan however, lots of du’aa, solitude and reflection led me to testing out something different. Perhaps, something that has never been done; a bookclub dedicated to classical Islaamic books - and all good is from Allaah alone.
So, right after Ramadaan, I took a leap. I tested out a theory I had; many muslims want to read books, islaamic books, and if they could find a way to ‘read’ it without reading it, they would.
And my theory may just be right. Because, it so happens that within about a week, 50+ people had signed up. But if I’m being completely honest, it may have had something to do with the fact that I gave the option to “pay what you want”.
Regardless, people showed up. And the next four weeks in Shawwaal saw us reading, reflecting on and deriving action points from the book “The Journey to Allah” by Ibn Rajab Al-Hanbali (rahimahullah).
People showed up. We had an average of 30 people on each call for the first 3 weeks and 25 in the last two (with those who missed catching up through recordings). I was in awe, because if you have any experience managing communities, then you know that it is easier to get people to sign up than it is to get them to actually show up. These women showed up, maa shaa’ Allaah. Again, all good is from Allaah —alone.
Still, I was curious. I really wanted to know why or what it was that encouraged them, that kept them (those who did) coming. And these were a few of the responses:
We are growing and evolving and I hope you stay and support us on the journey. May Allaah bring forth good and benefit for us from it, and reward our striving, aameen.
That first month was purely an experiment.
But since it yielded, I thought, well.. let’s try again. And here we are, our second month of Maktabah classics - reading a book from one of my favorite of favorites, rahimahullah, Sheikh AbdurRahmaan Ibn Naasir As-Sa’di.
A book that covers topics ranging from self-awareness to social awareness, emotional management to personal development — and above all, on the basis of Qur’aan and Sunnah in 80 pages!
So, this is Maktabah (for now) — a book and personal spiritual development club for Muslim women, and I hope you will GROW WITH US.
Fatimah,
MAKTABAH HUB
Would you like to join us for Maktabah this month?