Approximately 12 years ago, I started my first formal class, teaching sisters the proper recitation of the Qur'an and helping them to memorize the words of their Lord. They would come at 10 am every Saturday and Sunday and we would gather in a small mosque nearby. We usually had the mosque to ourselves so even after class ended at 12 noon, we would hang around and discuss matters of the deen. Then, they would begin to leave in ones or twos, some would hitch a ride, others would begin the long walk to the nearest bus stop.

From that humble beginning and sincere effort, Allaah brought forth immense fruits and benefits by His Rahmah and Promise. Some of them went on to become haafidhs, some enrolled in Islamiyyahs and became proficient in the language of their deen, some birthed kids that are now hafidhs, some migrated for the sake of Allaah, others adorned themselves with the jilbab, the niqab etc. Also from those classes grew sisterhood that gladdens my heart to this day: one became my trusted business partner and another my landlady and dearest aburo (she offered us a flat in their house and got herself 24 hours’ access to learning, smart girl!).

I’m sharing this to inspire us, to not belittle the little that we do here, for with sincerity, that little seed of effort will soon become a full grown tree; to not give up with frequent modifications but rather to purify our intentions and pursue the knowledge of the deen with zeal. 

Moving on, now that the PhD has been done and dusted wa lillaahil-hamd, I am expanding our classes in breadth and in depth bi’idhnillaah. In addition to our hifdh classes, we will now offer Arabic classes, Qur'an classes for kids etc. We would continue with the group classes and add on individual classes too. I look forward to a new decade of loving and learning the deen with you all in shaa Allaah, to forming bonds of sisterhood that last until we pray that Allaah unites us under His shade, by His Rahmah, on the day when the sun will be brought close, amin.