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By the grace of Almighty Allah the 5th Risalat Summer Course was held in cooperation by the IIIS and the RII, from August 12th to 24th 2018 in Qum, Isfahan, and Mashhad.
18 participants, mostly students from UK and particularly from ATA (Allamah Tabataba’i Award), benefited from the course and had the opportunity to perform Ziyarah of Syeda Ma’sumah (as) and Imam Ridha (as). They also had a two day trip to Kashan and Isfahan and visited Fin Garden, Imamzade Ali ibn Muhammad al-Baqir (a), the grave of Shahid Hujaji, Naqsh-e Jahan Square, Imam Mosque, Khajoo Bridge, and Ali Qapu Palace.
In Qum, beside the courses and ziyarat, the group visited Allamah Tabataba’i’s House, Bayt al-Noor, Golzar -e- Shuhada, and Imam Khumeini’s House. They also had the opportunity to purchase books from Ansarian publication.
We thank Allah (SWT) for giving us the opportunity to meet our Muslim brothers and sisters from another part of the world in Iran and spend those memorable days with them.
The Instructors and topics of the course are as follows:
Hujjat al-Islam Dr. Shomali: Islamic Society and Muslim Identity
Dr. Mahnaz Heyarpour: Islamic Family
Hujjat al-Islam Muhaddith: Individual Ethics
Hujjat al-Islam Dr. Karimi: Social Ethics
Hujjat al-Islam Rastifar: Imamate
Hujjat al-Islam Mu’alla: Ahkam
Sister Zahra Farzanegan: Ahkam
Testimonials:
Before Risalat 2019 AlhamdA I’ve had the chance to go ziyarah multiple times including Arba3een but this ziyarah here was special. The people you’re around really helps you develop spiritually as everyone’s on the same mission as you. The lectures by the respected scholars help you to reflect about many things while being on this trip. A once in a lifetime opportunity and experience honestly.
Hashim Al-hakim
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For me, the Risalat Summer Course was an overwhelming and life changing experience which benefited me in ways I never thought were possible. These two weeks have had an immense impact on my mental health which has now positively influenced my spirituality, and I’m truly grateful for that. During my journey to Iran, I had no idea what to expect considering it was my first time so there was a lot of confusion and in my mind but as soon as we reached Qom, I felt a different kind of peace, as though the weight of my shoulders had been lifted; I felt free.
This trip gave us the opportunity to grow spiritually as well as mentally and allowed us to explore our beliefs and interests at a more deeper level. The curriculum put in place for us was really beneficial and taught us the true meaning of equilibrium in life, in religion and with God. The topics chosen really helped me build a strong connection with Imam Mahdiعج and allowed me to reform my bond with Allah, and I am grateful to all the scholars who guided us throughout this journey.
One of the moments I’ll cherish the most are the ones that we spent in Masjid Jamkaran, whether that was for the daily fajr prayer, du’a tawassul on tuesday nights or even du’a nudba on friday mornings; just being surrounded by the presence of Imam Mahdiعج was an indescribable feeling, so exciting yet calming.
I would definitely recommend the youth to sign up to AT Award as it’ll allow them to experience life changing moments, from doing ziyarat to making friends for life, it’s all worth it.
Nabiha Zainab
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The Risalat Summer Course 2019 was an incredible experience. The islamic education lessons we received by the esteemed scholars on the course were eye-opening and thought-provoking. The lessons provided us with an opportunity to delve into our own religion on a deeper level and consider topics we hadn’t studied before, such as Islamic Society, Individual Ethics and Ahkam. Throughout the trip we held discussion circles, whether it was on the coach, in the hotel or in the holy shrine, where we reflected on what we had learnt in the lessons and which lessons resonated with us most.
For myself, the highlight of the trip was Ziyarah of Lady Fatima Masooma in Qom and Imam Al-Ridha in Mashad. In Qom we were told stories from Lady Fatima Masooma’s life and we were given a guided tour around her holy shrine. This allowed us to feel closer to her during our Ziyarah and connect on a more spiritual level. I also constantly felt connected to the Imam of our time, Imam Mahdi (AS). Praying Salat Al-Fajr every morning at Masjid Jamkaran and reading Dua Al-Faraj together every day strengthened our connection with the Imam. We also had the opportunity to read Dua Tawassul twice at Masjid Jamkaran, which was a highly spiritual experience I will never forget.
I am also extremely grateful for the life-long friendships I made on the trip. Being around other students, who like myself, were keen to increase their islamic knowledge and spirituality created the perfect environment for friendships to form. Studying together, doing Ziyarah together and reading Dua allowed us to connect and form a special bond that can only be described as sisterhood.
Throughout the trip we were always accompanied by the respected mentors from the Risalat Institute who were always available to answer any questions or to give guidance when needed. They were incredible role models and were inspiringly knowledgeable and generous. I thank them sincerely for their hard-work and sacrifices. The Risalat Summer Course was an extraordinary experience and I highly recommend the course to anyone considering it.
Sowsan Bilal
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The Risalat Course 2019 went above and beyond my expectations. It provided the spiritual recharge I was desperate for; from the esteemed teachers we had and the proximity to Jamkaran, Bibi Masooma, and Imam Ridha a.s. Dua Tawasul on a Tuesday night in Jamkaran is a memory I will never forget. And I cannot emphasise enough on the kindness and efforts of the teachers on this trip. There are few experiences in life that leave a mark on an individual, this was one of them for me. The two weeks in Iran was a blessing I thank Allah for.
Mohammad Aoun
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I went on the ATA Iran Trip 2019. I didn’t know many people from the start but straight away I made great friends and was having fun from the get go. It was also an life changing spiritual experience which helped mould me into a better person. The lecturers and the topics they discussed such as Islam in the West was informative and highly relevant to the situations we face every day. The mentors and Sheyokh were always there for us and helped us whenever we needed it. However, what I like most about this trip was that they showed us a path to improve ourselves, then allowing us to independently improve.
Maitham Hemani
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The 2 weeks we spent in Iran were life changing for myself; the balance of classes given, time we spent at the Holy Shrines and tourist activities was the perfect time for relaxation, and most importantly, self reflection. I felt this trip was constructive and character building – it allowed me to discover myself as a person, and alongside all the help given by the Ulama and our team mentors, develop and build on myself to become a better servant of Allah SWT. The classes consisted of learning from various parts of Islamic education, from ethics, to the study of civilisation. This provided an excellent all round introduction and explanation into the basis’ that a Muslim should know – essential for growing Muslims as ourselves.
On top of this, I was able to meet valuable friends and people who will bring the experience of Iran back to London with me, enabling me to continue my journey with the support I will need.
I dearly miss Iran and hope to revisit after my A Levels, inshallah!
Shaherzad Gokal