Fundraiser for the Rihla

Assalaamu alaikum wa rahmatullah,

I am writing to let you all know about this Friday's dinner with Shaykh Hamza Yusuf in Toronto, which is a joint fundraiser for Ihya Foundation and Deen Intensive Foundation. I know many of you through working with Deen Intensive, and having attended the DIs in 96, 97 and 99 in Toronto, and in 00 and 01 in Florida, as well as Rihlas in 97 in Nottingham, 98 in Fez, 00 in Spain, 01 in Hayward, 02 in New Mexico, and 05 in Madinah, alhamdulillah, I have had the opportunity to see with my own eyes the impact that these programs have had on the students, and having kept touch with many of you, I know that you have taken what you have learned and have benefitted others by it in your own communities. For over 10 years now, programs sponsored by both Ihya Foundation and Deen Intensive Foundation have helped make the teachers and teachings of traditional Islam accessible to local communities in North America, and around the world.

Now we are asking for your support.

Last summer, Deen Intensive Foundation held its annual 3-week Rihla, or Sacred Journey, to Madinah al-Munawwarah, The City of The Beloved, may Allah shower him with Blessings and Peace. Over 220 attendees, both young and old, made the journey from all parts of the world, including North America, Europe, mainland Asia, and the Middle East. It was my first time being there, and the first thing that I noticed was the magnetic quality of the city, and of the mosque, which your heart is immediately drawn towards. By the grace of Allah, our group was given many openings and blessings, the pinnacle of which was the private opening of the Rawdah, the Garden of the Prophet for us, not once, not twice, but three times. I encourage all of you to go to http://q-rihla.blogspot.com and read for yourselves the testimonials and journal entries of attendees of the program. This program, along with all of the other programs these two organizations sponsor do not go without cost. Insha'allah, Shaykh Hamza will speak about our experience in Madinah, and about the City itself and it's most Beloved treasure, the Messenger of Allah.

Insha'Allah, the Deen Intensive plans another Rihla to the City of the Messenger of Allah in the summer of 2006. In order to do this, and other programs, we need your help and support.

This letter is my appeal to all of you both living in the GTA (Greater Toronto Area), where this program is being held, and those outside the GTA as well, who may not be able to attend physically.

For those of you who are in the GTA and can attend, please go to http://www.ihyafoundation.com, and purchase a ticket online for you, your family, your parents, your friends and/or your loved ones. If you can get a group of 10 together to buy a table, we will reserve a table for you close to the front. You can also help by forwarding this email to your friends and other lists, and inviting them to support this noble cause.

For those of you outside the GTA, you can also help by forwarding this message on to others you may know in the GTA or to other lists, etc. You can of course donate without attending, and anyone who is interested can email me directly at ahson.ahmad@gmail.com

Donors can be issued a tax-receipt upon request. Also, we have a babysitting service at a reasonable cost - $5/child - at the dinner for parents of young children who might otherwise not be able to attend.

You may find more information about the program on http://www.ihyafoundation.com

I hope to see you on Friday, take care,
wassalam
Ahson Ahmad