Halaqas

Introduction

MAS Youth Boston offers a number of halaqas in the Greater Boston area to serve the Muslim College Students. Each halaqa has a curriculum that is developed based on the needs of the halaqa attendants, their interests, understanding and practice of Islam. The halaqa curriculum is based on the Muslim American Society's general Islamic Studies curriculum, which is then catered to the needs of the target halaqa members. Evaluation of the progress of each halaqa is performed regularly with the halaqa leader, the MAS Boston Tarbiya Committee, and the MAS Youth Boston College Students Committee in order to enhance the curriculum and ensure that it is addressing the needs of the target audience.

Goals of the College Students Halaqas Include:

• Bringing the Muslim college student closer to Allah SWT and to Islam
• Providing an educational forum for the Muslim college student to come closer to other students in an open, sharing environment where they can learn about Islam in a natural and way.
• Developing a closer relationship with the Book of Allah: Al Quran.
• Initiating a love and dedication to learning and practicing Islam.

Target Audience:

Any college student interested in learning more about his/her religion. Although not mandatory, students are encouraged to commit to the halaqa on a weekly basis. The halaqa usually requires two hours of committment per week.

Sample Halaqa Program:

• Quran: Recitation and contemplation of a few Quranic verses. The halaqa leader will prepare the Tafsir of these verses and an explanation will be given during the halaqa. Halaqa members will share their reflections on what the verses mean and how they can implement them in their lives.
• Islamic Studies:A part of a book or an article will be discussed by the halaqa members on a certain topic. Topics are usually of practical nature and address issues that should be of interest to the Muslim student. Topics may include Akidah, Fikh, Hadith, Spiritual development, Islamic Activism, and others.
• Student's Life: College students are encouraged to share together challenges and concerns that they face as Muslim students and help each other solve them.
• Sample Halaqa Program: http://web.mit.edu/mitmsa/www/halaqa.html
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