Head of Services Blog- August 2009

Assalamualaikum,
 
August has been busy month for myself.. I was away for two weeks in Oxford at the Young Muslim Leadership Programme which I thoroughly enjoyed and found very beneficial.I was then away in Leicester for a course and with the start of the Blessed month of Ramadan, its been a hectic few weeks. And that doesn't even include all the planning for the year ahead with the services committee!!
 
Since my last blog in July, I mentioned getting the team together. Over the past few weeks we have identified specific roles and we had a meeting to discuss all the projects we will try to hold throuought the year. There have been some great ideas put forward and I would like to thank all those that emailed me with their thoughts. Just to give you a sneak preview, we are planning two big speaker tours, a national inter-faith week project as well as a special dawah training seminar on how to deal with new Muslims on campus, just to name a few. For the first semester speaker tour we are thinking early December as a good time. The inter-faith week will be a ground breaking project within FOSIS, similar to that of Islam Awareness weeks held in the Feb/March months. Some of the issues that different faiths can come together on for the greater good like the environment and recycling are potential ideas and themes..Inshallah by mid September we should have an idea of most of the projects we are going to be doing, with a yearly plan, So look out for the next blog to see what we have in store.
 
With Islamic Societies preparing for their respected fresher weeks welcoming all those new students to universities, most are also preparing for their annual fresher dinners. FOSIS services has a whole list of speaker details and as well as ideas on entertainment so again drop us a line. Another unique event, Charity Week, will be taking place at the end of October. FOSIS as well as Islamic Relief and ULU have been working hard to make sure that this years week long event is bigger and better than before. With so many students from all the different Isocs coming together to raise many thousands for orphans, please do your bit and contribute where possible.
 
On a final note with half of Ramadan almost upon us, lets try and make the most of the last half of Ramadan. As students we are blessed that this Ramadan falls whilst most of us still have holidays. This may not be the case in a few years when we have jobs and working etc.And there is no better way than spending the last ten days in the mosque taking part in I'tikaf. And as students working in Isocs this will put barakah in all that we do and be a spiritual boost for all your hard work for the next year. The Prophet (s.a.w) said, “The persons who secludes himself (in the Masjid in I’tikaf) in true faith and hope (for the reward of Allah), all of his previous sins shall be forgiven.”
 
Remember us in your prayers and stay blessed,
 
Wa'salam
 
Furqan Naeem (Head of Services)