What is the purpose of the Maqra?
Who are the scholars that supervise?
Do I need to know Arabic to attend?
Is there any explanation of the texts during the Maqra?
How long do the courses run for?
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What is the purpose of the Maqra?
There can be many reasons for a Maqra of a particular Islamic text to be read amongst students of knowledge and scholars alike.
For example, every year in the Haram, during Ramadan, students and scholars read the whole of Sahih Al Bukhari to gain the Baraka of going through the blessed text and as a reminder of the words and speeches of our prophet (saw).
MRDF began to revive these readings which have been prevalent in our Islamic history, especially in the early stages of Islam where it was a very strong way for a student to take a hadith with its chain from his or her teacher (ijaaza) and then spread that hadith to his students just as he had taken it.
Alongside being present in a majlis of Baraka, going through texts allows the student to read classic books correctly under the supervision of scholars who usually have ijaaza’s in the book leading back to the author.
For more benefits that come from attending a Maqra, please read the review given during one of the earliest events at: www.iprogress.org.uk/maqrah/pastmaqrah/168.html
What happens in a Maqra?
A Maqra reading usually takes place in masaajid over the period of a weekend and students gather together and take it in turns to read sections of the text with scholars supervising the event, making sure the text is read correctly and if there is a mistake, they are there to correct it.
The day is predominantly spent reading, from Fajr until Isha, with breaks for rest and prayer.
Who does the reading?
The reading is done by students and scholars alike. Those who have a good speed of Arabic reading usually participate in most of the reading so that the texts can be covered, however, from the past Maqra’s that have taken place, everyone is encouraged to do some reading, even if it is a short section so that they are part of the whole course.
Who are the scholars that supervise?
A host of scholars have been part of the Maqra experience:
-Moulana Ahmed Ali Diwan Lajpuri Surati (Leicester) who currently holds the shortest chain back to Imam Bukahri in the world. Born in India and now over 90 years old, the moulana is amongst the most knowledgeable scholars in hadith and has many ijaazas in many Islamic books.
-Shiekh Mohammad Akram Nadwi – a teacher in Oxford who is a specialist in the science of hadith and has many Ijaaza in many hadith books.
-Sheikh Haitham al-Haddad is a leading scholar in London and has taken knowledge from many of the top scholars in Saudi Arabia for the past 15 years
-Sheikh Ahmad Ayoob Surti, a teacher of Bukhari in Leicester who has a very short chain back to Imam Bkhari.
-Sheikh Anas Ibn Aqil from Saudi Arabia who has multiple Ijaaza in Sahih Al Bukhari and other texts.
Do I need to know Arabic to attend?
The event is primarily aimed for students of knowledge who have acquired a firm grasp into Arabic and who have done some study in hadith. Having said this, many students have attended and followed in English and still left with much benefit from the experience.
It might be a little hard for an English speaker to get the full benefit of such an event, however, it is still open to them and they are more then welcome to attend
Is there any explanation of the texts during the Maqra?
The Maqra is a reading – and although some of the past Maqra have had some very short explanations to some parts of the text, it is really a reading and therefore explanation is not a focus and rarely happens.
How do I register?
Create an account on the iprogress.org.uk website and register there.
Can I do some of the reading?
Everyone is more then welcome to get involved in the reading and if your Arabic reading is fast, this is a good opportunity for you to read lengthy texts under some of the top scholars around.
How long do the courses run for?
The courses last as long as it needs to for completion of the text. The earlier texts such as Umdahtul Ahkaam and The Mukhtassar of Sahih Al Bukhari were completed in one weekend.
The most recent venture to complete the reading of Sahih Al Bukhari with the sanad will take around 4 weekends to complete.
Each weekend begins on the Friday evening and we stop on Sunday around Isha time.
Is the event open to sisters?
The most recent event is available to sisters.
If I have any more questions, who do I speak to?
You can email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or call 077 644 91334
