Make dua, make dua, make dua!

I LOVE to eat lot of watermelon.. One day I had this strong craving for one and looked through all the change I had in a mug, after counting all the quarters and dime…it came to $3.75. Disheartened, I knew it will be more than 5 bucks, since I saw that price tag 3 days ago. I still thought I’d give it a try and might be able to buy a slice at least. I walked towards the grocery store and started repeating the dua that:

” Oh Allah! Make the cost of watermelon under my budget.”

Lo! And Behold, I felt weak in my knees when I saw the price tag…with tax it turned out to be exactly $3.75=)

Month: Jumada Al-Akhira1429/June 2008 (end date June 25th)

Dua (supplication) is one of the most powerful tools we have as Muslims. Yet, often neglected, as Omar (RA) said, “I’m not worried about whether my dua is being answered or not, but I’m worried about not making duas.”

So, in this DateDrive, can you:

1. Make a dua for someone you know. (Click here to post your dua, if you want to remain anonymous, just enter noname@you.com as your email)
2. Share your personal dua stories
3. Join the Dua Team

Help us to achieve our goals, to collect 70 duas, to get at least 7 dua stories, and to recruit 33 members for the Dua Team.

***We didn’t pay attention to the end time of the ThePoint campaign, so it ENDED PREMATURELY***
If you believe that the Dua Team is a great service and still want to join, post a comment below saying you want to join, if we get 8 members, in-sha-allah, we will form the team.
Click here —– [link removed, drive is closed, thanks] to say, “I WANT TO JOIN”.
Anyway, the deadline is June, 25th, 2008 11:59 California Time.

Dua Volunteers Team

When you join this team, you agree to make dua for requesters at one of the times when duas are most hopefully accepted, e.g. last hour of Friday, last third of the night, while fasting, traveling, or during sujood, after drinking Zamzam, etc. (we are compiling a list for you when you join the team.)

How it works?

1. To make sure you are committed, you have to donate $3 *offline* (*credit card not required*) to join the volunteer mailing list (requesting duas is free, but volunteering is not free :P).
2. Once you pay, we will add you to the mailing list
3. After you sign up, check your email to confirm your subscription to the mailing list
4. From time to time, you will be receiving requests for duas in your email
5. After you make the dua for the requester, you post a comment to acknowledge that you made the dua

Crazy! Why would I pay to join? Because you want to:

1. be reminded to make dua, which is an act of worship
2. be humbled to Allah
3. be thankful to Allah when you are aware of how requesters are being tested
4. be kind to your fellow Muslims who are requesting your duas
5. be prayed by angels (the hadith says, the angels pray the same for you when you pray for others)
6. be part of the solution for the Ummah
7. be … name your own reason

*If you can’t pay online, NO PROBLEM, WE MADE IT EASY FOR YOU.

Resources:

Etiquettes When Asking Allah

Some statements from the Sunnah:

The Prophet (SAW) said: “Nothing is more honourable to Allah the Most High than du`a.” [Sahih al-Jami` no.5268].

The Prophet (SAW) said: “The most excellent worship is du`a.” [Sahih Al-Jami` no. 1133]

The Prophet (SAW) said: “The most incapable person is the one who does not make du`a, and the most miserly person is the one who does not give salaam.” [Sahih Al-Jami` no. 1055]

The Prophet (SAW) said: “If one does not ask Allah, He will get angry with him.” [Sahih al-Jami` no.2414]

من سره أن يستجيب الله له عند الشدائد و الكرب ، فليكثر الدعاء في الرخاء

A Message From Sister Linda:
As Salaam’alaykum

All Praise and Thanks to Allah. The TSG project is a success for many good reasons:

1. The hard work of the HalfDate organization. May Allah shower each member with many blessings for their generosity.
2. The gift from Allah of the sisterhood and brotherhood in Islam. Many Muslims worked hard to help this project succeed.
3. The good will and generosity of Muslims who opened their hearts and gave their money for the sake of Allah and for our Muslim teachers and children!

I am deeply humbled that so many would choose to help with the TSG project even though most did not know me, yet they made an act of faith and helped. I am also so grateful for the many duas said for the project’s success!

HalfDate.com has demonstrated that when Muslims unite…we become strong and purposeful and can accomplish good. It is my hope and I will be saying duas that HalfDate sponsor many more worthy projects that give wonderful opportunities for many to do good, benefit others, and most importantly to serve Allah.

I know I am ready anytime Halfdate calls upon me to help them with future projects. I hope you also will be ready to help.

Salaams,
Sister Widad (Linda Delgado)
MWP Publisher

Update June 10, 2008:

Last donations received were from: Qamar, Joaquin, Syed, Imran, Fatima, RUSHMagazine, and several offline donors, including attendees of Care4Converts.com picnic.

A special donation was received in memory of Umm Abdulkarim Mai, may Allah be merciful on her.

The Count As of This Update
-Online donations: $1,097.77
-LivingHalal matching: $265.85 (for donations received between May 24-31)
-Survey donations: 82 survyes
-Magazine donations: 1 subscription
-Comments donations: rounded to $29
-Offline donations: expected over $300
With this surplus, we can also cover Paypal credit card fees, alhamdulillah.

Observations:
The goal of HalfDate is not simply faciliate a cause, but also study how to improve non-profit work. So, in-sha-Allah, after each drive we are going to debrief our findings and lesson learned from the drive.

This Sisters Drive, was our 2nd drive to collect donations for a project. The first drive duration was set for one week only, and alhamdulillah, we’ve collected over $5K. This drive was set for a month long, and guess what, the majority of donations came the last minute.

Donation Waves
-First wave came in after a brother sent to his CISCO List
-Second wave when a brother mentioned Sister Linda’s story in a Jumaa khutbah
-Third wave from offline events: Care4Converts picnic
-Last, an email sent out after the drive official end date, as the hadith says, “If the Jugement day is about to start, and in your hand a plant, so if you can plant it before the Judgement day start, then DO IT.”

Special comments People sent with the donation:

“Special thanks to Br Imran Quresh for forwarding the info to sv-pak list. Keep up the good work.” -S.A.

“I just donated $187.92 to bring your total to $1200. Please prey for me and my family.” -Q.H.

“Miss F—-. Thanks for your mail through some group. I got this from bhatkal world yahoo group and I am interested in finding out about ways to help this sister who had two heart attacks. Could you please write more about the case and her contact or email. Also please write which country she lives as to the medical prognosis to be performed. Hope you will reply with details. I know organizations and some hospitals who do the medical treatment free and also plus ways to find her some publishing work.” -Y.S.

Update June 06, 2008:
Alhamdulillah, Sister Linda is very happy to see that so many Muslims DO care about the future of our children. She has recieved contributions from India, the UK, Canada, USA, … (HalfDate doesn’t have the full list)

Lastest contributors are: Mafaza, Shabby, Mazen, qamar, gloria, Mahdi, Mazin, Zabeen, William, Deb, … may Allah reward you all.

Here are some examples of donations received: $1, $3.95, $5, $10, $15, $20, $25, …$100, $107
—-

“I do not profit in any way from this project. Profits from corresponding books to the TSG are used to buy books for Islamic school libraries.” -Linda of MuslimWritersPublishing.com

Update May 30th, 2008

Goal: To invoke Allah’s mercy with your lil contribution

How? You want to raise $1250 to fund the design work of 4 teacher study guides to be published for Muslim schools. (more details click the link at the end)

So, why YOU and why NOW?

1- You are maximizing your rewards by giving NOW, how?

A man came to the Prophet (SAW) asking him which Sadaqa gets the greatest of rewards. The Prophet said, “The one you give and you are healthy, stingy, worrying about poverty, and hoping for richness. And don’t delay until your soul is about to get out (death) when you say, ‘Give such and such to such and such.’” -Collected by Al-Bukhari/Al-Jamia’

2- You are giving for a lasting projects that will bring you continuous rewards, in-sha-Allah, every future print of these study guides you get rewards.

3- You are not helping a lazy dude who opt to beg, NO, this sister didn’t ask for help, but the community recommended HalfDate to help her. She had TWO HEART ATTACKS, yet, ma-sha-Allah still serving our community and doesn’t want the focus to be on her.

4- You are helping a business business that is “technically” running on a non-profit basis, the owner gives the authors all their royalty rights, and gives school teachers 40% discount

5- You are TESTING your iman by giving to a stranger who you don’t know much and maybe even skeptical, because the returns are coming from Allah not the stranger.

Okay, that’s sister Linda (Widad) Delgado, the woman behind Muslim Writers Publishing.

So why this DateDrive is called Sisters Drive?

Because you are helping sisters who are currently running a business, conducting a survey, or working for a non-profit cause.

So, how can you help your sisters?

Before the end of Jumada Ath-thani, 1429 (June 8th, 2008), please help Sister Linda (Widad) Delgado, who runs the one-sister-show of Muslim Writers Publishing, to help teachers by publishing five teacher study guides (TSG)

Muslim Writers Publishing (MWP) Announces New and Exciting Teacher Study
Guides For Quality Islamic Fiction Novels For The 2008-2009 School Year!

Muslim Writers Publishing has been listening to school teachers and administrators saying they need teacher study guides for quality Islamic Fiction books to use in their Language Arts programs.

Linda Delgado, MWP publisher, states that five new teacher study guides will be ready for the 2008-2009 Fall school semester for the Islamic Rose Books series. A sample excerpt of one of the teacher study guides can be viewed in pdf format at the publisher’s website.
Islamic Rose Books are written for the 5th through 8th grade reading levels depending on the students’ reading abilities.

A chapter of each of the four books in the series can be read here.

• Book 1- The Visitors (TSG available now)
• Book 2 – Hijab-EZ Friends (TSG available -Fall 2008)
• Book 3 – Stories (TSG available -Fall 2008)
• Book 4 – Saying Goodbye (TSG available -Fall 2008)

Teacher Study Guides (TSG) provide a valuable support to schools using the
Islamic Rose Book Series for their Language Arts program. The TSGs provide
a comprehensive cross-curricular resource that has been field-tested and
approved by Muslim educators and administrators. Content includes:

• Key curriculum connections
• Engaging Islamic integrated activities
• Critical thinking and reading comprehension
• Internet research and projects
• Multicultural themes
• Vocabulary and quizzes

A testimonial for the TSG prepared for the first book in the Islamic Rose Books series, The Visitors: “Jump into The Visitors with two feet! This study guide allows your students to explore the novel in an exciting and hands-on way, and includes activities for cross-curricular integration in Language and Writing, Science, Social Studies, Health, Art, Second Language Learning and Religious Studies. It is definitely a must for your school classroom.“-Sonia Dabboussi, Principal, Al-Hijra School

For the TSGs design work, it needs $1,250.00.

Method 1: PayPal

Method 2: USD Check or Money Order donation

Make your check or Money order payable to: Linda Delgado
Mail the check or money order to:
Linda Delgado
MWP/IRB
P.O. Box 27362
Tempe, Arizona 85285

In the memo line on your check or money order write: HalfDate.com

Be sure to include your name and mailing address or email address if you
would like to hear from the MWP publisher about the success, Allah willing,
of these projects.

Method 3: Fill a survey

OptimizeIt Designs, Inc wants to collect 100 surveys to help other sisters starting or managing a successful business. $1 will be donated when a sister fills the the survey.

Method 4: Subscribe to SISTERS Magazine

After you subscribe, email your receipt to (tamra at halfdate.com). In-sha-Allah, $5 will be donated towards this drive.

Method 5: Subscribe to RUSH Magazine: AMPLIFY your life sister, start today.

After you subscribe, email your receipt to (tamra at halfdate.com). In-sha-Allah, $1 will be donated towards this drive.

Method 6: Post a comment and $0.5 will be donated for the cause

Post your tributes and appreciations to one or more Muslim sisters in your life, including family, friends, teachers, businesses associates, etc. Click here to post in the comment section

Finally, If you cannot afford to provide any support for these worthy islamic educational projects at this time please pray for the success of these projects. Thank you.

Alhamduillah, another successful DateDrive. All praises are due to Allah, then the support of YOU.

Many wondered why we did a shoutout drive for halal business. Many even thought it was a waste of time (Ouch! Isn’t that the mentality of Noah’s people about building the Arc!).

Anyway, for those who participated, from the bottom/top/inside/outside of our hearts, may Allah reward you with tooooooons of rewards. BTW, can you believe that we prayed for you during the last hour of Jumaah, which we hoped that would match the acceptance hour!!! So, if that how we “mean” people show our appreciation to you, can you imagine the generosity of the most generous with those who help his DEEN and halal causes? Wait and see the fruits! May Allah accept your good ones!

Update May 2nd, 2008:

If you don’t know about HalfDate, click about us, or call CNN :). Basically, every Hijri month we put together a “DateDrive” where you, a member of the Ummah, work together with other members of the Ummah to achieve a specific DateDrive target. This month is to collect 70 shoutouts for Halal businesses.

In-sha-Allah, next drive will start on May 8th, where you will be helping a charity for Muslim women. If you want to recommend any Muslim women charities, please click contact us and submit your proposal, the charity has to be an officially registered entity, with email/phone and preferably can accept donation online.

Also, for next drive you can contribute by donating money or answering a survey (for each person, the survey sponsor will donate $1 for the charity).

Update April 29, 2008:

So, why are we collecting these shoutouts?

You tell me.

There are 1001 benefits from these shoutouts, the least to show your appreciation, for examples,

“I have never come across a place that is so hospitable and one that would stay open past business hours for a customer. It definitely showed me who there priority was– their CUSTOMER!” -Mariam shouts out for Computers & Laptops, Etc., Inc.

Or to provide insights like this:

“Its sad that brothers can work in American branches of Egyptian companies with a beard, but they are told to shave it off if they want to be accepted to work in the Egyptian branch!!!” -A.S

-end of updates-

Original post begins here

How do you feel when you see a woman with a child begging outside of your masjid?

Most probably, you’d feel sorry for them, and if they were genuinely in need, you’d help them.

But, this DateDrive is not about them.

Okay, here is another question.

How do you feel when you see a Muslim running a halal business trying to earn some halal money?

Most probably…nothing

Yes, Islam commands us to help the weak members of our society, but the goal of this help is so that one day they can be strong. Islam never encourages begging, that’s why we’re suppose to give to needy people before they even ask.

Yes, it’s good to donate in general, and you’re rewarded for that.

But here at HalfDate, you and I got no dates to waste and we want to support growth projects, where you can make a lasting difference, e.g. education, awareness, …

<Okay, enough philosophical big talk>

So… in this DateDrive, YOU are REVIVING the SUNNAH again… Because YOU want to reward those striving Muslims who, in many cases, are needy and struggling with their businesses, yet they ARE following the true teaching of the Prophet (peace and prayer be upon him) when he said

“The best earnings are the halal transactions, and the earnings with one’s hand” -Collected by Sahih Aljamia.

أفضل الكسب بيع مبرور ، وعمل الرجل بيده

So, what’s this DateDrive all about?

In-sha-Allah in this DateDrive, you will give a shout out for any halal businesses that you personally dealt with and LOVED.

Deadline: End of Rabia-l-Thani, 1429 (May 7, 2008)

Goal: HalfDate collects 70 shoutouts for any halal business owned or run by Muslims

Now, what’s in it for you?

A LOT, here are just seven benefits:

1. You are helping a Muslim businessperson
2. You are helping a halal business
3. You are making your brother/sister happy
4. You are encouraging better business practice
5. You are helping the economy of the Muslim community
6. You are following the teachings of enjoining good and forbidding evil (in business practices and customer service)
7. You are reviving the sunnah of your beloved Prophet (peace and prayers be upon him) by doing all of the above

How to post your shoutouts?

List three things in the comment section:

1. Business name (and what they do, if it’s not clear from their name)
2. Why you LOVED their service/product
3. How to contact them

IMPORTANT: Business entities CANNOT praise themselves; they have to ask their customers to do so. HalfDate reserves the right to delete any comments if we receive complaints about the business or if it’s not appropriate for our audience.

So… A R E… Y O U… R E A D Y!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Bismillah & SHOUT OUT

CLICK HERE TO POST YOUR SHOUTOUT

May Allah reward you with a palm tree in Jannah

Sometimes, we as consumers can provide so much joy to our service providers.

So…have you recently expressed thanks to the people at the halal restaurant, halal meat shop, bookstore, school, …?

The prophet (peace and prayers be upon him) said: “Whoever doesn’t thank people, doesn’t thank Allah.”

Here is a sample testimonial that a reader of a magazine sent to the editor.

“MASHALLAH When I read this [list of issues] it made me to cry because all of these things, EVERY SINGLE ONE, I am facing at this moment as a convert to ISLAM. When I try to explain to other people all the sacrifices or hardship that come of converting, people think that I am crazy and they do not truly understand. Thank you for making light of this.” -sister M.

“Those issues on that list have been a source of consternation with me for years. I would have left Islam along time ago if I had not taught MYSELF.” -sister A

“Yupp its hard for us to explain how it feels to stand out because converts have an interesting disposition…[link of two quotes] but we also should remember how blessed we are… many born Muslims, may be born into Islam… but do not practice, and then they see others who leave their former lives to become Muslim, and waAllahu Alim that might strike an interest in their own journey with Islam, we can use these issues that converts deal with to our advantage and teach others and also help those newer to the faith insha’Allah” -Sister W

Alhamdulillah, the Care for Converts Drive has been successfully completed.

May Allah reward all those who helped or intended to help.

[Update April/07/2008]

We have promised to send out the recording of Baba Ali marriage story, but due to limited volunteerDates in your DateTeam, it will take a while. Sorry. The recordings will be up on IslamicTube.net when OrganicMajdool comes back from his trip, in-sha-Allah, pray for him to be back in two weeks.

[Update April/06/2008]

Alhamdulillah, with Allah’s help then all your help and support, HalfDate Care For Converts Drive has completed successfully. May Allah reward you all.

Some highlights of the event:

• It was really a true ummahwide live event, ma-sha-Allah. The guest speaker was in Egypt, the interviewer was in the UK, the program coordinator in the US, and the audience from all over the world.
• The last event was an interview conducted by sister Fatimah BarakatuAllah with sister Naima B. Robert. The interview covered many of the challenges that converts/reverts Muslims have to face where most born-Muslims are not even aware of.
• We got questions from Mariam-Trinidad, M-Singapore, Dornubari-Rochester, UK, Dee-Phoenix, Saleem-London, Mariah-Midlands, Farhan-US, Sakina-Oakville, Enny-NEW YORK, Hamid-Mississauga, and others. (We ran out of time, so if your question was not addressed, sister Naima will try to post an answer for you on this page)
  
• Here is a tip if you are going to organize events across timezones, we had a confusion about timings: UK 9pm is it NY 4pm or 5pm? The early daylight saving in the US is really confusion, even world time converter wasn’t aware of the correct daylight saving settings.

[Update March/30/2008]

Alhamdulillah, overwheling response from Muslims around the world. May Allah reward you all. Some highlights of the event:

• One sister designed a colorful flyer for the event with her local timezone conversion (Australia) then asked her brother to distributed in the masjid. She later set up a blog and linked back to HalfDate, subhana Allah. May Allah reward sister of mazaif.com
• Sister A’ishah on Facebook posted a summary of the talk about criticism given by sister Megan Wyatt, may Allah reward you sister A’ishah
• Sister Yota, posted a summary of Baba Ali’s talk [I just saw it now], may Allah reward you sister Yota
• Thank you to all those who asked questions, maryan from Ohio, Jamil from Miami, Shakira from Lodon, “a sister from nj” from NJ, Sara from NJ, Sara-New York, NY, Sara from East Lansing, MI, Saffiyah-Washington DC, Muna-UAE- sharjah, Sabir-New Jersey, Ummuthman-London, Saeed-Herndon, SGee-Herndon, Ahmed M.-Virginia Beach, abid-london, Maryam-Manchester, alishba-riyadh, aisha-columbus, Akeedah-Manchester, Happy23-New York, Nadia-Detroit, Selma-Brooklyn, Lina-Beaverton, Dahlia-Portland, Sister Yota-Philadelphia, sahra-new york, sister-Australia, Fatimah-Austin, TX, Huma-U.A.E., Sister Aisha-Baltimore, Teresa-Los Angeles, abuaisha-soCal, and all other [noname] commenters who tuned in for the event. We can’t thank you enough, may Allah reward you all.
• Sister Dalia won an issue of SISTERS-Magazine
• Sister Nada won a gift from N-Ti.com
  
• Br. Nahyan won a gift from N-Ti.com for posting the first suggestion about our next drive
• Baba Ali revealed for the first time how he found his wife

“Okay, this is one of the interesting topic, you are the first person ever asked this, I’ve been interviewed by everyone from Newsweek, to New York Times, to USA Today, and Time Magazine, and no one ever asked this question :)” said Baba Ali when he revealed for the first time his marriage search story.

Join our LAST EVENT… Call all your friends to attend, throw a party and gather your friends around the computer or speaker phone to listen, you can do this in your home, school, your masjid event hall, … BE CREATIVE.

You are “about” to make history…

Assalam alaikum: O you who care for converts/reverts.

This is truely an Ummah-wide event, we are webcasting this event, so people outside the US don’t have to call long distance.

Email, annoucements, flyers are going out during Jumma in Australia, the US, the UK, Canada, South Africa, UAE, India, …

You are “about” to make history… You are about to change the future, in-sha-Allah…

Because it will never be the same after this care for converts drive.

Each month, thousands of new Muslims are coming to Islam, but we have no system to care for their needs… But not any more, because you are starting this movement, from brainstorming to events, to follow ups.

“I will tune in today to webcast and use the phone when I can also. For 7 years, I got tortured by people in ways no one can imagine and I wished there was something like this for me. I was abandoned and still have no one to contact with family or longtime so-called friends. I fell with nothing left and had no where to go. I had to reach out to Allah for strength to get up and see the good in people and in myself, as I became lost. Not anymore! Not anymore!”

So, STEP FORWARD and CLAIM your humble SPOT in HISTORY, in-sha-Allah. May Allah grant you a JUMBO spot in Jannah.

Here are the Tasks:
0- Have the intention for Allah and think about that new Muslims who needs your help
1- Forward this to your list
2- Post on forums and link back to http://halfdate.com, digg, propell, stumpleupon, …
3- Contact Muslims on YouTube, Facebook, MySpace, Muxlim, …
4- Google convert groups and contact them
5- Tell your Masjid about this event, give them a flyer
6- MAKE DUA…. M A K E What? Duuuuuuuaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!

Alhamdulillah, the 59 issues have been collected.

Now it’s time for some GREAT conversations, in-sha-Allah.

All event timings are California (Pacific daylight saving timezone), use a time converter to know your local time.

EVENT: Habits of Excellence: Empowerment to Improve Through Criticism
Speaker: Sister Megan Wyatt, AskCoachMegan.com lifecoach
DATE & TIME: Friday, March 28th at 9:00pm Pacific
FORMAT: Simulcast! (Attend via Phone or Webcast — it’s your choice)

EVENT: Funny questions but really sad: A conversation with Baba Ali
DATE & TIME: Saturday, March 29th at 12:00pm Pacific
FORMAT: Simulcast! (Attend via Phone or Webcast — it’s your choice)

EVENT: Facing the challenges, savoring the triumphs - life of a new Muslim
Speaker: Sister Naima B. Robert, author of the UK best selling book, From My Sisters’ Lips
DATE & TIME: Saturday, April 5th at 9:00pm GMT/UTC (2:00pm California)
FORMAT: Simulcast! (Attend via Phone or Webcast — it’s your choice)

During the Bosnia crisis, one famous imam of a major masjid in the Muslim world told the congregation,

“I’m putting a SUGGESTION box in the masjid so we can collect ideas on how to solve this crisis”

HalfDate’s concept is to guide our collective efforts towards a cause. It’s not only about monetary donation drives, because in Islam, the concept of Sadaqa (charity) is much broader than that.

Next Jumuah, he came and announced the ideas that he found in the box. First, he got lots of donations and only a few suggestions. Guess what were the few suggestions he got?

Narrated by Abu Huraira: Allah’s Apostle said, “There is a (compulsory) Sadaqa (charity) to be given for every joint of the human body (as a sign of gratitude to Allah) everyday the sun rises. To judge justly between two persons is regarded as Sadaqa, and to help a man concerning his riding animal by helping him to ride it or by lifting his luggage on to it, is also regarded as Sadaqa, and (saying) a good word is also Sadaqa, and every step taken on one’s way to offer the compulsory prayer (in the mosque) is also Sadaqa and to remove a harmful thing from the way is also Sadaqa.” -collected by Al-Bukhari

“We can marry those Bosnian sisters.”

The imam asked, “Do Muslims have something better to offer?”

So, what is this DateDrive all about?

Deadline: April 6th, 2008 (end of Rabia-l-Awal 1429)

In care for converts drive, you will help to achieve the following targets:

1. Collect at least 59 issues that converts are facing after embracing Islam (any issue, just speak your mind: I’m confused all kind of Muslims are telling me all kinds of things, or how do I deal with my family, or Imam of the masjid wants me to marry his overseas cousin??) You can just post it in the comment section.
2. Invite at least 59 converts to attend a series of teleseminars given by other convert speakers.
3. Talk to Muslim businesses to contribute towards our gift bag for converts, so far we have the following sponsors: N-ti.com, SISTERS magazine, RUSH magazine, and AskCoachMegan.com.

Teleseminar Speakers are:

• Sister Naima Roberts, author of the UK best selling book, From My Sisters’ Lips
• Br. Ali of AskBabaAli.com
• Sister Megan Wyatt, AskCoachMegan.com lifecoach

“We love to make takbirs when someone takes shahadah…but we need to know how we can take care of them after that… and each of you can help!”- Megan Wyatt

CLICK HERE TO COMMENT

Speakers are waiting for you to finish the 59 issues drive.

We got all the 59 issues, Alhumdulillah.

May Allah reward you with a date palm in Jannah.

Special Thanks To

• Islamicity.com for providing media coverage for this event
• Organizing and sponsoring the teleseminars LivingHalal Media
• http://www.care4converts.com/ for inspiring the name of this drive

Two volunteers needed to sort out the issues from the comments, because there are multiple issues per comment. If you are interested, please email

Issues summarized so far, thanks to sister C. and Brother D, May Allah reward you.

]]> http://halfdate.com/2008/03/15/care-for-converts-drive/feed/ http://halfdate.com/2008/02/24/school-textbook-drive/ http://halfdate.com/2008/02/24/school-textbook-drive/#comments Sun, 24 Feb 2008 09:20:39 +0000 admin http://livinghalal.com/halfdate/?p=5

This HalfDate drive has ended.

Assalamu alaikum,
We are overwhelmed by the kindness and support all of you have shown with
not only your money, but kind words of support. Thanks to Allah and with
your help our textbook drive was a big success.

Thank you,

Eric Ali

Al-Madinah School, Los Angeles

HalfDate’s next drive will be “Care For Convert Sisters” in collaboration with Islamicity and LivingHalal, if you have any suggestions please contact us.

“I have been thinking where to donate the little amount of money that I made the past fortnight and was SO overwhelmed when charity is knocking at my door. (allah makes ease the path to good)… ” -UmmSaarah

SubhanAllah, the school’s principal never imagined that strangers from Singapore, Canada, the UK, Australia, the US, Denmark, and Belgium would care for his students.

Indeed, it’s the blessing of Allah, may Allah reward you all.

So, get your half date in before then

You are needed again! So, say, “Alhamdulillah.”

Your little brothers and sisters are waiting for you to pay for their books!

So, READ on and ACT upon their appeal.

Too busy to read? Listen, Allah can clear away all your problems and send you tons of provisions IF you follow this Hadith:

هل تنصرون وترزقون إلا بضعفائكم

“You are supported and provided for no reasons EXCEPT because of the weak amongst you.” -Collected by Al-Bukhari

So, now if you turn away, you are giving your back to Allah’s support and provision.

Still reading? Ma-sha-Allah, Yousuf (4th grade student) must be glad to know that. He left you a message here:

So… how about YOU chipping in with half a date?

Is shaitan calling you to hold back again?

Well, it’s natural to feel stingy even to give $5. But, do you know the best charity is the one you give when you are stingy and not well off?

جاء رجل إلى النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم فقال : يا رسول الله ، أي الصدقة أعظم أجرا ؟ قال : أن تصدق وأنت صحيح شحيح ، تخشى الفقر وتأمل الغنى ، ولا تمهل حتى إذا بلغت الحلقوم ، قلت : لفلان كذا ، ولفلان كذا ، وقد كان لفلان

A man came to the Prophet (SAW) asking him which Sadaqa gets the greatest of rewards. The Prophet said, “The one you give and you are healthy, stingy, worrying about poverty, and hoping for richness. And don’t delay until your soul is about to get out (death) when you say, ‘Give such and such to such and such.’” -Collected by Al-Bukhari/Al-Jamia’

See what other donors say

“Alhamdolilah I’m a student and I’m broke, but I still managed to donate . Many times we hesitate to donate even a couple of bucks, but don’t mind getting our twice-a-day-$3 fix at Starbucks.” -mt

“Asalaamu’alaykum, I’m from the UK, and glad my pound can help some Muslim students on the other side of the Atlantic. Alhamdulillah, may Allah accept our efforts and forgive us our sins.ameen” -alqamardesigns

“Assalaamu alaikum. I made a donation in the same amount that I might spend on a trip to a store in the mall. I believe we can all think of an amount that is easy for us to spend and apply that to this worthy cause! May Allah bless our little brothers and sisters.” -UmmAbdurrahman

Here are three simple ways to donate:

(1) Pay by check or bank transfer/deposit to: Al-Madinah School

3510 Exposition Place
Los Angeles, CA 90018
(323) 296-5961

For Bank info: Call the school at (323) 296-5961

(2) Send directly to the publisher. Call the school at (323) 296-5961 or email madina <at> pacbell <dot> net

Here is the message of Al-Madinah School Principal

“I know that sometimes donors are reluctant to write checks directly to Islamic organizations, so we do have an open and past due textbook invoice that we are unable to pay. If someone would like to write a check directly to the McGraw-Hill Company sponsoring our school textbooks, I have attached the invoice ($5,127.54). I just need to be advised that its been paid or have the check mailed to our school and I will forward payment.

Salaams,

Eric”

(3) Pay online via PayPal

Al-Manidah School is a registered not-for-profit organization, Tax ID 51-0179919.

Once you’ve donated your half date, please post a testimonial on how you are feeling now so others get encouraged to donate too.

SPREAD THE WORD & SHARE THE REWARDS

One brother told his friends about this drive and within hours, he collected $630 dollars, ma-sha-Allah.

Interesting Facts:

• There are more donors than comments
• The smallest donation is $2 and the largest is $555 (both from Canada)
• The second smallest donation is $3 and the second largest is $500 (both from the US)
• First PayPal donation came in from New Jersey, at 12:10:27 PST on Feb 25, 2008
• Last PayPal donation came in from Texas, at 09:28:32 PST on Mar 04, 2008
• First mail-in donation is $75, recieved on Mar 3, 2008
• School food sales has collected $638
• Three donors donated two times

None “Date” type of help:

• Most comments came from Canada
• HalfDate is being StumbledUpon, Facebooked, and blogged
• Zamzam design did some graphics work
• SISTERS Magazine offered a free issue for donors
• RUSHMagazine offered a free issue for donors, and free graphics design work for HalfDate
• One sister sent to her local newspaper
• One brother gave a khutbah about HalfDate
• Several brothers and sisters forwarded to their mailing lists
• Two brothers emailed McGraw-Hill corporate responsibility
• A blackseed supplement manufacturer offered fund raiser bottles for future drives.

May Allah accept from all of us.