Asalaamu Alaikum Wa Rahmat Ullahi Wa Barakatahu

I’d like to take this opportunity to welcome you all back to the new start of term. With a new semester, a new year and new modules come new opportunities. Every day that Allah SWT gifts us is another chance at getting it right, so let’s capitalise on this new day, this new semester and a new beginning, to make the most of our blessings.

 As we relaxed over the holiday season, with the occasional essay writing and revision, catching all those movies on TV that we really would never usually watch (Confessions of a Shopaholic...really?), our brothers and sisters around the world continued to suffer, from the atrocities being carried out against the people of Syria, the troubles of building a new state and society in Libya and Tunisia, to the continued affects of the East Africa drought and the apartheid situation in Palestine and Israel, not forgetting members of our own communities here in the United Kingdom, who have been unjustly marginalized by society, sleep rough and are forced to engage in dangerous and undesirable activities to earn a living . As exciting and fun a time it is to be back in Leeds, seeing all those old faces of new friends created in Semester One, let us not forget the people who are not as fortunate as us to be given a place at a University, be surrounded by the love and care of those closest to us, or be given the opportunity of creating a career for ourselves. Let us keep these people in our prayers every day.

Let us not be ungrateful to our Creator either; remember all those nights spent praying for success in the upcoming exams? Well, once they are over, let us not forget to thank Allah for the education bestowed upon us or thanking Allah for getting us through them. Allah says in His holy Book:

"O Believers, make abundant mention of ALLAH!" (33:41)

And He mentions of His servants: "Those who remember their Lord standing, and sitting, and lying on their sides" (3:191). (In other words at all times of the day and night)

He said (3:190-191):

"The creation of heaven and earth and the changes of night and day are signs for people who have wisdom: -- consider who is described as having wisdom -- Those who remember (and recite and call) Allah standing up, sitting, and lying on their sides."

As we draw to an end on the examination period and resume back to the normal timetable of lectures and seminars, labs and placements, let us not let slip out of that hard working mentality which we have been on during the Exam period; inshAllah we can keep the studying going whether we have Exams in the next month or not, for as Allah teaches us, Islam is to maintain a balance in thought and action. The key to success is consistency and adequate time planning, whilst last-minute cramming not only results in panic, but it is also an extreme and Allah does not love extremities for the Almighty says, "Allah desires ease for you; He does not desire difficulty for you." (2:185)

I leave you with the following Hadith:

Abu Hurayra reported that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "The deen is easy. Anyone who makes the deen too hard on himself will find it becomes too much for him. So aim for what is right, follow a middle path, accept the good news of the reward for right action, and seek help [to reach your goal by being constant in worshipping] in the morning, evening and some of the night."[al-Bukhari].

So let us intend to make our education and studying at University a form of worship, a form of our submission, our Islam, to Allah SWT. With this, we can achieve great things inshAllah.

I urge each of us to take heed of the opportunities around campus, one of them being those provided to you by your Islamic Society. We have a busy schedule for Semester Two with lots of events taking place, from lectures, trekking excursions, theme park visits, the annual Discover Islam Week and Charity Week to Green Room open days and Charity Dinners.

By no means an exhaustative list, here is a snapshot of what is to come, and when:

• Every Monday beginning on the 23rd January: Weekly Iftaar, Green Room. Maghrib Time.
• 21st-22nd January: Noesis Institute present "I bear Witness:The Shahada Course". http://noesisinstitute.com/shahada.aspx
• 28th January: Leeds University Union & Human Appeal do "Trek Snowdon" for Human Appeal’s Winter Campaign for Palestine
• 28th January: The Middle Eastern Department presents a one-day seminar on "Teaching Islamic Studies: Methodlogical Concerns, Practical Solution." (http://www.heacademy.ac.uk/assets/documents/islamicstudies/28Jan_Zahia_S...) (Registration required, email m.sheikh@leeds.ac.uk)
• 30th January: “A Diamond amongst stones: The Reality of the Prophet (saw)”. 5.30pm-8.30pm, Michael Sadler building, Room 15.
• 5th February: Dawah for Dummies with Zahid Bhatti 10am-5pm, Parkinson Building, Room 1.08. Dawah Workshop.
• 7th February: First Ethical Trust presents a lecture on “Islam and Britain: a History, a Future”. Western Lecture Theatre, Business School. 6pm.
• 6th-10th February: Leeds University Union International Cultural Festival. ISoc has many events planned as part of the week’s line up, keep checking the University Union for more details.
• 10th February: Leeds University Union Islamic Society in partnership with Islamic Relief: Charity Fund Raising Banquet for East African Drought, Riley Smith Hall. Ticket’s to go on sale soon.
• 13-17th February: Discover Islam Week (Details Coming soon) To Be Jam Packed!

Be sure to make a note of these upcoming events and I sincerely look forward to seeing you there. Remember, if you have any suggestions, comments or queries, send us an email to info@leedsisoc.com, visit our website: www.leedsisoc.com, follow us on twitter: www.twitter.com/leedsisoc and join the facebook group: www.facebook.com/leedsisoc to keep up to date with all our events and remain in the know-how.

Let the new Semester begin! (inshAllah)

President: Pardeep Nijjar