Cambridge Muslims ONLINE newsletter is brought to you by the Cambridge
Muslim Community Services.

9th February 2004 (Dhul-Hijjah,18) Weekly Update

February 2004 is a very busy month for Islamic Events. Please keep a regular
eye on the Home Page and the Diary and Events page
http://www.cambridgemuslims.info/Events/

====================

1. Thought for the Week: Keeping Fit & Healthy

2. Muslim Health & Fitness Classes in Cambridge
- Men's Health & Fitness Session
- Ladies Swimming
- Ladies Fitness Classes
- Train to become an Aerobics Instructor for FREE!

3. Special Events: The Voyage of the Dove and the Dolphin

4. Dates for your Diary
- One World Week: World Village
- Tuesday Sisters Islamic Study Circle
- ISOC Islamic Study Circle
- Ladies Fitness Classes
- Religions of the World Fair and Debate
- Men's Health & Fitness Session
- Mother, Baby & Toddler Group
- One World Week: FILM - Children of Heaven
- Brothers Friday Islamic Study Circle & Dinner
- Abu Bakr Islamic School
- Ladies Swimming
- Qur'anic Classes for Children
- Boys Youth Group
- One World Week: FILM - Jenin! Jenin!
- Girls Youth Group
- One World Week: FILM - Divine Intervention

5. Contact Us
- See this section for a list of ways to contact us.


==== 1. Thought for the Week: Keeping Fit and Healthy ====

Assalaamu-alaikum wa rahmatullah.

Allah expects Muslims to take care of their bodies to the best of their
abilities. Obesity, weakness, and physical laziness are blameworthy
afflictions. Though death very well may overtake us today or tomorrow, we
should physically prepare ourselves to worship Allah in our old age, should
He give us long lives.

While bad health and disease is often beyond our control, we must take the
precautions available to us to maintain our physical health. Our bodies are
gifts from Allah, and we will be held accountable for how we use them.

Furthermore, a Muslim should be able to defend his or herself from
aggression (which requires physical strength) and should be prepared to
struggle in the path of Allah, should the occasion arise. For this reason,
the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) has said:

"The strong believer is better and more beloved to Allah than the weak
believer, while there is good in both." (Reported by Muslim.)

There are numerous Traditions in which the Prophet (peace and blessings be
upon him) recommended certain martial arts to maintain the health and
prepare the believers for situations of external aggression. Thus, he has
said (peace and blessings be upon him):

"Any action without the remembrance of Allah is either a diversion or
heedlessness excepting four acts: Walking from target to target [during
archery practice], training a horse, playing with one's family, and learning
to swim." (Reported by Tabarani.)

It should be kept in mind that the Prophet and the Companions were naturally
physically fit. Life was tougher back then – long distances were covered on
foot, men hunted and farmed their food to survive, and there did not exist
useless recreations - like television - to produce laziness and waste many
hours of otherwise constructive time. It was almost assumed back then that
believers would be physically fit. It was not until later generations that
the scholars encountered actual obesity and laziness.

In answer to your questions, a modern Muslim should put aside some time
daily or weekly to maintain his or her physical health. The average gym
these days entails mixed sexes in revealing clothing and loud music and thus
should be avoided. If running outside is not a practical option, consider
buying a treadmill for the house and maybe a few weights. Organized sports
like basketball and football are a good option for some, but one must be
careful not to overindulge in these and waste too much time.

As always, a Muslim man and woman is required to dress appropriately while
exercising, being sure to cover his or her `awra (nakedness) and to not wear
revealing and tight clothing like spandex. In terms of unlawful sports, I
have heard (and Allah knows best) that boxing is not lawful because a Muslim
should not hit in the face for sport. In general, Muslims must be careful
that their exercise programs do not jeopardize their good companionship and
do not take them to indecent places.

Husbands and wives can exercise and play together. This is a good way of
building love and happiness together. The Prophet's wife `Aisha said:

"I raced with the Prophet (peace and blessings be on him) and beat him in
the race. Later, when I had put on some weight, we raced again and he won.
Then he said, 'This cancels that,' referring to the previous occasion."
(Reported by Ahmad.)

Please check our fatwa department for more specifics on lawful and unlawful
sports.

By Noor ad-Deen Ingalls
Islam ONLINE
http://www.islamonline.net/askaboutislam/display.asp?hquestionID=5831


==== 2. Muslim Health and Fitness Classes in Cambridge ====

Assalaamu-alaikum wa rahmatullah.

On the subject of Health and Fitness I have listed the following classes
that are run in Cambridge. The classes are suitable for Muslims men and
women. You should make every effort to attend these classes, because if
attendances are poor then such classes may no longer run.

- Men's Health and Fitness Session
Thursday 12th February, 7pm at The Pavilion, Girton Recreation Ground,
Cambridge Road, Girton. The session takes the form of circuit training and
there will be approximately ten different exercise stations. The format is
that we all rotate through each station so everyone gets to do each
exercise. It is all controlled by a qualified instructor who warms us up
properly and warms us down properly. Last Thursday (5th Feb) was a very
enjoyable session with positive feedback from everyone. Because of the
limited space, only the first 20 people to arrive can participate. IF there
is enough demand, we will be able to get further funding and move to larger
premises Insha'Allah.

SOME OF THE PEOPLE TAKING PART LAST TIME WERE DIABETIC, DISABLED, HAVE HAD
HEART SURGERY AND RECOVERING FROM MINOR INJURIES ETC AND THEY WERE ALL ABLE
TO PARTICIPATE IN A WAY THAT HELPED THEM.

Please wear appropriate clothing for circuit training such as a track suit
and trainers or the nearest approximation - out door shoes and jeans are not
appropriate. THERE IS NO CHARGE FOR THE SESSION and the instructor will be
happy to tailor the exercises for you personally if you have an injury or
other ailment that you would like to recover from or deal with (i.e. torn or
strained muscles, diabetes, strokes etc).
http://www.cambridgemuslims.info/Events/Default.asp#MensHealthSession

- Ladies Swimming
For Ladies & Girls on Saturdays 7.00pm-8.00pm at The Leys school (off
Trumpington Rd). £2/£3 for the first person in the family, then £1 for every
one else in that family. Discounts for advance payment. About the session:
One large pool is sectioned off to allow for lane swimming, another section
for children and another section for everyone else. Sessions will continue
every Saturday insh'Allah until end of April 2004 when there will be a break
for the Easter Holiday. Please keep an eye on the Diary and Events page for
weekly information.
http://www.cambridgemuslims.info/services/LadiesSwimming/

- Ladies Fitness Classes
Weekly classes at Ross St Community Centre from 5.45pm to 6.45pm each
Thursday. No children under 11 years please and definitely no boys! Please
bring a towel, bottle of water and running shoes. Cost just £1 per session.
E-mail services@cambridgemuslims.info if you require further information.

- Train to become an Aerobics Instructor for FREE!
Ladies! Ladies. Find out more by visiting:
www.cambridgemuslims.info/Announcements/Default.asp#AerobicsInstructor

Wasalam,
Elias Karim
News Editor, Cambridge Muslims ONLINE
cmo@CambridgeMuslims.info


==== 3. Special Events: The Voyage of the Dove and the Dolphin ====

“The Voyage of the Dove and the Dolphin” - talk, video and discussion about
a voyage to Gaza seeking to relieve poverty, distress and hardship among the
Palestinian people and to bring justice and peace to the Holy Land

4.30pm Displays on view from 4:30pm by various charities and aid agencies.
6.00pm Middle Eastern Buffet (Halal)
7.30pm Talk by Dr. David Halpin.

Dr. David Halpin FRCS, Former Consultant Orthopaedic & Trauma Surgeon at
Torbay Hospital & the Princess Elizabeth Orthopaedic Hospital.

Emmanuel United Reformed Church
Trumpington Street, Cambridge, CB2 1RR
Entrance £2. Buffet £3.
ALL WELCOME

Organised by
Cambridge Palestine Solidarity Campaign

This event is supported by
Cambridge University Palestine Society
Cambridge Muslims ONLINE

For more information see:
http://www.cambridgemuslims.info/Events/Default.asp#EYES_OPEN_GAZA_


==== 4. Dates for your Diary ====
compiled by Elias Karim

Any last minute updates and changes can be found at
http://www.cambridgeMuslims.info/Events/

- One World Week: World Village
Tuesday 10th February, 1.00pm - 4.00pm, Keynes Hall, King's College.
Highlights include ISLAMIC CALLIGRAPHY DISPLAYS, Mexico City workshops, food
samples and much more.

- Tuesday Sisters Islamic Study Circle
Tuesday, 10th February. The Sisters Islamic Study Circle is open to
non-Muslim and Muslim ladies who have an interest in learning about Islam.
The group meets at Coleridge Community College each Tuesday at 8.00pm to
10.00pm.
http://www.cambridgemuslims.info/services/TuesdayLadies/

- ISOC Islamic Study Circle
Wednesday, 11th February between 7.00pm - 8.30pm. Cambridge University
Islamic Society: The Life and Times of Omar ibn al-Khattab (RA) - PART 3 by
Brother Omar Mahroo. Venue: Room N7, Pembroke College. The circle is open to
both brothers and sisters.
http://www.isoc.co.uk

- Ladies Fitness Classes
Thursday, 12th February between 5.45pm to 6.45pm. Weekly Fitness Classes run
at Ross Street Community Centre from 5.45pm to 6.45pm each Thursday. £1 per
session.

- Religions of the World Fair & Debate
Thursday 12th February, 6.30 – 8.30pm, Emmanuel College, Old Library. 6.30pm
Religions Fair: the religious societies present their faiths at stalls; you
are invited to question and find out more. The Islamic Stall supported by
Cambridge Muslims ONLINE. 7.30pm Panel Debate: The highlight of the evening,
asking how faith, the body and the soul exist in relation, and whether there
is an alternative to religion. Muslim speaker is Tim Winter, Cambridge’s
first Muslim lecturer.
http://www.cambridgemuslims.info/Events/Default.asp#Religions_Fair

- Men's Health & Fitness Session
Thursday 12th February, 7.00pm at The Pavilion, Girton Recreation Ground,
Cambridge Road, Girton. The session takes the form of circuit training and
there will be approximately ten different exercise stations. The format is
that we all rotate through each station so everyone gets to do each
exercise. It is all controlled by a qualified instructor who warms us up
properly and warms us down properly. Last Thursday (5th Feb) was a very
enjoyable session with positive feedback from everyone. Because of the
limited space, only the first 20 people to arrive can participate.
http://www.cambridgemuslims.info/Events/Default.asp#MensHealthSession

- Mother, Baby & Toddler Group
Friday, 13th February, 10.00am - 12.00pm at the Ross Street Community
Centre. Please support the Mother, Baby & Toddler Group or it may be forced
to close.
http://www.cambridgemuslims.info/services/baby.htm

- One World Week: FILM - Children of Heaven
Friday 13th February, 6.00pm - 7.30pm, Winstanley Lecture Theatre, Trinity
College. Admission Free. Director Majid Majidi. Best Foreign Film Oscar
Nomination 1996. Heart rending, cross-cultural gem that emotively reveals
the universality of familial love, childhood spirit and the yawning chasm
between rich and poor, lending the Iranian people a humanity so frequently
denied by the media. (90 minutes)

- Brothers Friday Islamic Study Circle & DINNER
Friday, 13th February between 8.30pm - 10.00pm, every Friday evening at the
Abu Bakr Siddiq Mosque, Mawson Rd. The circle is ideally suited for teens
and adults. The study circle is composed of two short talks followed by a
discussion with questions and answers. All Welcome.
http://www.cambridgemuslims.info/services/FridayCircle/

- Abu Bakr Islamic School
Saturday, 14th February. Week 6 at Abu Bakr Islamic School. Children should
be at school by 9.55am. Note this is the last week of school until Saturday
28th February. See Winter-Spring 2004 timetable for more information.
http://www.cambridgemuslims.info/services/school/

- Qur'anic Classes for Children
Saturday, 14th February, 10.00am - 1.30pm at Abu Bakr Mosque, Mawson Road,
Cambridge.

- Ladies Swimming
Saturday, 14th February, 7.00pm - 8.00pm at the Leys school.
http://www.cambridgemuslims.info/services/LadiesSwimming/

- Qur'anic Classes for Children
Sunday, 15th February, 10.00am - 1.30pm at Abu Bakr Mosque, Mawson Road,
Cambridge.

- Boys Youth Group
Sunday, 15th February, 10.30am - 1.30pm at The Barn on Sundays. For boys
aged 11-18 years who come together and learn more about each other and
Islam, whilst enjoying sporting and creative activities.
http://www.cambridgemuslims.info/services/BoysYouthGroup/

- One World Week: FILM - Jenin! Jenin!
Sunday 15th February, 1.00pm - 2.00pm, Bateman Auditorium, Caius College.
Director Mohammad Bakri. Best Film at Carthage International Film Festival
2002. Award winning documentary citing testimonies from residents of the
refugee camp of Jenin after Israel's Defensive Wall Operation. The sad
question forces itself on the spectator: what will become of a country, a
people, when its children are confronted with war and violence from a very
early age? (54 MINS)

- Girls Youth Group
Sunday, 15th Feb, 1.30pm - 4.00pm. At Romsey Mill (at corner of
Hemmingford and Mill Road).
http://www.cambridgemuslims.info/services/AlNoor/

- One World Week: FILM - Divine Intervention
Sunday 15th February, 6.00pm - 7.32pm, Bateman Auditorium, Caius College.
Director Elia Suleiman. GRAND JURY PRIZE AND FIPRESCI PRIZE AT CANNES 2002.
A darkly comic chronicle of love and pain, insightfully utilizes
irreverence, wit and mysticism to craft an intense, hallucinogenic and
extremely adept exploration of the dreams and nightmares of Palestinians and
Israelis living in uncertain times. The couple’s relationship and the absurd
situations around them serve as metaphors for the lunacy of larger cultural
problems, resulting in palpable, bottled personal and political rage. (92
minutes)


==== 5. Contact Us ====
We very much value any comments and opinions you may have, and we would love
to hear from you.

About the e-newsletter -- cmo@CambridgeMuslims.info
About the Cambridge Muslims -- contact@CambridgeMuslims.info
About the website -- webmaster@CambridgeMuslims.info
About Services in Cambridge -- services@CambridgeMuslims.info
Advertising & sponsorship -- ads@CambridgeMuslims.info

Telephone voice mail -- 0871 242 9696
Fax number -- 0871 242 9696

Meet face-to-face -- Friday Islamic Study Circle at Abu Bakr Siddiq Mosque,
Mawson Rd, Cambridge. After Isha prayers (~8.30pm)

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