What do they all have in common?

Well the first 2 were our big events for the previous 2 classes we had (SS40 and TSP). They are believed to be the reason we had the numbers we did at those classes.

For SS40 in July, we attended the ICNA Convention in CT. There were an estimated 13,000 people in attendance, the majority of which come from the NY/NJ areas. We had a booth, we had an announcement made right after a YQ speech at a Youth Conference session, where the attendance was close to around 1,500. Before ICNA, our registration/paid was at about 250/100. I believe this was one weekend before the class. The final numbers for the class were close to 600 registered and 471 in attendance. Our largest ever! And the largest for any Qabeelah in the U.S.

Forward to our next class after that, TSP which was held in October. The numbers were lacking big time for this class. We were at about 100 registered with a few paid right before Eid at Six Flags. This event was also just one week before the class. Most volunteers had lost hope (come on..you know you did:) but come class time we had close to or over 300 registered and about 250 in class. That’s not a whole lot, but still one of the largest double weekend class attendance we’ve had.

And now, Precious Provisions. We’re at about 200/118. ( http://forums.almaghrib.org/showthread.php?t=29476 ).

So I was thinking earlier today how I wish we had an event like ICNA or 6 Flags which would give us the soaring numbers we’re hoping for. What was it gonna be this time around? I, being a former basketball junkie remembered an article I read on Hakeem Olajuwon (one of the greatest NBA players of all time) and I went searching for it online. This part of the article was talking about how he used to think he was the best, and that all his success was from him alone. And how his numbers used to be great, but never resulted in a championship.

“Before I started practicing my faith, I used to completely rely on myself. When I had done my best, I would be extremely frustrated if I didn’t win. It would irritate and anger me. And that was causing me to be bad to others by fighting and swearing,” he explained.

“But when I started practicing my faith, I learned that results are not my property. I started doing my best but then I left success and failure to my Creator. Now I was not irritated by failure and was not overinflated by success. That caused me to calm down and improve my behavior towards others on my team and we became a team.”

What he didn’t mention is that once he did start to put his trust in Allah, his team won 2 straight championships and was considered a dynasty at that time.

So, what’s the point of all this. It was never ICNA, or 6 Flags or running to this event or the other, it was always our Duaa’s first and foremost, then doing the work, putting our trust in Allah (swt) while remembering that the end result does not come from us.

And now that we’ve realised that it is our dua and worship that brings the good in our Qabeelah, the best event is among us. The month of Dhul Hijjah. I don’t have to remind you of its blessings, because we’ve all received a million e-mails on it already. All I ask is when you break your fast, whether in each of the (best) 10 days or just the Day of Arafah make dua for the success of our next seminar. Remember it by name and be specific. Ask Allah (subhanahu wa ta’ala) to give us big numbers while allowing each and every student to benefit from the course. Ask Allah (subhanahu wa ta’ala) to put barakah in our work and allow us to reap the benefits of this work, if not in the dunya then in the akhirah. And most importantly ask Him (subhanahu wa ta’ala) to purify our intentions, and accept this from us. How sad would it be that this was all for nothing?

A quick reminder for myself and the rest of you.

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