VirtualMosque.com and Ella Collins Institute encouraged various communities to submit their photos and number of attendees for the chance to win a free Ella Collins Institute Seminar. The community that was able to gather the largest number of attendees would win the first weekend course of the Ella Collins Institute’s Campus Courses with Imam Suhaib Webb and Imam Ibrahim Rahim teaching!

The winning community with a total of 1,132 attendees is…

Michigan!

From the bottom of our hearts, the VirtualMosque.com and Ella Collins Institute staff members would like to thank each and every single person who planned or attended the event. We are in awe of all of the communities and individuals who were able to quickly mobilize people to pray for the people of Syria.

With Ramadan around the corner, we ask people to continue to pray for the people of Syria. The revolution in Syria is still progressing, leaving thousands of Syrians displaced and in constant fear and jeopardy of being killed. Maher Zain, a performing artist, has written a song titled “Love Will Prevail” and dedicated it to the Syrian people. You can listen to it here:

Below you will find pictures of the various qiyams around the world, including the winning Detriot community!

Detroit, Michigan

Flint, Michigan

Canton, Michigan

Bay Area, California 

Columbus, Ohio

Nashville, Tennessee

Warsaw, Poland

We are astounded by the incredible response to the call for a Global Qiyam for Syria. May Allah subhanahu wa ta`ala (exalted is He) accept our prayers, and grant the Syrian people justice.

How to Win the Free Ella Collins Seminar*

1. Post details and pictures of your event on the VirtualMosque.com and the Ella Collins Institute Facebook pages. Please include your location, the number of attendees at your event, and a general idea of the program.

2. Email an official entry into the competition by emailing info@ellacollinsinstitute.org with the approximate number of attendees, contact information for the organizers, and pictures/details of the event.

*The free ECI seminar is only for the continental U.S.

What is a qiyam? 

Qiyam is an extra prayer offered after Isha at night. During the witr du`a’, one is able to ask God to assist and liberate the people of Syria. If prayed in congregation, everyone is able to share the same call, begging Allah to shower His Mercy and Aid upon the Syrian people.

Where do we start?

As an individual or group of motivated people, you can easily plan a qiyam program that will bring the community together to pray. It’s crucial to understand the importance of organizing such an event. “This global event may not go down in the history books, but we pray it goes down in something even more valuable: our records of deeds. We pray that Allah showers the earth with His angels on that Friday, and that they find worshipers crying in sincere prayer.” – Imam Suhaib Webb

Here are some basic steps that will help you in organizing the qiyam:

1. Contact your local Mosque and/or Organization

Your local mosque, MSA (Muslim Student Association), or community organization may not be aware of the #GlobalQiyam4Syria. Speak with them about the qiyam and encourage them to participate. Be courteous while communicating with them and respect any protocols they have for planning such events. Work with them to plan the event and mobilize others in the community to help.

2. Organize the logistics of the event

Depending on the size of your qiyam, you should consider setting a schedule for the event, assigning a moderator who will speak on the microphone (MC), finding someone to lead the prayers, inviting a speaker to share some thoughts, and coordinating refreshments/snacks for attendees. You might also want to designate someone ahead of time to take photographs to share with others.

Make it a priority to educate attendees and anyone involved in the planning of the qiyam about the situation in Syria. Read about the dire situation and the amount of people killed and displaced. Sharing information about the situation will further their knowledge on what’s happening in Syria and will inshaAllah make their du`a’ more heartfelt and sincere.

3. Outreach to your friends and members of the community

Spread the word about the #GlobalQiyam4Syria. You can reach the largest number of people at the click of a button: make phone calls, send text messages, and send emails to everyone you know. You can also use social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. You can create an event on Facebook, change your cover picture and/or profile picture, and spread information about the situation in Syria through sharing articles, pictures, or facts. You can Instagram the flyer for your local qiyam and use the #GlobalQiyam4Syria hashtag. You can also send tweets to friends encouraging them to attend the event and spread facts about Syria using the #GlobalQiyam4Syria hashtag. Try asking local organizations and mosques if they can advertise the event using their announcement email lists or Facebook pages. Mosques and organizations can also share reminders about the qiyam after prayers and classes.

4. Share your photos

After the qiyam, be sure to share photos of the event through social media to raise awareness of the plight of the Syrian people. Share your picture and reflections on your personal blog, Facebook account, Twitter, and Instagram with the #GlobalQiyam4Syria hashtag. Be sure to also post them on the VirtualMosque.com Facebook page. We hope that your pictures will reach the Syrian people and show them that they are in our thoughts and prayers. Your photos might also encourage members of your community to organize future qiyams and events for Syria.

5. Make du`a’ (supplication)

Always be sure to renew your intentions and remind yourself that all success comes from Allah (subhana wa ta`ala – exalted is He). Ask Allah to accept your efforts and accept the du`a’ of the qiyam attendees. While you’re planning the qiyam, keep your lips busy with the dhikr (remembrance) of Allah. Don’t get too caught up in the logistics of the event and forget the main purpose of the event: praying of the people of Syria. This should be happening during all stages of the qiyam planning, throughout the qiyam, and continue after the event.

How do we enter our community to win the Ella Collins Institute weekend seminar?

As an added bonus, VirtualMosque.com and Ella Collins Institute will be offering an all-expenses paid weekend seminar featuring Imam Suhaib Webb and Imam Ibrahim Rahim to the community that mobilizes the most attendees at the Global Qiyam! Stay tuned for more information on how to enter your community to win. On Wednesday, we will be posting that information on VirtualMosque.com and the Global Qiyam for Syria facebook page insha’Allah.

Have more tips on how to organize a qiyam? 

Post a comment below to help others! We’d love to hear how you plan your qiyam and encourage people to attend.

Mobilize for Change!

Like many of you, we at VirtualMosque.com and Ella Collins Institute have paid special attention to the crisis in Syria. Syria holds a special place in the hearts of Muslims because of religious and family bonds shared with Syrians, and because of statements of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ (peace be upon him) about its virtues, and the role it will play in the end of times. An example of this is his ﷺ statement:

طوبى للشام قلنا لأي ذلك يا رسول الله؟ قال: لأن ملائكة الرحمن باسطة أجنحتها عليها

“Congratulations to the people of Sham!” When the Companions ﷺ asked why, the Prophet ﷺ responded, “Because the angels of mercy surround it with their wings!” (Tirmidhi)

The Prophet ﷺ said,

اللهم بارك لنا في شامنا

“God! Bless for us our Sham!” (Bukhāri)

What is Sham?

Scholars mentioned two possible meanings for this word. First, Shām was north of the K’aba. Second, it was named after the son of Prophet Noah (Nūh), Yasām, pronounced Yashām in Syriac.

Today, Bilād al-Shām covers a large area of land, with the country of Syria being part of it. This area was so important that scholars wrote books on the virtues of the land and its people, such as Ibn Rājab’s Fadl al-Shām.

Background

As the winds of change blew throughout the Middle East, the people of Syria rose up against a tyrant. Sadly, unlike other countries, the struggle of the Syrians has been neglected by many. For us, students of knowledge and those who have family members in Syria, haunting news has become part of our daily diet. As an Imām, I have heard many stories from my students such as: “My cousin was shot and killed by a sniper,” “My uncle is missing,” or “My family fled” on a weekly basis. As a student of knowledge, I haven’t heard from teachers I would read with from Syria since the war started. Two days ago, I heard of a woman in Syria asking if suicide was a viable option instead of facing rape at the hands of Assad’s forces. In the simplest words: we are ignoring a country, a people, who are being brutalized every minute. To fully appreciate the magnitude of this tragedy, look at the following statistics provided by CNN:

• 70,000: The estimated death toll as of mid-February, according to the United Nations Human Rights Center.
• 22,530,746: Syria’s estimated population in July 2012, according to the CIA World Factbook.
• 0.311: Approximate percentage of the Syrian population killed so far. For comparison’s sake, 0.311% of the population would be 976,066 people for the United States, 196,077 people for the United Kingdom and 4,177,476 people for China, the world’s most populous country.
• 3,043: Average number of deaths per month.

While these numbers are appalling, CNN continues, “And that might be an underestimate. U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay said Syria’s raging civil war has made it “increasingly challenging” to collect accurate and reliable data.” Talk with Syrian friends and these numbers turn to horrific images of murder, plunder, rape, displacement and psychological torture.

Global Qiyām: Mobilize for Change. Mobilize to Pray for Syria.

In Febuary 2011, VirtualMosque.com requested a “Global Qiyām” seeking God’s aid for the people of Egypt. The response was incredible: mosques, MSAs and organizations mobilized in a way that, as expressed to me by Egyptian friends, “touched our hearts.”

It is time again for a “Global Qiyām” for Syria. If the entire world is deaf to the cries of Syria, there is no doubt that God is The All-Hearing, The All-Knowing. We say to the evil regime of al-Assad as Abdul Mutalib said to Abraha who wanted to destroy the K’aba,

إني أنا رب الإبل وإن للبيت ربا سيمنعه

“I am the owner of these camels, and this house has an owner (God) who will protect it!”

What We Are Calling For?

We ask everyone who visits this blog, no matter where you are, to organize a local qiyam program to pray for the people of Syria on Friday, May 17.  National Muslim organizations, youth groups, MSAs and regional coalitions, mosques, families – even groups of neighbors – can come together and raise your hands in du`a’ for the people of Syria. The time is short, and the task is large. This global event may not go down in the history books, but we pray it goes down in something even more valuable: our records of deeds. We pray that Allah showers the earth with His angels on that Friday, and that they find worshipers crying in sincere prayer.

Just as the Syrians used Facebook, Twitter, text messaging, and the internet to stand for their liberation, let us also join them in using these tools to gather masses of Muslims to pray qiyam.

Furthermore,

• Invite groups like Islamic Relief and Helping Hand to raise money for the deteriorating infrastructure in Syria and the basic needs of the people.
• Encourage congregants to contact their local representatives, calling them to task on their positions towards this crises.
• Write Op-Eds (Opinion-Editorials) that highlight the danger of ignoring the fight for dignity and freedom in Syria.

Mobilize the Most: Get a Weekend with Imam Suhaib Webb and Imam Ibrahim Rahim!

VirtualMosque.com and Ella Collins Institute are partnering to offer the community that mobilizes largest number of attendees a weekend of classes with the Imams! Post your pictures with an estimated number of attendees at the “Global Qiyam” facebook page. The winner will receive a weekend of courses with the Imams; VirtualMosque.com and Ella Collins Institute will take care of airfare and lodging! Mobilize for Syria and we will mobilize for you. Act quickly by posting on the web with #GlobalQiyam4Syria. I hope to see it raining this hash tag, insha’Allah.

I make this call to you on a personal level. American Islam does not imply we ignore the plight of others. We are a community that is bound by creed; a creed that knows no borders or ethnicities.

As a poet said,

أخي المسلم في كل مكان وبلـد       أنت مني وأنا منك كروح في جسد

“My Muslim brother and sister is in every country and place

You are to me, and I to you, like breath in a body.”

It is our duty to do our best to serve our Syrian brothers and sisters. It is is our duty to stand for humanity.

Imam Suhaib Webb

Boston, MA