Madina Monthly

2.23- Professional Development / Early dismissal @ 12:30 pm

12.24-1.2.26- Winter Break

1.9.26- Parent Teacher Conferences/ Early Dismissal @ 12:30 pm

1.19.26- MLK Day

2.16.26- President Day

We are so excited to announce the winners for the Comic Strip Competition! Unfortunately since no comics were submitted from Middle School, we have selected two winners from Elementary instead.

Congratulations to everyone who participated, I enjoyed reading them all. The two winners are Yaseen Bhuiyan (5th grade) and Muhammad Azlan (5th grade). Here are the winning comics:

As winter break draws closer each day, the much-needed vacation everyone has been desperately waiting for is finally in sight. Even so, we continue striving to bring moments of fun and excitement during the difficult school days.

Our 9th grade students have done a very good job at their very first bake sale, and it was a huge success. It was a team effort, and everyone stepped up to contribute, and they sold a lot. They brought in students’ absolute favorites, including Buldak ramen noodles, Dunkin’ hot chocolate, mac and cheese, and a variety of tasty desserts.

Students also enjoyed a special school event where they watched the Arab Final match between Morocco and Jordan. Many students proudly wore their favorite team jerseys and colors, creating an exciting and vibrant atmosphere that brought everyone together.

We also have many clubs to keep students involved and entertained after school. The Outdoor Adventure club, hosted by Mrs Salwa for middle school and some high schoolers, encourages students to step outside, appreciate the nature Allah SWT has created, and develop problem-solving skills in a natural environment. It teaches students to get off the electronics and do activities like hiking, ice skating, bike riding, canoeing, and learn how to build a long-lasting fire. The Archery club hosted by Ustad Sufu helps students to learn focus, patience, and precision, while keeping it fun. The Martial Arts club also hosted by Ustad Sufu assists students to build a firm skill of self defense in case of an emergency. It helps with strength, confidence, and self-discipline, as well as other characteristics. As I have been in both the Martial Arts and Outdoor Adventure, they have aided me to learn skills that I never thought were useful until I realized how many real-life situations they can apply to.

In addition, we are excited to introduce a new Art Club for students in grades 3-5, led by Mrs. Alaa and Mrs. Salsabeel. This club gives younger students a creative space to express themselves, explore different art techniques, and enjoy a fun, relaxing environment after school.

Ayah:

ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَتَطْمَئِنُّ قُلُوبُهُم بِذِكْرِ ٱللَّهِ ۗ أَلَا بِذِكْرِ ٱللَّهِ تَطْمَئِنُّ ٱلْقُلُوبُ ٢٨

“...those who believe and whose hearts find comfort in the remembrance of Allah. Surely in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find comfort.” (13:28)

Hadith:

حَدَّثَنَا يَعْقُوبُ بْنُ حُمَيْدِ بْنِ كَاسِبٍ، حَدَّثَنَا الْمُغِيرَةُ بْنُ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ سَعِيدِ بْنِ أَبِي هِنْدٍ، عَنْ زِيَادِ بْنِ أَبِي زِيَادٍ، مَوْلَى ابْنِ عَيَّاشٍ عَنْ أَبِي بَحْرِيَّةَ، عَنْ أَبِي الدَّرْدَاءِ، أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ قَالَ ‏"‏ أَلاَ أُنَبِّئُكُمْ بِخَيْرِ أَعْمَالِكُمْ وَأَرْضَاهَا عِنْدَ مَلِيكِكُمْ وَأَرْفَعِهَا فِي دَرَجَاتِكُمْ وَخَيْرٍ لَكُمْ مِنْ إِعْطَاءِ الذَّهَبِ وَالْوَرِقِ وَمِنْ أَنْ تَلْقَوْا عَدُوَّكُمْ فَتَضْرِبُوا أَعْنَاقَهُمْ وَيَضْرِبُوا أَعْنَاقَكُمْ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ قَالُوا وَمَا ذَاكَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ قَالَ ‏"‏ ذِكْرُ اللَّهِ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ وَقَالَ مُعَاذُ بْنُ جَبَلٍ مَا عَمِلَ امْرُؤٌ بِعَمَلٍ أَنْجَى لَهُ مِنْ عَذَابِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ مِنْ ذِكْرِ اللَّهِ ‏.‏

It was narrated from Abu Darda that the Prophet(ﷺ) said: "Shall I not tell you of the best of your deeds, the most pleasing to your Sovereign, those that raise you most in status, that are better than your gold and silver, or meeting you enemy (in battle) and you strike their necks and they strike your necks?" They said: " What is that, O Messenger of Allah?" He said: "Remembering Allah (Dhikr)."

(Sunan Ibn Majah 3790)

Dhikr is the constant awareness of Allah in your heart, through a Muslim’s tongue and actions. It is one of the simplest, though most powerful acts of worship. The Prophet (SAW) taught us that the thing that’s more worthy than valuables, and fighting for Allah’s sake that elevates your status in the eyes of Allah is glorifying Him. In addition, the Ayah reminds us that Allah (SWT) will always ease hardships and allow a Muslim to find eternal success in this life and the next through remembering Him.

Some of the most beloved encouraged forms of adkhar include:

• Subhanallah سُبْحَانَ اللهِ

• Alhamdulillah اَلْحَمْدُ لِلّٰهِ

• Allahu Akbar اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ

• La ilaha ila Allah لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا ٱللَّٰهُ

• Astaghfirullah أَسْتَغْفِرُ اللَّهَ

• La hawla wala quwwata illa billah لَا حَولَ وَلَا قُوَّةَ إِلَّا بِاللَّهِ

• Allahumma sali’ Ala Muhammad اللَّهُمَّ صَلَّى عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ

• A’oodhu Billahi Min ash-Shaytan ar-Rajeem أَعُوذُ بِاللَّهِ مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ الرَّجِيمِ

• Bismillah بِسْمِ اللَّهِ

• Recitation of the Quran

Dkhir is the easiest act of worship; it is light on the tongue and heavy on the scales. Moreover, a believer will find lots of barakah (blessings) in their life, and will be rewarded infinitely. Without saying dhikr, the heart of a Muslim suffocates.

The easiest way to make dhikr a habit is by starting little: pick a phrase each day, and say it a few times. Even the smallest act of worship bring the highest rewards.

May Allah (SWT) reward us all InshaAllah.

For this month’s newsletter, we interviewed two students at different stages of their time at this school and asked them a few questions about school, stress, and what they deem would help lead to success.

When asked how to make school less stressful or more fun, students emphasized balance and confidence. One student said, “Just aim to do good enough most days. When you stop pressuring yourself to get everything exactly right, school feels lighter.” Another shared that taking breaks and not overworking yourself can make a big difference.

Reflecting on what they wished they knew when they first started school, students highlighted the vitality of asking for help. One student explained, “I wish I knew that it’s okay to ask for help without feeling ashamed for not understanding something right away.” Another added that even students who seem confident are often still figuring things out.

When discussing habits and mindsets that helped them succeed, students pointed to positivity and organization. One student shared, “Staying positive and not thinking negatively about yourself or others really helps.” Another mentioned how your space reflects your mind which I can assure you is true.

Overall, students agreed that success comes from balance, a healthy mindset, and knowing you’re not alone in the process.

Juman:

Imagine this: waking up at six in the morning, getting ready, and going to school, spending seven to eight hours there, only to come home and realize you still have hours’ worth of work left to complete. Studies show that the average teenager needs eight to nine hours of sleep in order to function properly during the day. There are 24 hours in a day. If you subtract nine hours for sleep, that leaves 15 hours. Now subtract the eight hours spent at school, and you’re left with only seven hours. If you then spend about four of those hours on basic needs such as eating and using the restroom, you’re left with very little time. And what about students who participate in extracurriculars? That can take up another two hours. What time does that leave for the student to focus on their mental and physical well-being? None. What time does that leave for students to socialize with friends and family? None. In what plausible way would this be good for students' well being? Let me answer that question one last time: none.

Naureen

Homework can be overwhelming at times, but reducing it may cause more harm than good. Homework is not a form of punishment, but rather a tool for teachers to help students retain what they have learnt in class. This is crucial because it can be difficult to ensure every student fully grasps the concepts taught during the limited time they have in class. That is why allowing students to practice independently and discover their own weaknesses in certain topics is important. Additionally, learning how to juggle homework and extracurricular activities can help develop their time management skills, which can be extremely beneficial for college and future careers, where the workload is often larger, and schedules may not be so flexible. Research has found that when assigned in reasonable amounts, homework is linked to high grades and successful test performances. Therefore, homework should not be reduced; instead, schools should focus on ensuring work assigned to students is for their learning and understanding, rather than adding unnecessary baggage to their already heavy workloads.

I have noticed that one of the biggest things people say is “I'm fine,” when they clearly aren't. We say it automatically. Teachers, friends, and parents ask, and we answer without thinking. Not because it's true, but because explaining the truth feels like too much work.

Many students aren’t lazy. They’re just exhausted; not physically but mentally. The kind of tiredness that doesn’t go away after sleep, and the kind where everything feels like effort, even things that we used to enjoy. But instead of calling it what it is, we tell ourselves we’re just unmotivated or not trying enough. And trust me, I’ve been there, and I’ve had these exact thoughts.

Then there's also this idea that if you're still getting things done, then you must be doing well. Good grades, showing up, doing what's expected of you. But sometimes we use productivity as a cover, so you can be doing everything right and still feel drained inside.

What makes it worse is how often people feel like they don’t deserve to be tired. Someone always has it worse, or someone else is dealing with something worse. This is true, and we need to be sympathetic, but not to the point of convincing ourselves that our struggles are insignificant. This life is a test, and each of our struggles is a test from Allah, so each struggle matters.

If you feel like this, start small, don't just drop everything because we still have to get through life. So just take one thing off your plate if you can, even if it's just lowering your expectations for a day. Talk to someone you trust. And most importantly, don't be too hard on yourself. Just try your best and leave the rest up to Allah. In the end, nobody is perfect; we are all humans.

Building a loving and close relationship with Allah (swt) takes steps. It doesn't mean you have to understand the Quran right away, but rather start off with small sincere acts that help open your heart. You don't need to know Arabic; just talk to Allah in whatever language you know best. Talk to Him about anything, from minor inconveniences to your dream goals. The honesty of your dua is what naturally builds your relationship with Allah. Implementing the Quran in your life is essential; even if you can't understand it, there are always translation books available. Start by reading a few lines of the translation a day. If you come across anything you don't understand or have questions about, you can always ask trusted sources like your parents, Islamic Studies teachers, or even the sheikh of your masjid. Listening to the Quran can also touch your heart in ways words alone cannot, helping you feel the beauty of Allah's words. Another way to build love is to learn about Allah's 99 names and attributes; each name represents Him, and the more you know your Lord, the more you feel drawn to Him. Consistency is vital; keep up with your good deeds and do them daily, as they can nourish your heart even when you don't realize it. Most importantly, ask Allah to place love for Him in your heart; Allah loves it when we seek out to Him, and would respond in ways that can slowly transform your soul.

In the old days Muslim kids were mostly educated by their family and friends. They didn’t have a school system like we do now, and instead of lessons they would have the occasional lecture from someone knowledgeable. One example is the Jummah khutbah, and many people, not just kids, would gather to pray and learn. The Prophet’s last sermon, khutbatul wada’, taught the muslims the importance of doing good deeds, equality, justice, women and human rights in general, as well as advice for the future. Other than through advice and lectures, kids would also learn manners through example. It is one thing to know the right thing to do, but acting on your knowledge is just as important. By growing up with these good behaviors and manners around them, kids will automatically follow them in the future. For general education, they didn’t have science, math, or english/arabic classes. If they wanted to learn something they would have to find a tutor, and most kids didn’t learn to read and write because it was not considered a necessity as well as the additional cost of hiring a tutor, which only the wealthy could afford. However, that did not mean they were any less knowledgeable: the Prophet (PBUH) himself did not know how to read or write, yet he memorized and spread the Quran as well as Islamic knowledge. Science, math, history, and other subjects were also not basic knowledge for everyone and they didn’t have as many books on the subjects as we have now. People who studied them would go in depth and make new discoveries, such as Al-Khawarizmi, who invented algebra, and Ibn Sina, who made many important medicinal discoveries. Kids would primarily learn to follow in the footsteps of their parents, and instead of going to school, they would start learning to work from a young age. They would learn how trade works, how to farm, cook, weave, hunt, and more through experience and practice.