Cookie Halaqas

The main event of most weeks for the MSA. At these weekly group discussions, MSA members contribute their thoughts and feelings on different Islamic topics. Halaqas will also usually have a speaker to share their knowledge with us and moderate the discussion. Refreshments, such as cookies and milk, are served after each Halaqa. The halaqas during Ramadan include an iftaar as well.

Day: Every Friday
Time: 7:30 PM
Location: Usually Texas Union Eastwoods’ (Room 2.102)

Upcoming Halaqas:

Past Halaqas:

Aisha (Last Halaqa)

Speaker: Dr. Denise Spellburg
Date: Friday, May 1, 2009
Time: 7:30PM
Room: Eastwoods Room, Union (2.102)
Description:
Dr. Spellburg will go into an in depth discussion of the life and legacy of the Prophet's wife Aisha.

Denise A. Spellberg is an American scholar of Islamic history. She is an associate professor of history and Middle Eastern Studies at the University of Texas at Austin. Spellberg holds a BA from Smith College (1980) and a PhD (1989) from Columbia University. Spellberg's work on the portrayal of Aisha in Islamic tradition is widely cited.

Objectification of Women Around the World

Speaker: Robert Jensen
Date: Friday, January 30th, 2009
Time: 7:30PM
Room: Eastwoods Room, Union (2.102)
Description:
Our first halaqa will be about the objectification of women in different cultures around the world. The speaker, Prof. Robert Jensen, will speak about the core reasons why such abuse of women still occurs and is accepted to this day.

Robert Jensen is a professor of journalism at the University of Texas at Austin. Jensen is a prolific writer, journalist, speaker, and activist.

25 Questions You Should Ask Before Marraige

Speaker: Yasmin Turk
Date: Friday, February 6th, 2009
Time: 7:30PM
Room: Sinclair Suite, Union (3.128)
Description:
Yasmin Turk, will talk about important issues that should be discussed before marrying someone. These questions range from the obvious questions to the more subtle ones.

Yasmin Turk is a social worker in the local Austin community and she gave a halaqa about social work last semester. As a counselor, she also deals with family relationships.

KNOW. Your Role.

Speaker: Abdul Hasib Noor
Date: Friday, February 13, 2009
Time: 7:30PM
Room: Eastwoods Room, Union (2.102)
Description:
The task of attaining knowledge has led many prominent scholars and others, throughout history, to go great lengths. Here in the US, many of us either feel overconfident that attaining Islamic knowledge can be done with a series of simple commoditized tasks; or we wish to gain Islamic knowledge, but we do not resolve that wish because we feel that it is out of our reach. Abdul Hasib Noor will discuss why these hurdles constantly stop us from growing.

Abdul Hasib Noor is an Austin native and student at the University of Medina.

The Muslim and The Bee:

Speaker: Shaykh Isam Rajab
Date: Friday, February 20, 2009
Time: 7:30PM
Room: Eastwoods Room, Union (2.102)
Description:
Sheikh Isam Rajab graduated from Madina University with a BS in Islamic Studies. He has over 10 years of experience as an Imam in the US and Kuwait. He is the present Director of Arees Insitute and Imam of Masjid Hamzah, Mission Bend in Houston, TX.