Nomaan Baig

Why Choose IOK Seminary?

A Seminary That Transforms Lives

At IOK, we don’t just teach, we nurture scholars, thinkers, and leaders! Whether you’re looking for part-time or full-time programs, IOK has a path for you.

✅ Traditional Learning with Modern Relevance
✅ Classes in Aqeedah, Fiqh, Quran, and Hadith
✅ Mentorship from Respected Scholars
✅ A Community of Seekers and Leaders

📖 Ready to take the next step? Learn more at iokseminary.com!

After witnessing the devastating news of the fires in Los Angeles, my teachers and elders reached out to check on me, offering guidance and spiritual solace. They reminded me of a profound verse from the Qur’an, one that speaks to our collective need for both Istighfar and Tawbah in such times of trial:

“But ask forgiveness of your Lord, and turn unto Him (in repentance): For my Lord is indeed full of mercy and loving-kindness.” (Qur’an 11:91)

Istighfar and Tawbah
• Istighfar (Arabic: استغفار): Seeking Allah’s forgiveness for sins, shortcomings, or mistakes, often through the simple yet powerful words, “Astaghfirullah” (I seek forgiveness from Allah).
• Tawbah (Arabic: توبة): A deeper act of repentance that involves heartfelt regret, the immediate abandonment of sin, and a sincere resolve never to return to it.

To embody these principles, they encouraged us to regularly recite the following authentic supplication:

أَسْتَغْفِرُ اللهَ الَّذِي لاَ إِلٰهَ إلَّا هُوَ الحَيُّ القَيُّومُ وأتُوبُ إِليْهِ
“I seek the forgiveness of Allah. There is no true god except Allah, the Ever-Living, the Self-Subsisting, and I turn to Him in repentance.”

Additionally, they advised the community to engage in the constant recitation of this powerful verse:

لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا أَنتَ سُبْحَانَكَ إِنِّي كُنتُ مِنَ الظَّالِمِين
“There is no god ˹worthy of worship˺ except You. Glory be to You! I have certainly done wrong.” (Qur’an 21:87)

May Allah protect us, our families, our homes, and our communities from all harm in this world and the eternal fire of the hereafter. May He envelop us in His mercy and grant us the ability to turn to Him sincerely. Ameen.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cz9p518j0nqo

May Allah give him the loftiest abode in the hereafter, and the companionship of the righteous, martyrs, and prophets, peace be upon them all. Ameen

Marcellus Williams executed in Missouri after 20 years on death row Marcellus Williams had long proclaimed he was innocent in the 1998 fatal stabbing of Felicia Gayle in a St Louis, Missouri, suburb.

During a brief layover in Dubai, I had the honor of meeting M***i Menk at the airport lounge, Alhamdulillāh. We engaged in a thoughtful and enriching conversation for about 30 to 40 minutes, expressing mutual respect for each other’s work and the shared mission we both uphold. We reflected on the importance of complementing one another’s efforts, particularly in filling the void of Islamic reminders and inspirational talks through social media and other public forums. We also acknowledged the pressing need to invest in institution-building and cultivating future servant leaders.

Our conversation underscored the reality of a rapidly connected global community, where information travels across continents in mere seconds, and how this connectivity makes it all the more vital to safeguard our Deen from external challenges as well as internal divisions. We spoke about the crucial need to stand united in defending each other against detractors and provocateurs who aim to sow discord and division within our ranks.

Additionally, we took a moment to commend the impactful work being done by Abdullah Aid in the UK, along with the significant contributions of the Institute of Knowledge (IOK) and Jamia Binoria International, whose efforts continue to reach far and wide, Alhamdulillāh.

I also had the opportunity to inform M***i Menk about my co-board member, Taher Dadabhoy’s recent heart attack, and humbly requested his prayers. To my surprise, M***i Menk immediately recognized the Dadabhoy family and mentioned that he is close friends with Taher’s older brother.

Additionally, I shared the details of our IOK WAQF and IOK CHESS project (www.iokchess.com), aimed at establishing an endowment for IOK and expanding our IOK Seminary campus. I humbly requested his prayers for our efforts to close escrow by September 30th, inshāAllāh.

Overall, it was a brief but meaningful encounter filled with brotherhood, supplications for one another, for our efforts, and especially for our brothers and sisters who are suffering around the world. We agreed to meet again soon in the UK, inshāAllāh.

Come and audit Night 1 of our Summer Intensive for free!

Join us tomorrow night at Islamic Society of Orange County - ISOC at 6 PM for social hour with food trucks, followed by the first session of our intensive on how to reflect on the Qur’an by Shaykh Furhan Zubairi.

Share with others and spread the word!

❔What is ʿĀshūrāʾ and why should we fast on that day? What is The Exodus? Should One Spend Extra on One’s Family on The Day of ʿĀshūrāʾ?

🌊 Discover the virtues and recommendations for fasting during the sacred month of Muharram.

🔗 Read the article here:
https://iokchess.com/journal/fasting-on-ashura/

Alhamdulillah, through the grace and mercy of Allah, I have been blessed with the opportunity to serve the Hujjāj, the Pilgrims and Guests of Allah, once again this year.

It was the desire of my mother and shaykh, may Allah be pleased with them, that I serve the Hujjāj. I’m grateful for their Duas and Allah’s acceptance in being blessed to go for Hajj annually since 2004.

Heading now to the the Prophet’s ﷺ city, the Illuminated City of Madinah al-Munawwarah first, and then on to Makkah for Hajj inshāAllāh.

‏اللهم صلي على محمد وعلى آل محمد

May Allah facilitate the journey and accept from all the Hujjāj!

Please submit your Dua request at: bit.ly/iokhajjdua

The death toll in Gaza is now above 34,904. More than 14,500 of those are children. We are witnessing genocide and ethnic cleansing taking place right in front of our eyes. The Apartheid State of Izrael has expanded its military operation to Rafah in the Southern Gaza Strip, where the vast majority of displaced Palestinians were told to seek refuge. This is beyond sadistic and reprehensible. There aren’t enough words to describe and condemn what is happening on the ground. We are seeing some of the worst atrocities being committed by occupiers and oppressors. Western states and the mainstream media are willfully, cruelly, and arrogantly turning a blind eye. The rhetoric from heads of states and the media is absolutely infuriating. The Muslim world, particularly the Arab states, seem powerless and helpless.

Despite all the material odds stacked against the Gazans, believers are people of hope and optimism. We know for a fact with absolute 100% certainty that Allah ﷻ will aid, support, assist, and grant relief and victory to the oppressed. The Prophet ﷺ taught a young ibn ʿAbbāds (ra), "And know that victory comes with patience, relief with affliction, and hardship with ease.” The Prophet ﷺ told us, "Beware of the supplication of the oppressed for there is no veil between it and Allah."

We know their prayers are being heard and answered. In the past few weeks, we have seen the tide of public opinion changing, particularly among the younger generation of college and university students.

Allah ﷻ consoled and comforted the best generation of believers to walk in this earth saying, "Do you think you will be admitted into Paradise without being tested like those before you? They were afflicted with suffering and adversity and were so ˹violently˺ shaken that ˹even˺ the Messenger and the believers with him cried out, 'When will Allah’s help come?' Indeed, Allah’s help is near."

Allah's help is near!

My heartfelt congratulations to my dear brother, Dr. M***i Noman Naeem on completing his PhD.

As the President of Jamia Binoria International [Official], I am immensely proud of him for his dedication and commitment to his studies while maintaining his leadership responsibilities at the Jamia.

May Allah continue to bless him in his faith, knowledge, practice and health as he furthers the cause of his late and great father M***i Muhammad Naeem (ra).

الحمدللہ!

رئیس الجامعہ بنوریہ عالمیہ مولانا نعمان نعیم حفظہ اللہ کو وفاقی اردو یونیورسٹی کی جانب سے کلیہ معارف اسلامیہ میں تحقیق کی تکمیل پر پی ایچ ڈی کی ڈگری کی منظوری دیدی گئی۔

۔ایڈمن

Eid Mubārak! May Allah ﷻ accept our prayers, fasts, supplications, charity, recitation of the Quran, and anything else we did during this blessed month to get closer to our Lord and Creator. May Allah ﷻ allow us to build on the momentum we have gained throughout the month and allow us to exit the month cleansed of our mistakes and shortcomings.