Jamatkhana and Institutional Updates

The month of Ramadan is the one in which the Qur’an was sent down - right Guidance to mankind, and clear signs of Guidance and Distinction of truth from falsehood

(Holy Qur'an 2:185)

Ramadan Mubarak
Ramadan is the holy month in which Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him and his family) received the first revelation of the Holy Qur’an. In Muslim tradition, it is a time of heightened commitment to Taqwa, which indicates a holistic sense of piety, including a physical, intellectual, spiritual, and moral consciousness of the Divine.
Many Muslims believe that the best means to practice Taqwa is to fast from food and water during the hours of daylight, as prescribed in the Holy Qur’an (2:183). Fasting is a practice common to nearly all spiritual traditions from the beginning of recorded religion. According to both Shia and Sunni Muslims, a deeper purpose of fasting is to cultivate and reinforce the spiritual and moral character of the faithful, and seek a sense of renewal.
How else can we practice Taqwa? Prayer and dhikr, or remembrance of the Divine, good deeds, charitable giving, and voluntary service can also increase our piety. During Ramadan, Muslims also devote more time to reading the Qur’an and to reflection. As we face an unprecedented time in the history of humanity – this is perhaps a perfect opportunity for us to step back from the busyness of our usual hectic lives and take some time to reflect.

Virtual Jamati Programme
This Saturday will mark 35 years since the Ismaili Centre London was opened on 24/04/1985. Tune in for a special broadcast at 7pm BST on Saturday to commemorate this monumental occasion for our community. Take part in the celebrations! We want you to share your favourite Ismaili Centre London memory. Follow us on Instagram @theismailiUK or like us on Facebook and tag #ICL35years.

Government Announcement: Loaning of laptops and tablets to help continuing learning at home
To help with remote learning, disadvantaged and vulnerable students are due to be loaned laptops and tablets. This includes children in the most vital stages of their education, those with a social worker and care leavers. In many cases this has already started. If you fit into this category and do not already have a laptop or tablet, please contact your school.
Internet will also be provided to ensure disadvantaged secondary school pupils and care leavers can access the internet (where those families do not already have mobile or broadband internet). Major telecommunications providers will also make it easier to access selected educational resources by temporarily making these sites free to access. If you would like any support from AKEB, please contact Ashif Pabani on +44 7919 174 169 or email akeb@iiuk.org.

Government Announcement: New online educational resources available from the Department for Education and BBC
The government has shared advice on supporting education at home for children i) aged 2-4, ii) at primary school and iii) with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). A list of online resources from the government for remote learning is also available. Additionally, the government-funded Oak National Academy has been launched and will provide 180 video lessons each week for every year group from Reception through to Year 10.
The BBC has also launched its own online education package - BBC Bitesize Daily - which includes hour-long lessons in a range of subjects, presented by a teacher, with worksheets and a quiz. If you would like any support with continuing learning at home, please contact Ashif Pabani on +44 7919 174 169 or email akeb@iiuk.org.

National Infertility Awareness Week
This week is National Infertility Awareness Week (NIAW). The mission of NIAW is to empower individuals and change the conversation around infertility. All too often myths and misinformation appear that create barriers for people who need help building their family and can lead to them feeling isolated. NIAW aims to empower them to share their story and feel part of a community that cares. In commemoration of this week, Farah Gina Condor has kindly shared her personal experience with infertility which you can read here.

Mental Health Matters Webinar
AKHB is hosting a Mental Health Awareness Webinar on Sunday 26th April 2020 at 11am.
If you would like to find out more about mental health, or if you are worried about yourself or your family members and would benefit from hearing about what support is available join an AKHB webinar featuring a panel of healthcare professionals. If you would like a question answered by the panel, email akhb.training@iiuk.org. All questions will be treated confidentially. To register follow this link or email akhb.training@iiuk.org.

Let’s Talk About Budgeting
Creating a budget is a great way of managing your money and taking control of your finances. Here are some simple steps to get started:

List all your fixed costs (these are costs that stay the same month-on-month) e.g. rent, council tax and subscriptions
List all your costs for utilities (these can sometimes vary depending on usage, so use a generous range and account for a higher bill due to being at home)
Add this up and deduct it from your salary or monthly allowance

Making a budget can help you visualise how much money you have left for grocery shopping, discretionary expenditure and your savings. For more on budgeting, tune into the AKEPB Educates Podcast. For support or guidance, we are here to help. Please email us on EPBUKInfo@iiuk.org.

ITREB Thought of the Day: #ThankfulThursday
Many of the recent changes to everyday life have been undesirable, such as the loss of incomes, the spreading of fake news and scams, and the negative effects on mental health. Other changes however have actually been positive, and we can be grateful for these. Washing hands and personal hygiene have become priorities, healthcare heroes are being celebrated, parents and children are spending more time with each other, and checkout staff and delivery drivers are now regarded as essential workers. Communities are coming together, even while staying physically apart, and vulnerable people are being cared for as a priority. Take a look outside: birds are everywhere. With less air pollution, the stars are more visible in the night sky. We can be thankful for these silver linings, and learn from them as we look ahead to a new normal and a brighter future.

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