During the harsh early winter months, Sister Saleemah Benzagala was planting seeds for a harvest she hopes will yield both in this life and the hereafter. "I'm making a spiritual investment that I hope will last long after I'm gone." Sometimes it is the smallest seeds that yield the greatest fruit.
On Feb. 6, 1994, Saleemah began working with a small band of Muslim boys. Her goals include strengthening the bonds of love and brotherhood among them and cultivating leadership, scholarship, research. She has developed a comprehensive program of Islamic studies that include the following - fundamentals of Islam, prophets, hajj, and Islamic manners and etiquette, with in-class practice.
Saleemah shares the instructional load with her students. Each student is responsible for preparing lessons, citing references and hadith, and presenting his work in class. The boys are guided to teach each other, nurturing a spirit of helping, compassion, and understanding between them. Current Saleemah wants to keep her small band relatively small. "I'd like to get them stronger and more able before expanding."
Let there arise out of you a band of people inviting to all that is good, enjoining what is right, and forbidding what is wrong. (3:104).
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