Ribāṭ Insights
For Allah\’s Sake
Firstly, I would like to express my deep appreciation of Anse Farhana and the TAs/admins. I really appreciate the genuine and encouraging feedback on our assignments. I enrolled in this course because I wanted to develop a connection to the Quran. I know Anse said that at the beginning of every ayat to put our own name there, so that it is personal.
To Our Dear Rabateers: The Hidden Hands Behind Ramadan Miracles
Dearest Rabateer,
As we enter into this blessed month of Ramadan, a time of miracles, mercy, and renewal, we pause to reflect on the mighty force behind so much of what makes this month special at Rabata: you.
Fasting with Faith and Purpose
The Muslim Ummah is in the midst of observing the second Ramadan to come since the genocide took place in Gaza. While many of us are looking forward to the rituals associated with the month of fasting, the reality is that millions of our brothers and sisters around the world will not be able to observe a normal Ramadan.
Student of the Month – March
Nour Cauveren is the author of Sunday Serenity, a weekly newsletter that helps fellow Muslims bridge the gap between knowledge and action—making the lessons from Islam practical for everyday life. Before becoming a writer, she was a certified life coach who worked with hundreds of women. However, she made the difficult decision to step away from coaching to focus on writing full-time, especially after the idea for her book, Becoming a Tranquil Soul: 5 Habits to Focus a Distracted Heart, emerged in Ramadan 1444 AH (2023). Though the transition was daunting, writing has brought her deep fulfillment. She finds immense joy when readers connect with Sunday Serenity and share how her words have impacted them.
Rising Together: The Evolution and Future of Rabata
In 2014, when my halaqa teacher recommended that I take a Ribaat class—I had no idea how profoundly it would shape my learning journey. Online learning was unfamiliar to me, and at first, it felt strange. I had always preferred in-person classes, where engagement felt more natural. But despite my initial hesitation, I stayed the course, and that decision changed my life in ways I never imagined.
Sha’ban: The Forgotten Month
There is a beautiful month—the eighth month of the Islamic calendar, lovingly placed between a Sacred Month, Rajab, and Ramadan—that is forgotten. Sha’ban is this beautiful month, and translated from Arabic, it means the month of separation.
Excitement for Ramadan rises, and hurried preparations swallow our time during this month. Amid our mass shopping and planning, the importance, blessings, and rewards of Sha’ban slip away from us. This neglected month is one in which we need to wake up and give it its importance, remembering it as true spiritual preparation for Ramadan. Not only is it preparation for what is to come, but Sha’ban holds its own significance. It is a month that consists of historic events, blessings of a powerful night of forgiveness second to Laylat-ul-Qadr, an invitation to purify our hearts with salawat on Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, and a call to increase in fasting and Quran recitation.