*Any students who would like to send in their reflections for posting can do so by emailing [outreach @ sunnipath.com].

From SunniPath student Asma Arif of the UK:

They say that when you fall in love you’ll remember the first moment that you were introduced. My love for SunniPath is only formed by the deep gratitude in Allah that this student has for such an important tool of learning and for a home that’s encompassed this students life for the last 4 years. Would love to say that I’ve been part of SunniPath since its birth nearly 5 years ago but unfortunately that’s not the case. I’ve only really been an active student on SunniPath for the last year and a bit, though been browsing the Q&A for 4 years so that’s got to be some dedication! Subhan’Allah has it really been 4 years?! Subhan’Allah.

So how did I first hear about SunniPath… amazingly it’s really clear.

My sister and I were at my uncles house and she was registering for a course on a very green and brown website. I remember thinking “that’s a very tree like website” at the time but paid no attention to what the site was about or what my sister was doing. It was only until half an hour later of seeing her “umm” and “ahh” that she spoke and said “Asma I’m signing you up for a Fiqh course cos you need it”. My only response was “what’s fiqh?” and she glared at me to tell me indirectly that that was the reason why she was signing me up to the course and then she said “just do the course and learn about your deen”. Subhan’Allah looking back at it only my sister could talk to me in such a way and not get on my nerves… and Alhumdulillah what a way to be pushed into something which would change my life, though I didn’t know that at the time.

I prodded along with her wish to sign me up to the course and as I was studying my degree at University at the time I didn’t really follow the course properly until I realised that my sisters text messages saying “live class on now” actually meant I was meant to go on the site and learn something. It was all so alien to me and yet kind of exciting. I remember realising that I had in fact registered late for the course and as a result had missed out on 6 lessons worth of material but I remember the TA of the time - Sister Shireen Ahmed - who was very kind and gave me plenty of excuses. I also remember embarrassing myself in a live session (which at the time had no video function and was merely a box with a text chat and audio capabilities) - I asked “what are khuffs (leather socks)?” without realising that that question was covered in the prior lessons and it was only until I received an instant text message from my sister saying “duh! we covered that last lesson” did I really feel silly. However, amazingly Shaykh Faraz answered the question without making me feel like I was a bad student. In fact in all my studious years of being with SunniPath none of the teachers have made this student feel at unease for asking a question or adding follow up questions. Masha’Allah we’re truly blessed to have them as our teachers. May Allah increase them in Birr and shroud them in His Tawfeeq. Allahumma Ameen.

Okay so back to the story… unfortunately due to time commitments with University and bad organisational skills I never got round to completing the course with Shaykh Faraz in the required time to gain course credit. I decided at the time that the academy wasn’t for me due to my time being occupied by travelling for clinical placements around the UK, University workload, and extra curriculum activities (Islamic societies and activism). Thus I decided to use SunniPath Q+A service instead for quick emergencies and go back to the Academy when I felt it was “the right time”.

Alhumdulillah in Summer 2006 I graduated from University and started life in the working world but pursued my wish to learn more about my deen and take my studies seriously. So I took a 6 week course to ease me in and thereafter I’ve Alhumdulillah stayed. For those wondering what courses I’ve previously done then please feel free to refer to my earlier blog post: A year on with SunniPath (uh oh)

My favourite moments have to be in the live sessions of all my courses, learning about the topic at hand and at the same time listening to the analogies made within class to help us implement the knowledge in our every day lives. The teachers and administration have Masha’Allah always been so happy and cheerful that I’ve never been made to feel inadequate or silly in the questions I’ve asked either during the live sessions or outside. In it’s expansion to what SunniPath is now I’ve been honoured to help out where I can and to spread the smiles where possible. There’s a welcome letter that gets sent to all students when they enrol in a class and though it’s jam-packed with information to get us students familiar with our courses it’s also an excellent icebreaker as it’s SunniPath’s way of saying “welcome to the family” and Masha’Allah what an excellent family to be part of. SunniPath is seriously more than a Q+A service, Academy or bookshop but it’s a worldwide family of students and teachers who merrily go about learning in His Name. May Allah keep our hearts open to receive His Noor and increase us in knowledge to keep us on His Path. May Allah help secure it, flourish it with His Noor, and help us to gain benefit from it. Allahumma Ameen. Allahumma Ameen. Allahumma Ameen.

Jazak’Allah Khayr to all those within SunniPath for having this loony student around.