The World Federation of KSIMC

"Stepping foot into a new country, a new culture, without the guidance of my parents would have been a scary experience, had we not been welcomed into the open arms of our mentors. Being a part of the Madinah and Bab al Ilm family I had the time of my life. I can never do the course justice in explaining my experiences but I'll try. Being on this course in Iran felt like a home away from home, I rarely missed my family as our exciting schedule kept us busy. From climbing Mount Khizr, to our early morning twilight sessions, the course always had us on our feet and moving. The longer we were in Iran the more I found myself yearning for more. I wanted to learn more about all of our exciting lectures. I had no idea we'd be blessed with such knowledge on the Islamic Revolution and then be granted the opportunity to visit Imam Khomeini's house where the revolution began. Alhamdulillah, there was never a dull moment in this course. The experiential learning aspect was by far the most exciting and Hamadan was a hot spot for this. We started our visit with a picnic by a river then moved up the mountain to see the falls. We found ourselves nearing the top of the mountain where the villagers stayed; some of us even went horse riding. Who said girls in chadors were restricted? All along the way our faith in God was strengthened and lasting friendships were formed.

My favourite memory was the Ali Sadr cave as I was left in awe at the creation of God and how it survived the test of time. Being in Hamadan we also visited Ibn Sina (Avicenna)'s museum and mausoleum. To learn about such a man whose contributions to 12 fields all from an Islamic viewpoint helped me reflect on God's eternal generosity, for surely these discoveries wouldn't be possible without God's guidance.

The three weeks spent in Iran felt like a short weekend but I gained knowledge that I will keep with me for a life time. Our days started early and ended late yet we still found time to reflect, this is a teaching I will keep with me as everyday warrants reflection time. I hope to one day come back as a mentor to ensure that the future participants have an equally enriching and spiritually awakening experience."

ISRA AL EBEID – LONDON, ONTARIO, CANADA