[VogsHoock]

...

[Hixinfineedom]

Great idea - something the Muslim community really needs (especially in areas where Muslims don't live in such close knit communities).

Sorry is this a seminar/workshop on marriage or is it a matchmaking event like the one they have in B/ham central mosque?

[irrehoobe]

will it be open to all muslims
or....
muslim marriage event for gujarati muslims
muslim marriage event for mirpuri muslims
muslim marriage event for bengali muslims
muslim marriage event for black muslims
muslim marriage event for converts

etc etc etc

[Hixinfineedom]

The initial idea is to have a talk on marriage and various aspects and then take q/a's followed by a matchmaking event

Good idea. Also, after engagement marriage prep course too?

[Hixinfineedom]

All Muslims (emphasis on professionals) because thats who we (the team) are mainly. How cares if they are Gujrati or Mirpuri or whatever!

Whoever is concerned about background can then select based on background, if they choose too.

Btw what is the problem with the one at B/ham central mosque?

[Hixinfineedom]

The facilitators will be present if the Muslimah’s Mahram is not there during all 1-2-1 converstaions.

All in all we need to do a lot of thinking and planning!

Only if the sister is revert or special case where she doesn't have a mahram who can attend. Also, facilitators need to be relatively middle aged (well not young).

Attend a few marriage matchmaking events (if your wife is OK with it). It will give you a feel for what they are doing right and what they aren't. It will also give you ideas on how to practically run the sessions.

[irrehoobe]

what exactly are professional muslims?

are taxi drivers professionals? is the local pizza guy a professional muslim

[irrehoobe]

so the only criteria for applicants is that they must have a degree?

[irrehoobe]

does citizenship matter?

usually marriage services in masjids etc get bombarded with those guys that come over on student visa's some of them may be legit but for a lot of them its all about the citizenship!

you may also have a problem with the word "practising" what exactly is a practising muslims? is a guy without a beard but a namazi practising?
is someone who doesn't wake up for fajr practising, is a sister who is a namazi but doesn't wear hijaab practising? you may need to be more specific

[irrehoobe]

Thats upto the profile and later investigation by individuals. We can't investigate personal details of 50+ people

true but if your charging for the service and you advertise it as marriage event for "practising" Muslims and then the sisters expect guys in sunnah beards and libas and then there's a bunch of beardless guys in suits they won't be too happy with the service i guess

you may need to have some sort of criteria of the word practising for example minimum requirement is that they pray their daily salahs or something?

[irrehoobe]

Please answer this in another thread as I have asked this before a number of times.

What is Sunnah Libas? And what's the opposite?

some people will say a turban or topi and a thobe or shalwar kameez or lungi...point im trying to make is that the word "practising" muslim means different things to different people so you may need to be more specific because some people will have high expectations of the word and will be let down

maybe its an idea to set up a website beforehand and have all those enrolling on the course put their profiles up without pictures so people can see the types of people at the event before enrolling..wallahu alam

[Hixinfineedom]

Already thought of that...

Please continue to comment as to what Allah (SWT) is putting in your heart as I am making notes. Can't answer all your concerns but your thoughts are welcome.

I have a website already designed which you are welcome to tweak and use. It uses PHP and mySQL. If you want it, let me know. Or I'm sure this could be achieved through wordpress or other CMSs. Depends on what type of functionality you are looking for.

[irrehoobe]

how do the meetings work in the event?
isit just left free for anybody to approach whoever they want?

will there be people used an intermediaries for those sisters or sisters wali who are quite traditional and don't want to approach brothers directly

[ENCOSEARRALIA]

There were two matrimonial seminars/workshops in Birmingham last weekend and a couple of brothers attended and we have been discussing the matter for the last 2 days in some detail with our “young unmarried brothers” who are horrified at the disorganisation, lack of Sunnah and chaotic nature of these events.

Furthermore, it is obvious that those who are attending wants to safeguard their Eemaan and look for a partner otherwise they wouldn’t attend!

There is a thread in Sensitive section of SF highlighting that we don’t do something for our youngsters and unmarried Muslims & Muslimahs the situation will BLOW UP! So a proposal has been put forth for ME to jump in and organise an event as a Pilot and select my team to run the show for the day.

I will have the help and assistance of all sorts of “professional Muslims and Muslimahs” .



P.S: I have been given 2 weeks to let this cook in my head and then respond.

well yays for me !! ... it seems the taudud azwaj dawah by maulana taliban is starting to kick in ;p
i won't be surprised to see half the hardcore residents here queing up for 2nd's and 3rd's on the venue

for the students/young professionals you could impose a condition that the brother/sisters have a proper
professional day job and not just security/asda etc jobs and able to sustain their spouses which is a
shariah requirement anywhy ( for the overseas crowd only ).

For a pilot project you could also restrict it to Uk/EU nationals only.

Ii would want to see a senior scholar address the topics of fiqh and sunnah way of marriage as the different
versions i have heard and found out personaly simply make my head spin.

off topic : colonel saheb are there any plans for a repeat course like the 16 day winter/christmas course
held in dewsbury last christmas season ??

[Amorsesombabs]

Before gathering all advices, please get those "couple of brothers" married, who attended the party you mention.

[BiseCreesia]

off topic : colonel saheb are there any plans for a repeat course like the 16 day winter/christmas course
held in dewsbury last christmas season ??

Yes insha'Allah, we're discussing the dates with Mufti Zubair Dudha Sahab in these very dates and will let you know as soon as the dates are confirmed.

Will you join us?

[Amorsesombabs]

You reminded me of a story when I moved to UK of a brother who is on this forum. He had recently gotten married and had a daughter and I used to encourage him to open an Islamic School for the community since he was influential and well known amongst people.

His response, “My daughter will NEVER go to a Kaafir School!”

I said, “What about the daughters of the Ummah, don’t you think you have to think about them?”

Over a decade later there is no Islamic School in the city and his daughter IS GOING to a Kaafir School!

We have to think about the Ummah and Allah (SWT) will solve our problems and gathering advice is part of the solution its Mushwara.

Okay he didn't open it, why didn't anyone else open it?

[Amorsesombabs]

And what do you need to run a marriage website? or Marriage workshops?

[squeerisott]

Hey colonel, I've got concrete solutions regarding some of the issues you mentioned. At work right now, will post when I get home and am free.

Jzk for taking the initiative.