Yemen

[Mawaddah]

^ SUBHANALLAH!

are there any requirements? to study there?

SUBHANALLAH!!

You mean like papers?

No

 

[IbnAbdulHakim]

You mean like papers?

No

LOL!




so we dont need to memorise a lot of the quran or nethin?

subhanAllah!

btw do they make you memorise quran?

also about the food and housing, who provides? do you have to provide for yourself?

is there a yearly cost?

 

[Mawaddah]

LOL!




so we dont need to memorise a lot of the quran or nethin?

subhanAllah!

btw do they make you memorise quran?

also about the food and housing, who provides? do you have to provide for yourself?

is there a yearly cost?

You dont need a diploma or none of that sorts

The only thing you need to have Is!!!

The Desire to Learn

Bas!!

You dont have to have memorized Any Qur'an or anything, you can be a new muslim who knows nothing, you just go there and get into studying, of course, at first introduce yourself to the Sheikh so that he will put your name down on the register so if something happens to you they can take the required measures.

The memorization of Qur'an is strongly emphasized there, that's about the first thing they will get you in, even walking on the roads you will see brothers walking in twos' reciting the Qur'an and testing each other, the place is just a buzz of knowledge subhanallah. So yes, memorization of the Qur'an will be one of the first things you will get into, you can ask someone to teach you, no problem, there are loadssssssss of Haafidhs there.

As for housing and such, you will have to provide for yourself, but the single brothers are allowed to stay in the masjid if they wish, and the Sheikh provides three meals a day for the single brothers, very simple simple food though, bread and beans or something. But it's a big help for the singles because there are some there who are too poor even to buy a pencil and notebook, so their classmates (who are poor too) break their pencils in half to share.....Subhanallah.

 

[IbnAbdulHakim]

^ SUBHANALLAH, me n my mum r gnna hav a discussion tonight!!!

 

[IbnAbdulHakim]

one mor question!

can we live there forever? (till we die)

 

[Mawaddah]

^
lol

I dont think many would be up for it?especially the foreigners since it's such a drastic change from what we are used to. The Sheikh has advised foreigners not to make Hijrah to Dammaj because it may get too difficult there for some. But if you go there and think you can rough it out then go ahead. There's one thing though about living there forever, where're you gonna work at? Dammaj is not a place for work, ther's nothing for a student to do there, unless of course you want to move into the village and become a farmer but thats like backbreaking work and you'll need aaaaaaaacres of land to be able to make a living from that.

But hey, it's all up to you, some people take up permanent residency in San'a (the capital) and get jobs teaching or something, and then go to Dammaj for the summer holidays.

But it's up to you, you'd have to go there and see if you can put up with it, because like i said, it's a whole different world from what many are accustomed to. But a lovely world

 

[IbnAbdulHakim]

i dont kno how that life is rough? wat makes it rough?

wallahi everything sounds so beautiful, i dont really care how i make istinjaa/ghusl as long as i can stay clean, i'll even live in the dark, thats not much of a problem, moon is a beautiful illumination anyway! theres nothing i see which would make me think dammaj is rough lol honestly, but hey i havent been there yet i'll let u kno afta summer what i think

 

[Mawaddah]

Yes, come to think of it, I shouldn't have said 'rough it out' because if you can afford it, it wont be a rough life at all.....

hmmmmmmmm....

Well the only thing which would be the problem with staying there forever is funds , money is a problem.

But no, life there doesn't have to be rough at all!

I only said that without thinking because when I was first there (10 years ago) now that's what you could call difficult living

 

[Ibn Abi Ahmed]

That was an awesome account of the place Sister! Cant remember the saying (or was it a hadith?), but I read somewhere that there will come a time when we'll have to set ourselves to the mountains to preserve our Imaan..and I can't help but thinking of Dammaj after reading that. Subhanallah, I so want to go there now. It's as if like mercy is decending there with all the knowledge going about.

 

[Ibn Abi Ahmed]

Just found this:

Dammaaj - YEMEN

As-Salaamu alaikum wa rahmatullaah wa barakaatuh.

Dammaaj is the birthplace of the reviver of the Sunnah, the Great Scholar Muqbil ibn Haadee Al-Waadi'ee. The Sheikh set up an institute of knowledge that by Allaah's will has changed the face of Yemen. Before the da'wah of the Sheikh Yemen was plagued by tashayyu' in the north and tasawwuf in the south and hizbiyyah.

Now by Allaah's grace the da'wah of Ahlus-Sunnah can be found in all parts in Yemen, stronger in some areas than others. The institute in Dammaaj started as a small masjid made of mud then as the students numbers grew a bigger masjid was built adjacent to the Sheikh's house then later a bigger masjid was built which is today the library then an even bigger masjid was built and now that masjid has just been expanded. The latest masjid is very big and is active day and night with classes and students memorizing Qur'aan and hadeeth and at night time some of the single students sleep in the masjid.

Other single students choose to sleep in the basement of the masjid while others choose to buy rooms in a section for the single brothers. The rooms are made of mud bricks and most of them have small bathrooms. There are also bathrooms adjacent to the masjid and presently even more are being built. The single brothers are given three meals a day usually beans and bread in the morning and evening and rice for lunch. There are also small restaurants where some choose to buy meals while some single brothers choose to cook there own meals in their rooms.

On top of the masjid is a musallaa for the women where Umm Abdillaah Aishah bint Ash-Sheikh Muqbil gives her classes for the women. Other women such as Umm Salamah the wife of Ash-Sheikh Muqbil and Umm Shu'aib the former wife of Ash-Sheikh Muqbil and presently one of Ash-Sheikh Yahyaa's wives and other women also have classes for the women. Some of the women also listen to the classes of Ash-Sheikh Yayhaa by way of the speaker system. The women also have a large library next to their musallaa on top of the masjid where they can do research. Ash-Sheikh Yahyaa gives three general classes each day in the masjid for all students to attend; only those who are sick or are on security for the day or have asked permission from the Sheikh are excused from attending.

This is so the Sheikh can know the status of his students, how they are progressing and for other reasons. The first class of the Sheikh is after the Dhuhr prayer when he teaches Tafseer Ibn Katheer one day and Al-Jaami' As-Saheeh by Ash-Sheikh Muqbil the next day. The next class is after the Asr prayer when he teaches Saheeh Al-Bukhaaree.

The students are expected to memorize the hadeeth read in the class of Al-Bukhaaree and
the class of Al-Jaami' As-Saheeh unless the hadeeth is long then those who don't memorize are not blamed. The third class is after the Maghrib prayer. This is the longest class. The Sheikh in these days starts the class with a brief explanation of Al-Aqeedah As-Siffaareenee then reads from Saheeh Muslim then reads from As-Sunan As-Sughraa by Al-Baihaqee then gives a brief explanation of matn al-waraqaat in usool al fiqh.


Those are the daily classes given by Ash-Sheikh Yayhaa, may Allaah protect him and aide him. Then there are classes announced in specific subjects in specific books. The class and it's time and place and teacher are announced over the loud speaker and are written on a board for the students to know. Classes are opened in all sciences and go all year round only stopping for Ramadaan when most people focus on reviewing Qur'aan while some students go on Umr'ah and others go back to their home villages and cities to give da'wah.

Also it should be noted that Ash-Sheikh Abdur-Rahmaan Al-Adanee is presently giving a class in Aayaatul-Ahkaam (the verses that have legal rulings) and Umdatul-Ahkaam Al-Kubraa one day for each class after Asr after the class in Saheeh Al-Bukhaaree. Ash-Sheikh Abdur-Rahmaan also gives the women a class every thursday in the women's musallaa in the housing section called the mazra'ah by way of loud speaker from a mic in a room adjacent to the women's musallaa.

The women are also able to write down questions for the Sheikh in this class. There are also many english and french speaking students who teach Arabic to those who don't know Arabic. Inshaallaah I plan on opening a class for the brothers after Ramadaan in one of the madeenah books and plan to continue with the brothers until we reach Ibn Aqeel, may Allaah help us. There are also women who teach the sisters that don't know Arabic.

As for the housing situation for families, that differs depending on what you are looking for. Presently houses going for between $5,000 and $10,000.

Those who are poorer usually build there own houses on land that is cheaper on the mountain or even build on top of someone else's house. Some people are given houses for free when one opens up on Ash-Sheikh Muqbil's land which he made waqf for the students of knowledge. I know of two families from the west that have been given houses for free.

The houses are mostly made of mud bricks while some choose to build with cynder block. The houses have running water and some areas have electricity for a couple of hours at night time.

The cost of living here is cheap. A small family can easily get by on $100 a month. The cost of living varies depending on your lifestyle. The student of knowledge should spend his money wisely so he will be able to focus more on studying. Dammaaj is not the cleanest place in the world.


Many westerners when they first arrive complain of the trash scattered around and the smell of a sewage system that has been blocked up and things like this. They also complain about the character of some of the Yemenee students who are new to seeking knowledge. I advise the brothers and sisters that they read the history of our Prophet, may the peace and praise of Allaah be upon him, and the history of our Salaf As-Saalih. And I remind them that this dunyaa is not everlasting. We are all on a journey to our Lord and we will leave behind these belongings we have in this life. Our Prophet, may the peace and praise of Allaah be upon him has said: Be in this life as if you are a stranger or a traveler.

And Ibn Umar said: Take (advantage) from your health for the time you are sick and from your life for your death. And it has been authentically reported on Umar that he said: Live hard for verily the ease will not continue. It seems many Muslims from the west are more concerned about things of the dunyaa than that which will benefit them in the hereafter. Look how people recommend Muslims to travel to a land because of the lifestyle there then they make a note that they have only seen one woman who wears the hijaab, subhaanallaah.

May Allaah increase us in beneficial knowledge.

Was-Salaamu alaikum wa rahmatullaah wa barakaatuh.

Abdullah MacPhee / Dammaaj – Yemen
19/09/2005

 

[Mawaddah]

That was an awesome account of the place Sister! Cant remember the saying (or was it a hadith?), but I read somewhere that there will come a time when we'll have to set ourselves to the mountains to preserve our Imaan..and I can't help but thinking of Dammaj after reading that. Subhanallah, I so want to go there now. It's as if like mercy is decending there with all the knowledge going about.

Subhanallah I heard that hadeeth last week at Jumu'ah Prayers but it has totally slipped my mind right now.

Abdullah MacPhee / Dammaaj – Yemen
19/09/2005
Just found this:

Oh it was written by Abdullah McPhee?? ........ Allah Bless the Brother Ameen.

Yes but like he mentioned there, and like I mentioned above, the places where the students like to cluster their houses about are not exactly the nicest of places.

 

[Ibn Abi Ahmed]

Oh it was written by Abdullah McPhee?? ........ Allah Bless the Brother Ameen.

Yes but like he mentioned there, and like I mentioned above, the places where the students like to cluster their houses about are not exactly the nicest of places.

Is it possible to like go a bit far out and build your own house?

 

[Mawaddah]

Is it possible to like go a bit far out and build your own house?

Oh Suuuuuure, If you can find a Dammaji villager who will sell you a bit of land that is not a problem at all. Lots of students do that actually, they live amongst the villagers and not too close with the other students. Thats what we'll be planning on doing too insha'allah. But the only loss in living too far out is that you will be away from the hubbub of activity....you know.....seeing your fellow students and all of that. You'll be with the villagers who dont really care about studying.

 

[Maimunah]

say i wanted to buy a house there, how much will that cost me?

 

[Mawaddah]

say i wanted to buy a house there, how much will that cost me?

I can't exactly tell you that right now sis as I haven't really checked about house prices and all recently......and it's been almost 5 years now since I left. I'll let Princess reply that for you insha'allah, she's only been gone for a year

 

[amirah_87]

I'll let Princess come and add some things when she comes online, I have to run right now. Wassalam.

MashaAllah, I think you and the article by McPhee covered it sis!

Oh Suuuuuure, If you can find a Dammaji villager who will sell you a bit of land that is not a problem at all. Lots of students do that actually, they live amongst the villagers and not too close with the other students. Thats what we'll be planning on doing too insha'allah. But the only loss in living too far out is that you will be away from the hubbub of activity....you know.....seeing your fellow students and all of that. You'll be with the villagers who dont really care about studying.

To buy land now doesn't have to neccesarily be in the Bedouin areas, theres lots of land for sale in the Maktabah ( the main area).. this is because more villagers are selling there land and what not.

say i wanted to buy a house there, how much will that cost me?

The cost of houses range from: $5-11,000. This depends mainly on which area you buy the land and also how many bedrooms it has an etc.

 

[Maimunah]

The cost of houses range from: $5-11,000. This depends mainly on which area you buy the land and also how many bedrooms it has an etc.

say that in pounds plz:-[

 

[seeker_of_ilm]

say that in pounds plz:-[

£2,547-£5,604

 

[amirah_87]

say that in pounds plz:-[

Loq sorry they function in Riyals or dollars up there. :-[

I'm not so good at converting but it's roughly £3-6,000.

A Lil' Tip:
If you're planning on buying a house/land DON'T buy it in the "summer break" prices are sky high during this period, try buying it monnths before or after Bi'Idhnillaah.

 

[IbnAbdulHakim]

:salamext:

what if you cant afford a house :? also i dont think thsi got answered but is there a yearly tuition fee?

inshaAllah i should be able to scrounge up 5 grand!!! time to start saving!!