As Rabi’ul Awwal closes its curtains on us, we contemplate on its lessons and the fruits of our efforts from that month. The word “Rabi'” in arabic means Spring; the season in which flowers bloom, the season of growth and renewal. As we move forward now, we ask ourselves: Have the recent Rabi’ impacted me in any way? Did I see any growth in my love for Rasulullah sallAllahu ‘alaihi wasallam? The Salawat I did, the Seerah I read, the gatherings I attended in remembrance of his birth.. Have my heart felt the change? Is this love mirroring in my actions now? Am I a better follower of Rasulullah sallAllahu ‘alaihi wasallam today..?

Meet our Ribaat student, a California native who found her way to Islam and now calls Europe home. After years of living in Spain, Denmark, and currently the Netherlands, Dawn Broadbridge enjoys a blend of cultures and languages. Fluent in English and Spanish, she also dabbles in Dutch, French, Portuguese, and Catalán. However, her heart always seeks the warmth and sunshine of Spain and California whenever she can escape the cool northern European climate.

This month, we are delighted to feature an inspiring student from Bandung, Indonesia, Asti Surakusumah, who has embraced her Islamic studies journey through Ribaat, dedicating her time to deepening her knowledge and understanding of the deen.

Pamela Stanford is a fourth-generation Canadian who has lived in southwest Ontario her entire life. Coming from a relaxed, mixed Christian faith family, she is now a proud Muslim mother and grandmother, Alhamdulilah. Her professional journey began in the social services field, where she spent years helping people with mental health challenges find meaningful employment. Currently, she works for a non-profit organization that serves older adults with physical health needs and dementia.