Women in Islam

ANSARI QADIRI RIFAI SUFI ORDER (AQRT) - UK TUESDAY ZIKR/MEDITATION The Ansari Qadiri-Rifai Sufi Order (London branch), under the guidance of Shaykh Taner Vargonen Ansari, is pleased to invite men and women, regardless of your faith or beliefs to our weekly Tuesday zikr. We are a Sufi order whose origins started with two great Saints of early Sufism: Shaykh Abdul Qadir al Geylani and Shaykh Ahmed er Rifai. Our Tradition is one of inclusiveness and of welcoming. This tradition has passed down to us through the current Spiritual Guide of the Order: Shaykh Taner Vargonen Ansari, who now resides in New York and is helping establish Sufism in the West. Come, Come whoever you are, wanderer, worshiper, lover of leaving. Our's is not a caravan of despair. Come even if you have broken your vows a thousand times, Come, come yet again. (Mevlana Rumi) Sufism is the spiritual/ mystical path of Islam. During the Zikr (the ceremony of remembrance) we practice some simple movements accompanied by frame drumming, hymn singing and chanting. In Zikr, each member of the group effaces him or herself in the remembrance of God using the energy of the entire group synergistically for the development of all. We start at 19:15 with the group zikr for about one hour. We welcome everyone who comes in peace. The Zikr is free but a donation to help with the venue hire would be greatly appreciated. We hope to see you soon. Please contact : Rita on 07941 653337 (ritaglh@yahoo.co.uk) or Reeyaaz on 07875 569921 (smreeyaaz@gmail.com) if you want any information about our Sufi order or Sufism in general.

London's Friendly Book Club's pick for February is **The Bandit Queens** by **Parini Shroff**. Geeta's no-good husband disappeared five years ago. She didn't kill him, but everyone thinks she did--no matter how much she protests. But she soon discovers that being known as a "self-made" widow has some surprising perks. No one messes with her, no one threatens her, and no one tries to control (ahem, *marry*) her. It's even been good for her business; no one wants to risk getting on her bad side by *not* buying her jewelry. Freedom must look good on Geeta, because other women in the village have started asking for her help to get rid of their own no-good husbands...but not all of them are asking nicely. Now that Geeta's fearsome reputation has become a double-edged sword, she must decide how far to go to protect it, along with the life she's built. Because even the best-laid plans of would-be widows tend to go awry. Please only RSVP if you think you'll be able to make this event. **We host three sessions per book, you only need to attend one.** Everyone is welcome! Grab your copy and join us for a relaxed and engaging discussion.

** Time** We meet at **10:00 AM** and will start walking shortly after. The walk lasts around **60–75 minutes**. ** Where to Meet** We’ll meet at the **Clapham Common Bandstand**. A message with the **exact spot and a visual cue** (what I’m wearing) will be posted in the event comments on the morning of the walk.

Columbus libraries: [https://cml.bibliocommons.com/v2/record/S105C3262835](https://cml.bibliocommons.com/v2/record/S105C3262835) Location: [Knotty Pine Brewing](https://www.knottypinebrewing.net/) [Menu, scroll to the bottom](https://www.knottypinebrewing.net/menus-1) Book summary: Adunni is a fourteen-year-old Nigerian girl who knows what she wants: an education. This, her mother has told her, is the only way to get a "louding voice" -- the ability to speak for herself and decide her own future. But instead, Adunni's father sells her to be the third wife of a local man who is eager for her to bear him a son and heir. When Adunni runs away to the city, hoping to make a better life, she finds that the only other option before her is servitude to a wealthy family. As a yielding daughter, a subservient wife, and a powerless slave, Adunni is told, by words and deeds, that she is nothing. But while misfortunes might muffle her voice for a time, they cannot mute it. And when she realizes that she must stand up not only for herself, but for other girls, for the ones who came before her and were lost, and for the next girls, who will inevitably follow, she finds the resolve to speak, however she can--in a whisper, in song, in broken English--until she is heard

Come join us for coffee at Matari Coffee to discuss our March book, "The Enchanted Greenhouse"! Book description: Terlu Perna broke the law because she was lonely. She cast a spell and created a magically sentient spider plant. As punishment, she was turned into a wooden statue and tucked away into an alcove in the North Reading Room of the Great Library of Alyssium. This should have been the end of her story . . . Yet one day, Terlu wakes in the cold of winter on a nearly-deserted island full of hundreds of magical greenhouses. She’s starving and freezing, and the only other human on the island is a grumpy gardener. To her surprise, he offers Terlu a place to sleep, clean clothes, and freshly baked honey cakes—at least until she’s ready to sail home. But Terlu can’t return home and doesn’t want to—the greenhouses are a dream come true, each more wondrous than the next. When she learns that the magic that sustains them is failing—causing the death of everything within them—Terlu knows she must help. Even if that means breaking the law again. This time, though, she isn’t alone. Assisted by the gardener and a sentient rose, Terlu must unravel the secrets of a long-dead sorcerer if she wants to save the island—and have a fresh chance at happiness and love.

Join us as we get together to see the period drama / classic monster movie, THE BRIDE! The film is written/directed by Maggie Gyllenhaal and stars Jessie Buckley and Christian Bale in a new take on the classic tale, The Bride of Frankenstein. We'll be seeing this one on Thurs, 3/5 one day ahead of the film's opening on Friday. Here’s a description, trailer and plan for this event: DESCRIPTION: In 1930s Chicago, Frankenstein's creature asks Dr. Euphronius to create a companion for him. They give life to a murdered woman as "the Bride," sparking romance, police interest and radical social change. It is written, directed and co-produced by Maggie Gyllenhaal and stars Jessie Buckley, Christian Bale, Peter Sarsgaard, Annette Bening, Jake Gyllenhaal and Penélope Cruz. TRAILER: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n-qJkAXLfYM PARKING: Close, convenient parking is available in the nearby garage (located between 9th and 11th, just off High St). Bring your ticket with you and have it validated at the theater and for $2, you’re covered for the night! PLAN: Please purchase your ticket for the 7:00pm showing and we’ll meet inside the upstairs lobby between 6:40 and 6:50pm. Advance ticket purchase is advised (via Gateway website preferred). Once you have yours, please list your seat number in the Comments below! Pre-show bite at Cazuela’s next door at 5:30pm. Please arrive by 5:30pm and ask for the Movie Group! Look forward to seeing you there, Dan