Reflections

Reflections by JS-F-13

Before I came to the green stairs program I was unorganized, unfocused, didn’t know the meaning of what I was saying in prayer, never memorizing surahs and barely ever read the Quran.

The thought never crossed my mind that what I was saying in salah is important and doesn’t mean anything if you don’t know what it means.

I still knew some of the words in prayer because I know and speak Arabic but the sentences didn’t make sense to me.

I didn’t think about Allah all the time and I only remembered when there was something that has correlation to him.

But ever since my dad made me join this program I have been more motivated to do better in school,

I focus during prayer, I know the meaning of what I’m saying in prayer,

I’ve memorized new surahs, searched for things that help me know more about Islam and some things the prophet said,

my desire to memorize more of the Quran has increased and

I think about Allah almost every second of my life. This program pushes me to be the best version of myself and helps me to get ready for the world when I’m an adult.

I’ve learned that before you try to do all your prayers/rituals perfectly, you need to fully believe in Islam.

The thing that I’ve learned that stood out to me the most is “8 seconds”.

8 seconds represents how hard it is to be completely focused on prayer for even as little as 8 seconds.

The teachers compared it to bull riding which is very difficult to stay on just like it is difficult to focus. It stood out because I have always wondered why I find myself thinking about something random while I’m praying or fidgeting with my hands.

Overall, I am very grateful for this program and everything I have learned and am going to learn in the future.

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Reflections by OT- M -13

Before I came to this program, there was not much I truly understood about our religion. I knew bits and pieces, main ideas that I thought were enough—but in reality, my understanding was small. For example, I used to think praying was optional, something a Muslim should do if they felt like it or had extra time. The only pillars I knew were zakat and fasting, and even those I didn’t fully understand. There were huge parts of Islam that I simply had no knowledge of, and I didn’t realize how incomplete my understanding was until I began learning here.

But thanks to Allah (SWT), I was guided to this program, and everything changed. My knowledge increased tenfold, not only in the basic rules and practices of Islam, but also in my overall awareness of what it means to be a Muslim.

This program didn’t just teach me information, it changed the way I think, the way I act, and the way I see my purpose in life. I learned about consequences, accountability, and the reality of the Hereafter in a way that made me reflect deeply. I learned different methods of worship, how to pray correctly, how to recite, and how to understand the meaning behind what I was doing.

I learned new surahs that I now recite daily, and every time I recite them, I feel a connection to Allah (SWT) that I didn’t feel before. All of this came from the amazing teachers we have here at the masjid. Their patience, kindness, and dedication made learning not only easy, but enjoyable. They didn’t make me feel embarrassed about what I didn’t know,instead, they motivated me to keep going and reminded me that learning is one of the most blessed actions a Muslim can do.

Their encouragement made a huge difference in my journey and helped me build confidence in practicing my religion properly. Because of this program, my daily life has changed completely. I now pray all five of my prayers every day, without skipping and without treating them like a game, how society wants us to think. I fast not only the mandatory days in Ramadan, but also optional fasts that bring me closer to Allah (SWT).

I try to do my daily dhikr, even if it is simple, because I’ve learned how powerful remembering Allah truly is. I’ve become more mindful of Allah (SWT) in everything I do, when I speak, when I act, and even when I’m alone. I’ve learned to stay humble, to avoid being arrogant, and to treat people with kindness, because our character is one of the most important parts of our faith.

My biggest hope now is that by the time I die, my scale will have only a small fraction of bad deeds. I know I’m not perfect, and I know we will always make mistakes, but I want to continue improving myself and growing in my iman. This program helped me build a strong foundation, and inshaAllah,

I want to keep building on it for the rest of my life. I am truly grateful that Allah (SWT) guided me here, and I pray that He rewards everyone who helped me on this path and increases us all in beneficial knowledge.

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Climbing the Green Stairs: A Reflection by RB -M – 12

When I first started the Green Stairs program, I felt nervous but excited. I knew I wanted to grow, but I also knew I was starting from a very basic level when it came to Islam. If someone asked me about my faith back then, I could tell them the few basic things everyone knows, like the pillars of Islam and how to pray. But that was pretty much it. I didn’t know the real meanings of the Surahs we recite or the deeper lessons in our history. For example, when I did the actions of praying, they often felt repetitive because I didn’t truly know why I was doing them or what the words actually meant.

My knowledge felt very limited. I was going through the motions without seeing the deep beauty of my religion. I wasn’t truly focused or engaged. I knew I needed to learn how to slow down and connect with the words during prayer, but I didn’t have the tools to do that yet. This was the main thing I needed to change. The program offered a pathway to move past simple facts and realize true meaning.

Joining the Green Stairs program helped me develop skills I didn’t even know I needed. Before the program, I didn’t have the practical skills for strong formal leadership and confident presentations. Now, I have been given chances to practice leadership and presenting.

It’s hard work, but getting to lead a discussion or present a topic has made me much more confident and effective. I learned how to organize my thoughts, speak clearly, project confidently, and manage the attention of a group. The program also had a major impact on how I handled hard work. It is very challenging, and because of that, it has trained my brain and my spirit to withstand much harder things. It taught me how to push past obstacles and keep going when the work feels difficult, which is a key life skill.

Before, I might have waited for others to do the work or put things off until the last minute. Now, I know I need to take action and get things done quickly. This program has taught me that working hard and having the necessary discipline are ways to succeed. This is now helping me in everything I do, in my daily life.

Looking back, the difference between the “before” me and the “after” me is noticeable. I started the program knowing just the simple basics of Islam and lacking confidence in my own skills and discipline. Joining the Green Stairs program helped me move past simple facts.

Now, I have a much deeper, clearer understanding of my faith, which connects directly to my actions. I’ve also developed essential skills like leadership and confidence, and the ability to withstand academic and personal challenges. These are skills that I will use for the rest of my life. I am grateful for the Green Stairs program for pushing me to become a better, more focused, and stronger version of myself today. The dedication I learned here will help me achieve my goals in the future. I believe this experience was key to helping me continue to maximize my full potential.

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Reflections by HM – M -13

Before I joined Greenstairs, I didn’t know much about my religion or how to pray.

My family would talk about our beliefs sometimes.

Everything changed when I became a part of Greenstairs. The teacher taught me a lot.

The teachers explained things in a way that made sense, and we got to talk about our religion in fun and interesting ways, like through stories and games.

I started to realize there was so much more to learn, and that made me want to keep going and find out even more.

One thing that really helped me was learning how to pray step by step.

Greenstairs also taught me about what my religion really means, not just the rules or prayers.

We talked about important things like being kind, helping other people, and always telling the truth.

I learned that my religion isn’t just about being a good person and making a difference in the world, not also about following traditions.

That made me want to do my best, not only at Greenstairs but also at home and at school