OT-M-12 KJMS 1/11/26
Today when I came into class, LG wanted us to do something special and meaningful. Instead of starting class in the usual way, LG wanted us to participate in a quiet spiritual exercise. He asked us to stay in one position of prayer for one full minute without speaking any words out loud. During this time, we were meant to speak to Allah (SWT) only with our minds. The goal of this exercise was pure focus and pure connection—no distractions, no movement, and no speech. It was meant to help us turn inward and truly reflect. This exercise helped us strengthen our connection with Allah (SWT) and allowed us to reflect deeply on our relationship with Him. It showed us that communication with Allah does not always need words; sometimes sincere intention and focus are enough. This moment of silence was powerful, and it reminded us that there are many forms of meditation and reflection that can help purify us spiritually and mentally, not just this one method.
After the exercise was complete, we moved on to practicing different ayahs. Everyone in the class was working on memorization, but each person was focused on different verses. Some of my friends were working on Ayatul Kursi, which is also known as the Ayah of the Throne. I was personally working on the last three ayahs of Surah Baqarah. These ayahs are known to be very difficult, both in meaning and in memorization. However, by the mercy of Allah (SWT), I was able to complete memorizing all three ayahs in both Arabic and English. Although they were challenging, I felt proud and grateful that I was able to finish them in a relatively short amount of time. This experience reminded me that with effort, patience, and sincerity, Allah (SWT) makes difficult things easier for us.
Soon after we finished our memorization practice, pizza arrived. Everyone was happy and excited, and we all enjoyed eating veggie and cheese pizza together. This moment allowed us to relax and enjoy each other’s company outside of structured learning. After some time was given for people to digest their food and settle down, we officially began class.
When class started, we covered multiple topics, some of which we had discussed before and others that were new. One of the first topics we covered was Amana. Amana refers to the trust and gifts that Allah (SWT) has given us. These gifts can be things such as knowledge, abilities, time, and opportunities. We learned that Amana is something we are responsible for, and we are meant to use it in ways that benefit ourselves and others. Allah (SWT) has entrusted us with these gifts, and we are accountable for how we use them in our lives.
We then talked about accountability. This topic focused on the idea that every choice we make is our own responsibility. No one else can be blamed for our actions, because at the end of the day, it was our decision. Accountability teaches us to take ownership of our behavior and understand that our actions have consequences. This reminder emphasized that Islam encourages personal responsibility and honesty with oneself.
Another important topic we discussed was love, specifically our love and relationship with Allah (SWT). We talked about how we love Allah not only for who He is, but also for everything He has given us and how He has helped us throughout our lives. This love is not conditional; it is built on gratitude, trust, and recognition of Allah’s mercy and guidance. Loving Allah (SWT) strengthens our faith and motivates us to do good.
We also learned about Shaytaan and his role. Shaytaan’s job is to mislead and interfere with us, and this became his purpose after he disobeyed Allah (SWT). Understanding this helps us remain aware of the whispers and temptations that can lead us away from the right path. Knowing Shaytaan’s role allows us to be more cautious and intentional with our actions.
Another topic we discussed was the soul and what happens after death. We learned that in the grave, there are three questions that will be asked. We will not answer these questions with our mouths; instead, our souls will speak the truth. Our soul will reflect what we did, what we learned, and how we applied our knowledge during our lives. This part of the lesson was very powerful, as it reminded us that actions matter more than words.
We also learned that the soul is separate from the body. The body may rot in the ground after death, but on the Day of Judgment, it is the soul that will rise for judgment, not the physical body. This idea helped reinforce the importance of nurturing the soul rather than focusing only on physical or worldly things.
After this, two new guests joined us and shared their experiences of reverting to Islam. They spoke about their lives before Islam, their journey during their research, and how their lives changed after accepting Islam. Both guests took the initiative to learn deeply about Islam and also researched their previous religions before making their decision. Their stories showed dedication, sincerity, and courage. They both decided that Islam was the better path for them, and hearing their experiences was inspiring and eye-opening.
We then continued discussing several related topics. One idea was that to Allah (SWT), converts have a higher status because they took the initiative to seek the truth on their own. They did not simply follow what they were born into, but instead questioned, learned, and chose Islam knowingly.
Another topic was the difference between saying “we believe” and “I believe.” Saying “we believe” without understanding is like walking with a zombie—following without thought or wisdom. Saying “I believe” means standing out, understanding why you believe, and having wisdom behind your faith. This distinction emphasized personal conviction and awareness in belief.
We also discussed that some messages in the Quran focus on how to believe, while others explain why we should believe. This balance helps guide both our actions and our understanding. Additionally, we talked about how Allah (SWT) tells us to open our eyes and make a difference when we see someone struggling. This teaches compassion and responsibility toward others.
Another concept we covered was poise. Poise means speaking up clearly and loudly enough for people to hear you. It involves confidence, clarity, and presence when expressing yourself.
That was everything we covered in class, as a large portion of the time was spent memorizing ayahs at the beginning. Overall, today was a very intriguing and special class. We had new revert guests who shared their meaningful journeys, my mom came with me, and we started the class with a silent exercise that strengthened our connection with Allah (SWT). We took time to reflect, learn, and listen to stories of people striving to live better lives and worship Allah (SWT) sincerely. Assalamualaikum.