Week 36, by OT-13-M submitted 5/3/26
When I entered class today, I began with the usual routine. I participated in the meditation exercise to center myself and become more mindful of Allah, and then I performed my salah. After everyone finished, we started learning about two major upcoming events in Islam: Hajj and Eid al-Adha. We discussed how during Hajj, Muslims perform tawaf by circling the Kaaba seven times. We also reviewed how the direction of prayer (qibla) was changed from Jerusalem to Mecca during the time of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), which helped establish a distinct identity for the Muslim community.
After that, we spent most of the class learning about Prophet Ibrahim (peace be upon him). One of the key points we discussed was his dua: asking Allah to make him and his children steadfast in prayer. We learned about the challenges he faced, including not having a child for a long time. Eventually, through Allah’s will, he had a son, Ismail (peace be upon him). We talked about how Ismail’s mother, Hajar, was left in the desert by Ibrahim as part of Allah’s command. In her desperation to find water for her baby, she ran between the hills of Safa and Marwa seven times. This action is now recreated during Hajj and Umrah. Allah then provided the زمزم (Zamzam) water through the angel Jibreel, saving them.
As Ismail grew older, Ibrahim was tested again when he was commanded in a dream to sacrifice his son. This was an extremely difficult test of faith, but both Ibrahim and Ismail were willing to submit to Allah’s command. At the last moment, Allah replaced Ismail with a ram, showing that Ibrahim had passed the test. This story is the foundation of Eid al-Adha, which reminds Muslims of the importance of faith, trust, and obedience to Allah.
We then learned about fiqh, which refers to Islamic jurisprudence—the understanding of what is allowed (halal) and forbidden (haram). The four major imams developed schools of thought to guide Muslims in practicing Islam correctly. We also discussed how Eid al-Fitr lasts one day, while Eid al-Adha extends over multiple days to allow time for the sacrifice and distribution of meat. Another important topic was the Day of Judgment, where all humans will gather on the plains of Arafat. Unlike humans, animals will not be judged in the same way because they do not have free will.
Later, we went on our first field trip to Fairfax Memorial Park. There, we learned about burial practices, including graves, crypts, and cremation. We also discussed how Islamic burial practices differ, such as avoiding embalming and minimizing unnecessary alterations to the body out of respect.
When we returned, we covered several additional concepts. One important idea was that there is no compulsion in religion, meaning people should not be forced into belief. We also talked about respecting other religions and maintaining good character when interacting with others. We explored how halal and haram can sometimes have conditions, and how intention plays a role in actions. When we opened the Quran, we discussed the purpose of life: to improve ourselves, help others, and make the world a better place. We were reminded to read the Quran regularly with sincerity and to act upon its teachings, not just recite it.
A guest speaker shared a meaningful story about how even small actions can remind people of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). He explained that love for the Prophet can grow through simple reminders and actions, and that when we do good consistently, we begin to love those good actions. Similarly, doing bad things repeatedly can make a person uncomfortable with goodness. This emphasized the importance of building good habits.
Overall, this class taught me a lot about faith, sacrifice, and the importance of intention. The story of Prophet Ibrahim stood out to me the most because of how strong his trust in Allah was, even when faced with an extremely difficult test. It made me think about how I respond to challenges in my own life and whether I truly trust Allah in all situations. I also learned that small actions can shape who we become, which made me realize that I should be more mindful of my daily habits. The field trip helped me better understand real-world practices related to death and respect for the body, which connected to what we learn in Islam. In the future, I want to focus more on not just learning about Islam, but actually applying it in my life by improving my actions, intentions, and consistency in worship