Points of Reflection:
- In the world that we live in we are used to seeing quick results. Does this impact how you deal with struggles and hardship in your life? How so?How does this compare to what Allah (swt) reminds us of in this story?
- Have you experienced a time in your life where you tasted a breath of relief in the midst of calamity, something that reminded you that you were on the path of Allah (swt)?
- Is it easy or difficult for you to remember that the journey and the means matter over the results? Do you find yourself forgetting or leaning on the fact that the ultimate results are in the hands of Allah (swt)?
- Is working toward something only worth it if we see the results in our lifetime? Why or why not?
- Think of an example in your own life, reflect on how you have handled the situation and discuss.
- Take a moment to reflect on the resolve, strength, and courage our American Muslim predecessors displayed – the Believers who came before us in this land.
- What do you think their experience was like?
- What are some things in your experience as an American Muslim that you find yourself complaining about that they would have been grateful for in their time?
- What did we inherit from them? Did they enjoy the full benefit of what we inherited from them in their lifetime?
Quiz Questions:
- What does “ashab al-ukhdud” mean?
- (people of the ditch/trench)
- What verses in Surah al-Buruj refer to the story of the people of the ditch?
- (verses 4-7)
- Were the people who were persecuted in this story Muslims for a long time, or were they new Muslims?
- (new Muslims)
Challenge
Take time to connect with a member of a different generation in your community during this blessed month seeking to understand what their experience has been like being a Muslim in America throughout their lifetime. What are some benefits we enjoy as Muslims in America currently that the previous generation helped work toward? What are some challenges that are shared between the generations – how are they similar and how are they different today? What can we learn from one another?
About In the Shade of Ramadan Triumph in Trial: Lessons from Surat Al-Buruj
This year’s In The Shade of Ramadan (ISR) web series explores the stories, lessons, and connections that are found in Surat al-Buruj, a chapter of the Qur’an that offers us much-needed reminders and reassurances during this time of heightened Islamophobia, continued global conflict, and the ongoing genocide in Gaza.
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