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This Ramadaan join Madina Institute’s programme for women, ‘The Enclave’.
By SALEEMAH JAFFER
IN my early adulthood, I often attended Islamic educational lectures and workshops for personal enrichment. The more I learned, the more I found myself wanting to find out more about our beautiful faith.
One of the personal challenges I faced (and still face) was that even though I was learning, and increasing my knowledge base, I felt that I wasn’t changing. I wanted to implement what I was learning, and make this knowledge part of who I am, but I just didn’t know how.
Over the past decade, I have learnt three important approaches from my teachers which support my learning, shifting it from information to transformation. While it’s definitely a work in progress, these three approaches are based on centuries of Islamic scholarship and can be beneficial in different contexts and fields.
- Being intentional
We often think of intention as the starting point for any activity. While this is true, our nature is such that sometimes we are forgetful, and sometimes we are distracted. It is thus useful to reaffirm, and sometimes even reestablish our intentions.
While attending educational and spiritual gatherings undoubtedly brings barakah (blessings and bounties) and khayr (goodness), being intentional about what we want to achieve or gain from the opportunity helps us better prepare and enhances the overall experience.
If we walk into the classroom or masjid with the attitude: ‘I don’t just want to feel good sitting here, I want to implement what I have learned’, we will automatically approach it with a different frame of mind. Simple things like choosing to come prepared to take down notes (with a pen and a notebook or a device), doing background reading, taking wudhu beforehand, arriving early, and setting aside time for revision and consolidation all contribute to how we can, InshaAllah, benefit from a gathering.
- Reflection
Our lives are sometimes so fast-paced and busy that we may not have the time to process or reflect on our learnings and experiences. This is an important part of our learning journey as it helps us internalise and better understand what we have learned.
We may perceive reflection as a passive exercise, but in actual fact it requires active engagement both with the content one has been exposed to, and with one’s own self. It is important for us to prioritise this and allocate time for this process. It can be done by making notes, journalling, scrapbooking, art, quiet contemplation, or even through a guided conversation with a mentor or peer.
- Service
Service or selflessly assisting and contributing to the betterment of others may seem like an unusual approach to education. Service softens the heart and broadens the mind, making one more receptive to sacred knowledge. While it may outwardly seem like an unconventional approach to personal development, it is the way of many of our pious predecessors. Service helps us internalise values and puts knowledge into perspective.
In our daily lives, we may find that we struggle to dedicate time to establish our intentions, and for active reflection. Recognising this need, firstly within myself, and then our broader community of sisters, Madina Institute developed an event that embedded these approaches within the programme.
The programme, titled ‘The Enclave’, took place last Ramadaan. It started with a self-check mindfulness exercise to establish intention, which was followed by the collective recitation of Surah Kahf. After a short comfort break, the programme continued to the tafsir of Surah Kahf.
The programme concluded with an exercise wherein women were guided through a reflection process. This tool could be used in different learning contexts, serving to consolidate and affirm the gems that were shared within the session.
Aeysha Ebrahim, a speech therapist and mother of three, attended the programme last year and shared: ‘The programme was beautifully structured with enough time given to all participants to benefit from an enhanced and engaging experience.
‘The mindfulness exercise/ meditation at the beginning of the programme allowed us to prepare our hearts and direct its focus to receiving the message. It helped to eliminate distractions and calm our minds to presence.
‘The tafsir was delivered in a succinct and impactful manner. We were able to draw from its relevance and immediately contemplate on the lessons learnt. The programme ended with a reflection segment.
‘Individuals left the programme feeling inspired, rejuvenated, empowered and motivated to implement the lessons learnt into their everyday lives.’
This year ‘The Enclave’ takes place on Friday March 21 – Human Rights Day – at Madina Institute Belgravia. The programme will be facilitated by Mualima Zaitoon Ebrahim, Mualima Fatima Karbaray, Mualima Yusra Saiet, Hafitha Tasmiyah Essa and Hafitha Raeesa Hoosain, and is open to women. The programme is free, with a suggested donation of R20 to the MyMadina MyHome New Muslim Resource Centre based at Madina Institute Belgravia.
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For more information visit @madinabelgravia on Instagram or www.madinainstitute.org.za
Saleemah Jaffer is a PhD student, and she coordinates Women’s Spiritual Development Programmes for Madina Institute.
- This article was first published in the 21 February 2025 edition of Muslim Views under Saleemah Jaffer’s monthly column, ‘THE ROAD WELL TRAVELLED – exploring issues of social responsibility, spirituality and agency’.
