Opening Session
- Recitation of the Holy Qur’an by a Tifl.
- Translation of the Holy Qur’an by a Tifl.
- Atfal Pledge, lead by Nazim Atfal or Qaid Majlis. (View Atfal Pledge)
- Hadith by a Tifl.
Class Agendas
A reminder to please remember the following objectives before going into today’s lesson plan: Recitation of the Holy Qur’an and the Memorization of Salat.
Regarding the recitation of the Holy Qur’an, please encourage the Atfal to recite daily.
Regarding the memorization of salat, please ensure that each Tifl has a personalized weekly goal for how much to memorize. It is important to help keep each Tifl on track to reach the goal of memorizing the full salat. For Atfal younger than 10 years old the emphasis should be on memorizing salat fully in Arabic. For Atfal older than 10 years, emphasis should be put on memorizing the full salat in Arabic with the English translation. Please ensure that each tifl is keeping up with their goals in this area. Those Atfal who have already memorized salat along with the translation should set goals to memorize some portions of the Holy Qur’an along with the translation.
Please use the beginning of the class to check in on the Atfal and how their progress towards their goals is going.
After checking on the progress of Atfal towards their goals, please divide the class into Mayar e Saghir and Mayar e Kabir.
Class September 10
For Mayar e Saghir, please go through the following portion of the summary of the Friday Sermon from August 25, 2023 and discuss what the Atfal learned from it:
“His Holiness (aba) said that in the Holy Qur’an, it is stated that Allah grants those who truly repent with wealth and progeny, and it becomes a means of being saved from the displeasure of Allah the Almighty. At one instance in the Holy Qur’an, Allah the Almighty states:
‘They would have surely found Allah Oft-Returning with compassion and Merciful.’ (The Holy Qur’an, 4:65)
His Holiness(aba) said that, however, the condition of this is that one truly seeks forgiveness and repents. It is recorded that the Holy Prophet(sa) once said that for one who truly repents, it is as if they never erred in the first place. One becomes safe from the ill effects of wrongdoing. Then the Holy Prophet(sa) cited the following verse:
‘Allah loves those who turn to Him and loves those who keep themselves clean’ (The Holy Qur’an, 2:223)
What is True Repentance?
His Holiness(aba) said that the Holy Prophet(sa) was asked what connotes true repentance. The Holy Prophet(sa) replied by saying regret and sorrow. It is in doing so that one can have their sins forgiven and benefit from the mercy of Allah.
His Holiness(aba) said that the Promised Messiah(as) has outlined the conditions for true repentance. The first condition that he stipulated was to abandon ill and evil thoughts. This is a great struggle which one must undertake in order to achieve true repentance.
His Holiness(aba) said that the second condition for true repentance stipulated by the Promised Messiah(as) was that one must exhibit true regret and sorrow. They must understand that the enjoyments and allures of this world are temporary, and remaining attached to them renders no benefit.
His Holiness(aba) said that the third condition stipulated by the Promised Messiah(as) for true repentance is to firmly resolve never to go near such evil again. This should not be limited to mere resolve, rather a concerted effort must be made to replace the evil deeds with good and virtuous deeds.”
For Mayar e Kabir please have them read and discuss the following excerpt from Introduction to the Study of the Holy Quran (pg. 277).
Belief in a Living God
The Quran explains to what extent man is left free to determine his course of action and to what extent he is subject to compulsion. It teaches that man has been left with enough choice to make him responsible for his actions to God and to enable him to embark upon a continuous course of self-improvement. On the other hand, the sphere of his activities is circumscribed and it is not possible for him to transgress its limits. Despite all effort, it is not possible for man to discard the limitations to which human life is subject. He cannot sink into a condition of static solidity nor climb to an ethereal existence. Within his own sphere, however, he possesses great faculties and large powers and is capable of continuous improvement and progress. The Quran explains the need of belief in God and draws attention to the proofs of His existence. It emphasises that God has always sent down His word by means of revelation in times of darkness and that He manifests His power through extraordinary Signs and thus gives irrefutable proof of His existence. The Prophets and their perfect followers are indispensable for the purpose of creating in men’s minds perfect faith in God. If God were to cease to manifest His attributes through the Prophets and their followers, mankind would become a prey to doubt and uncertainty and firm faith in the existence of God would disappear. It is imperative, therefore, that so long as mankind continue to exist, divine revelation should continue to descend upon some of them. Faith in the existence of God can be maintained only through this means. From the inception of the universe God has spoken to man through His Prophets down to Jesus and on to the Holy Prophet of Islam, just as He has throughout continued to manifest His attributes of creation, hearing and seeing. In the same manner He will continue to speak till the end of time to His chosen servants and will continue to manifest His existence by these means.