Unit 3.2
Clear mind, connected soul: Islamic mindfulness
In today’s day and age, we are drowning in noise and distractions, leaving our senses constantly stimulated. Now more than ever, it’s important to make time for quiet and stillness. This unit explores mindfulness techniques in accordance with the Sunnah of the Prophet (s) that equip students with tools to gain tranquility in their day-to-day lives.
Introduction
Unit overview, learning objectives and content standards
Lesson 1: The chaos inside
Through an analysis of their own lives, students will recognize the need for techniques to cope with overstimulation and unnecessary distractions. Students will recognize mindfulness as an advantageous tool and identify beneficial practices they can incorporate from the Prophetic tradition.
Lesson instructions
1.1 Teacher reference: Heart illustration
1.2 Worksheet: Modern conditions
1.3 Teacher reference: Bi’dah in meditation
1.4 Homework: Why mindfulness
Presentation
Lesson 2: Noise meets silence. Silence meets thoughts.
One of the troubling signs of our age is our difficulty to maintain silence. In this lesson, students will be introduced to the stages of thoughts to help them develop their meta-cognition and gain control over negative thoughts, allowing them to find comfort in the quiet of their minds.
Lesson instructions
2.1 Worksheet: Notes on silence
2.2 Teacher reference: Stages of thoughts
2.3 Worksheet: Stages of thought
2.4 Worksheet: Challenging negative thoughts
Presentation
Lesson 3: Meditating to excellence
In this lesson, students will deepen their understanding of muraaqabah (meditation) and recognize it as the bedrock to ihsan. Students will experience muraaqabah in the classroom, and realize that calm and contentment attained in this life can eventually lead to calm and joy in the next life.
Lesson instructions
3.1 Worksheet: Muraqabah
3.2 Worksheet: Aspects of muraqabah
3.3 Teacher reference: Muraqabah instructions
3.4 Homework: Mindfulness log
Presentation
References
References
Feedback
Additional resources
See other units
Unit 3.1 (New version)
Caring for the Earth is worship: Environmental ethics in Islam
In an age of ecological crisis, what is the Islamic perspective on environmentalism and eco-consciousness? This unit explores the question first with an investigation of the modern, large-scale impact human activities are having on the environment. Students are then given a Qur’anic framework to think through some of our ecological challenges and the moral imperative to be care-takers of the environment. This unit concludes with prophetic advice on how students can care for the environment in their individual lives.
Unit 3.3
Islam and LGBT: Reframing the narrative (coming Spring 2023)
This unit is coming soon. Stay tuned!