Many people love studying fiction for leisure. There’s nothing like curling up with a very good e book or mindlessly cleansing whereas listening to an audiobook. Nonetheless, it’s exhausting to seek out “good books” that we are able to’t wait to tear open and browse, and even tougher to seek out books which have some kind of “Islamic profit” in them. Ending a novel includes investing a substantial period of time and time is treasured. Typically Muslims might really feel responsible for spending a lot time studying a fictionalized story as an alternative of participating in one thing extra “worthwhile;” whether or not that’s studying a religious textual content or one other exercise we’d simply name a very good deed. These of us who like to learn fiction might discover that studying a very good story is crucial for our psychological well being. So how can we take a soothing exercise and switch it into one thing that we might be able to profit from on this life and the subsequent?
Important Islamic Aware Studying: A Studying Method
As a highschool English trainer myself, I by no means suppose studying fiction is solely an train of studying comprehension or a “waste of time,” particularly after we strategy no matter we’re studying mindfully. The largest purpose studying for pleasure might be so beneficial is as a result of fiction gives a protected house for us to discover and focus on private and social points. Utilizing the characters and the fictionalized story, we don’t need to enter into the world of gossiping or backbiting with a view to discover the messiness of life. Having a perspective from inside a novel permits us to deeply empathize with the characters and higher perceive the complexities of the conditions they expertise.
My mindset of looking for beneficial classes in no matter I learn began after I was a highschool scholar. I’d obsessively learn all of my assigned novels for college and suppose–however what does Islam take into consideration these tales and characters? What can I be taught from this e book to profit me in my very own life? After I received to varsity, I began asking, what Islamic tales from the Quran and Sunnah does this remind me of?
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These questions are important to my strategy to “vital Islamic conscious studying.” This conscious studying strategy is impressed by “sacred studying,” which includes treating a secular, non-religious textual content just like a sacred scripture–what does the novel train you or information you in the direction of? Clearly nothing compares to the steering offered by the Quran, so please don’t misunderstand this idea. That’s the place the vital a part of this strategy is available in. The last word supply of knowledge and steering is Allah –so all the time put Islamic concepts and teachings on the forefront of your conscious studying follow. Rooting this complete course of in Islam is on the crux of this conscious studying strategy and helps you discover your religion in a rigorous, wholesome manner.
Getting Began
When you’ve made some first rate progress within the novel or completed it, determine what main matters the novel explores that you simply wish to spend a while fascinated about. Is it patriarchy? Psychological well being? Sexuality? Racism? Materialism? Now it’s your job to perform a little research on the facet and get your bearings inside Islam’s normal strategy on these matters. What does Islam say about patriarchy? You may lookup articles on MuslimMatters, lectures on YouTube, discover books, or speak to your discovered mates or imam. You may additionally put together extra detailed questions, reminiscent of–does Islam worth ladies’s engagement in society?
It’s exhausting to discover a “100% Halal” e book, and what does that imply anyway? Whereas I can’t pin down what may very well be a totally faultless e book from an Islamic standpoint, it’s comparatively simple to find out what content material crosses the road too many instances or too extravagantly. For instance, in Prophet Yusuf’s story, he faces the temptation to have a bootleg relationship with a married lady. However how does the Quran describe and deal with this content material? There could also be some grey space on this dialog and it’s one I’m not certified to carry, however having a private customary that respects Islamic boundaries is vital.
When you’ve discovered a e book that passes some form of litmus take a look at, there should still be some problematic moments or undercurrents. As you’re studying the novel and also you’re discovering objectionable issues, observe the extremely problematic issues that go towards Islamic teachings and life-style. For instance, is there an abusive relationship between relations or a personality who steals? It’s vital to not desensitize ourselves from main sins and to easily name them what they’re.
The Technique for Important Islamic Aware Studying
Listed here are the three questions that can information your conscious studying:
What Islamic tales from the Quran and Sunnah does this remind me of?
How would Islam tackle the massive questions within the story?
What can I be taught from this e book to profit me in my very own life?
Step 1: Comparable Tales within the Quran and Sunnah or Your Life
Discover one thing from the Quran or Sunnah associated to the story. It may be an instance or a non-example.
I’ll provide you with some examples. In To Kill a Mockingbird, there’s a false rape allegation that reminds us loads of the incident with Prophet Yusuf and the governor’s spouse. Let’s transfer on to a non-example. In Fahrenheit 451, Man Montag finds a brand new calling at his doorstep, very similar to the prophethood of Muhammad . The husband-wife relationship between Man Montag and his spouse, Midlred, is the polar reverse of the help and love between the Prophet Muhammad and his spouse Khadijah .
Take into consideration these examples and suss out how they relate to the novel you’re studying. Surprise about what these examples say once you put them in dialog with one another. This stage of reflection and pondering may lead you to new insights into acquainted Islamic tales, not only a manner to consider the novel you’re studying!
Step 2: Islam’s Stance on a Novel’s Massive Questions
Deal with the massive questions that the novel asks whereas fascinated about what Islam’s reply can be to the identical questions. It is a good way so that you can make sense of what you’re studying inside an Islamic paradigm.
Listed here are some examples. What would Islam say in regards to the materialism in The Nice Gatsby? Chances are you’ll consider a number of components of the Quran that train us in regards to the unending obsession with the dunya [Surat at Takathur, 102] and the dearth of concentrate on doing good for the Hereafter [Surat al Kahf, 18:46] to provide you with your stab at an Islamic reply, or a “thesis assertion” or “declare.”
Islam condemns the obsession with materialism in The Nice Gatsby as a unending pursuit of unquenchable wishes for the dunya that not solely distracts from but additionally compromises folks’s success within the akhirah.
If you concentrate on the notion of hearts discovering ease of their religious connection to their Creator [Surat al Raad, 13:28], you could surprise in regards to the pursuits of the characters in The Nice Gatsby.
To seek out peace and satisfaction, Gatsby ought to concentrate on his relationship with Allah as an important relationship he prioritizes in his life as an alternative of his relationship with Daisy.
Right here’s one other (although non-bookish) instance. Pondering of the animated Disney movie, Encanto, Isabella is being compelled into an engagement/marriage that she doesn’t wish to be part of–which is the alternative of what Islam preaches. The consent of the bride is important for a legitimate Islamic marriage and is likely one of the rights Islam reinforces for ladies.
The desires and wishes of a younger lady relating to main life choices are one thing a household ought to all the time honor and search to concentrate on by means of optimistic household interactions.
Or
Younger ladies can simply be taken benefit of and needs to be protected and handled with further care due to their weak place in households and society.
What’s the purpose of going by means of this query? It’s utilizing a novel as a case examine for actual life that means that you can discover messy, advanced points in actual life. The world is much from excellent and figuring out the Islamic paradigm helps us learn mindfully and might shield us when life’s checks develop into overwhelming.
Step 3: Classes Realized from the Novel
The very last thing you’ll wish to discuss is the advantages of studying this e book as classes you possibly can take ahead with you into your individual life. This imbues mindfulness into your “only for kicks” studying and gives you alternatives to develop your individual knowledge with out having to undergo by means of the experiences within the novel themselves.
Listed here are some examples from novels I’ve already talked about earlier on this publish.
Fahrenheit 451: Your partner might have big adjustments or upheavals of their life. It’s vital to listen to them out and help them, so long as they’re doing one thing good, to maintain the wedding sturdy.
The Nice Gatsby: Don’t put somebody within the place of Allah in your individual life. Setting your complete life in pursuit of somebody or one thing apart from Allah is like worshiping that particular person or factor–and nothing is infinite, pure, or worthy of that focus apart from Allah .
Conclusion
I want you the very best as you embark on these thrilling literary journeys. Chances are you’ll end up shaken to the core at your findings! I hope you should use this conscious studying follow in e book golf equipment and with readings from numerous media, like motion pictures and podcasts. I pray that vital conscious studying is one thing you possibly can profit from and share with others.
Associated:
– Navigating Muslim Illustration In Books: The Good, The Flawed, And The Ugly
– Podcast: Is Harry Potter Haram? Islamic Views Of Poetry And Literature With Sh. Shahin-Ur Rahman