3. A Journey Through Surah Qaf – Heaven & Hell

Description

This inspiring session invites adult learners to reflect on the importance of the heart, learn how to develop a heart that always turns to Allah, and explore the characteristics of the people of Jannah.

Session 3: Heaven & Hell

• Opens with imagine your outcome starter activity, writing on post-it notes how one would feel hearing either the announcement of entry into Jannah with eternal peace and bliss, or condemnation to Hell-fire with no escape or relief
• Explores the shiver-inducing verse where Allah asks Hell if it is full yet and it responds asking if there are any more, understanding that Hell will become full yet there will always be room for more as current people get squashed and constricted further, and that Hell is so huge that despite huge numbers entering, there will be room for more
• Reflects on the contrast with the pleasant, calm, and friendly scene where Paradise will be brought near (uzlifat) to the righteous, showing honour with every word as Paradise is brought near so they don’t have to trouble themselves by going to it
• Discovers the people of Paradise through four characteristics: awwab (the one who constantly returns to his Lord and always repents to Allah), hafiz (protector who guards eyes, ears, and all senses from anything haram and from crossing Allah’s boundaries), who were in awe of the Most Compassionate without seeing Him (khashyah equals fear plus glorification), and have come with a heart turning only to Him (qalb munib, a sincere heart that is always turning to Allah and remembers its sins in private whilst seeking repentance)
• Reflects on feeling unworthy of Jannah because of sins, and how these verses shift one’s perspective on the characteristics of the people of Jannah
• Understands repentance and the heart through noticing that Allah mentions the people of Jannah starting with repentance (awwab) and ending with repentance (munib), that every act of worship has an outer and inner aspect, and that focusing on the inner allows the outer to follow in course
• Explores the profound goal of reaching the level of inabah, which consists of repeatedly turning to Allah with love and humility whilst turning away from other than Him
• Engages in write a letter activity, thinking of a recent sin and writing a letter to Allah begging forgiveness by acknowledging one’s lowly status, begging, promising to try one’s best never to return to the sin, and asking Allah to help one stay away from it
• Reflects on how the activity made one feel, what stops one from turning to Allah in repentance, and what steps can be taken to ensure one is always turning to Allah and focused on Him
• Discovers the best welcome where people of Jannah will enter in peace (salam) on the Day of eternal life (yawm al-khulud), understanding that salam has two meanings (peace and greetings) with both intended, that salam and eternal peace and serenity is the ultimate goal, and that this dunya is not a place of peace, whilst the best greeting will insha’Allah be “Salam, a word from the Most Merciful Lord”
• Explores everything you’ve ever wished through understanding there are two types of naim in Jannah (physical and spiritual), and that with Allah is even more (mazid)
• Contemplates what ‘more’ refers to, understanding it is the gift of seeing Allah, and that the greatest joy a believer will enjoy in the hereafter will be the joy of seeing Allah and meeting Him, an experience no words can describe, and that when people of Jannah see Allah with their very own eyes they will forget all previous blessings given to them in Paradise
• Creates your Jannah vision, understanding that the Companions felt like the hereafter was very real which motivated them and kept them on track, and that as humans we need a reminder of Jannah to motivate us, drawing or describing ideal Jannah whilst engaging all senses
• Learns using your Jannah vision by understanding that Allah gives tribulations and trials to help us wake up and turn to Him out of His mercy as He wants eternal happiness and bliss for us, and that next time facing a trial one should take out the vision board, wear akhirah glasses to shift perspective, refocus on the goal, and take action by identifying steps needed to stay on the right path (patience, dua, steadfastness, repentance)

Perfect for adult learners in Islamic study circles, community programmes, and Ramadan preparations, this presentation nurtures hearts through authentic Quranic tarbiyah rooted in the values of love, pure heart, and servitude.