[This is] a blessed Book which We have revealed to you so that they may contemplate its verses, and people of reason may be mindful. (39:29)
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “No group gathers in a house of Allah, reciting the Book of Allah and studying it among themselves, except that tranquillity descends upon them, mercy envelops them, the angels surround them, and Allah mentions them among those near Him” (Muslim).
What Is Recite & Reflect?
Recite and Reflect is an approach to encouraging attendees to deeply engage with the Qur’an through reflection (tadabbur) rather than traditional lecture-based learning. Sessions prioritise reflection, discussion, and the application of Qur’anic teachings to daily life.
Core Principles
- All sessions are held in person
- Reflective thinking and discussion is prioritised
- Instructors ‘facilitate’ the session rather than ‘lecture’
The goal should be to build a Qur’anic community where people reflect deeply on the Qur’an and apply its teachings to their lives.
Preparing Your Own Session
Step 1: Research the Surah
- Identify the key messages and overall themes of the surah
- Use reputable tafsir sources to assist with your research. Tafsir.app is a useful resource
- When Allah’s Names & Attributes appear in the verses, research the Name in detail and explore their significance in the context
- Guided by the Qur’an: every session should ideally include at least one story of how the Companions were transformed/guided by the verse
Step 2: Personal Reflection
- Read the verse yourself and reflect on the verse
- Consider how the verse applies to your own life
Step 3: Tailor to Your Audience
- Think about the context, experience level, and needs of your attendees
- Plan how to make the verse relevant and accessible to them
Step 4: Prepare Your Questions
- Prepare reflection questions and act statements
Step 5: Plan Your Facilitation
- Prepare your starter and plenary for the session
- Organise your research notes so key points are easily accessible during the session
Using Pre-Prepared Resources
- Read through the research
- Think of your own reflection questions in relation to your audience
- Prepare your starter and plenary
- Print out the Arabic verses with the English translation
- Print out the worksheets
Creating the Right Environment
- Create a non-judgemental space where people feel safe sharing their feelings and thoughts without fear of criticism.
- Allow silence. Give people time to think rather than rushing to fill pauses.
- Make sure everyone’s voice is heard. Use a round robin approach to ensure the same people don’t dominate the conversation.
- Always give participants the chance to speak first before you do as the facilitator.
- Be warm, pleasant and genuinely present.
- Thank people for sharing their reflections and for showing up.
- And above all: listen.
Delivering the Session
- Read the verse in Arabic and ask the participants to repeat after you. The Qur’an is powerful when it is being recited from the heart.
- Ask participants to read the translation individually.
- Guide the collective reflection with the following questions:
- What is this verse saying?
- What is Allah saying to me in this verse?
- How does this verse link to the previous verse?
- How does this verse connect to the overall themes in this surah?
- What can I change in my thoughts, words, actions based on this verse?
- Ask attendees to share their reflections with the class. At times, as a facilitator, you may need to gently correct a reflection if it stems from an incorrect understanding of the ayah.
- Share additional comments and reflections based on the research.
Explore our ready-made resources for your next Recite & Reflect sessions.
Surah al-Hujarat Resources
Surah Qāf Resources
