The Quran, our ultimate Guide, is as much for the young as it is for the old; it was as relevant 1400 years ago as it is today. It is as much for women as it is for men. It is, and should be, a handbook that we constantly refer to. However, with the rise of social media, attention spans have shrunk, and we need to adapt our teaching methods to appeal to our youth especially.
What can we do?
Make it relevant and interactive
Without compromising the respect of the Quran, keep the atmosphere relaxed and cordial when you address the youth. Choose topics and a delivery style that they can relate to.
If you are conducting classes, encourage students to take notes on their own Quran. If they feel they don’t have enough space, offer Post-It notes with empty pages for note-taking. For the tech-savvy, ask them to take notes on their smartphones for quick accessibility.
Use a variety of teaching tools- maps, multimedia, games, and experiments. For instance, based on the startling video of a demonstration using Cola and water to signify how sins displace the purity of heart can easily be conducted in the class.
Likewise, if it’s younger children, you must include crafts and Quran journaling. Many worksheets and ideas are easily available online.
Another effective subliminal tool is having lots of eye-catching books and pamphlets displayed on shelves around the room. For younger children, there are many Islamic fiction books available now that revolve around the questions and challenges Muslim youth face.
If you are making short videos or reels, you need to ‘pack in a punch’ in a few words and appropriate images or animation. Likewise, your language should be easy to understand.
Choose your topics carefully
Select a Surah from the Quran that hits home with the youth. If you talk about a topic, they might feel this is your opinion. Surah Al Kahf is a good choice because the story involves the choices and challenges youth face, and its focus is on society falling into disbelief.
Aqeedah, or Creed, is the fundamental pillar of our faith. It enforces the idea that even today, the youth can withdraw and form their group if they see their friends falling prey to the dangers of smoking, dating, or gay pride. Stories are always interesting for young people, so choose them accordingly.
The biographies of the Companions are an underrated resource because they have strengths and weaknesses similar to ours. Don’t forget most of the Sahabah actually migrated from a sinful and disbelieving life to the enlightened believing lifestyle of Islam by choice. Their stories give hope and encouragement to the youth.
Encourage questions and prepare to answer
Motivate the young to ask daring questions about daunting and taboo issues that confuse, disturb, or frustrate them. Allah’s Deen has answers for all. For questions related to the unseen realm, we need to first fully understand the seen and tangible realm, which enables us to start trusting that there must be a world of Ghaib, too. Allah has created everything in pairs.
Ask questions while explaining the Surah instead of having a test at the end. Divide the group into teams and have them compete in Quranic knowledge. You can hand out play (e.g., Monopoly) money whenever anyone answers a question correctly and award a prize to the person with the most ‘money’ at the end.
Involve them even more by asking them to choose a Surah to learn. Does the story of Prophet Yusuf (as) intrigue them, or, in the light of Gaza, would they like to hear about the People of the Ditch?
Read and reflect
Young people have enough homework and assignments, but you do want them to remember what you learned together. Ask them to read a short Dua a few times a day, and they will automatically memorize it.
Do not photocopy the Dua and give it to them- have them open the Quran, find the Ayah, and read it from their Mushaf (The Quran Majeed App). Sometimes, another word or Ayah might catch their attention while reading the Quran.
Similarly, you can ask them what their ‘aha- moment’ was after each session. If they’re willing, you can ask them to pen their reflections (or even paint them) and share them in the next class or on Telegram or a WhatsApp group.
Include anecdotes and trivia
Insert some general knowledge and trivia to make the session even more interesting. Enliven the discussion with ‘fun facts’ and anecdotes to get their attention. If you talk about the alternation between day and night, you can, perhaps, show some slides from a science unit, making them appreciate the balance and beauty of Allah’s (swt) creations. There are lots of games and flashcards with Islamic knowledge available today, so make the best use of them.
One student architect built a model for a masjid with the five pillars of Islam as the foundation, the six pillars of faith as its walls, and so on, with the dome representing society and its goal towards Allah’s Pleasure.
Run parallel book clubs
Since the youth has such a strong presence online, virtual book clubs are an excellent resource for supplementing Islamic knowledge. The books can range from self-help books to historical fiction and biographies. Choose a book each month and share the PDF or link with the group.
Then, share your favorite passages and reflections on a daily basis and encourage others to do so, too. At the end of each month, post reflections others have shared with you. This will not only strengthen their Islamic knowledge but also broaden their worldview and make them more empathetic.
Be a Role Model
Finally, if you are a parent who wants their child to develop a loving bond with the Quran, let your child see you connecting with it.
One lady kept the Quran open at her home constantly and read from it every time she passed by it. An anesthetist recited and discussed a few Ayahs each day with his team before they began attending patients. Such an attachment to the Quran and such consistency are truly desirable.
We are only a collection of everything we have ever observed. Be an exemplary believer for your child or student so he is compelled to figure out what Islam is all about!