Juz Amma Workshop 2: Preparing for the Last Day
Learning the meanings of Surah az-Zalzalah through al-Humazah via the theme of preparing for the Hereafter
Enroll in CourseThis course covers six commonly recited surahs from Juz Amma and centers them around a major theme which is the reality of and preparation for the Day of Judgment. Instructor Merium Khan uses an innovative approach that combines learning the meaning word-to-word as well as developing an emotional connection to the surahs.
Fast Facts:
9-week course
1 hour of live class per week. You will choose your live section after registration:
NOTE: No Open Sections at this Time.
Please email admin@themuslimeducator.com to request a new class section.
Can't make it live? You may choose to receive recordings instead.
Classes meet live via a secured Zoom link that is only accessible to course attendees.
Class portal contains handouts for note-taking and other resources.
Meaning, Imagery, & Emotion
Our approach goes beyond mere understanding. The first step is learning the meaning. At its most basic level, we want students to be able to recite the surah in prayer and understand what they are saying. Beyond this, we work together to reflect on the surah, developing imagery that will help to visualize the themes of the surahs. When learning about the meaning of seeking refuge, for example, some students imagine refugees in search of safety. When learning about mercy, some may imagine an animal gently nurturing its young. Lastly, we seek to develop our emotional connection to the surahs by recruiting the first two steps: thinking about the meaning, bringing up mental imagery, and then observing the emotions that come to us as we engage with the surah.
Learning How to Learn
Students will receive handouts with plenty of space for note-taking. During class, Sr. Merium models notetaking, mind-mapping, and reflection skills. This helps students learn how to engage with the information and gives them tools for note-taking in other disciplines. The notes you see on this image were taken during the course of the class discussion from another Juz Amma course and represent a combination of the teacher's instruction and student reflections on the surah.
A Uniting Theme: the Day of Judgment
Surah Zalzalah tells us of the final shaking of the earth, as its graves are emptied, a theme that continues in Surah al-Adiyat where Allah tells us about the resurrection from the graves. Al-Qariah paints a picture of mountains torn up, humans scattered, and deeds being weighed. At-Takathur reminds us to not be distracted by worldly pleasures and instead remember the sights that will greet us in the afterlife. Al-Humazah describes the the hell-fire and warns us against the deeds of backbiting and slander that will lead to this end. And al-Asr gives us an incredibly concise advice for how to save ourselves from loss on that great Day.
Reflecting upon the Day of Judgment is the theme that will center us through this course. We will return to it time and time again and imagine what it was like for the early Muslims as they learned these surahs and developed an understanding of their mission in life and their focus on the Hereafter. These are short, powerful Makkan surahs that provide essential teachings to help us truly believe in the Day of Resurrection.
Authentic Sources
Tafseer is a serious undertaking, and so in preparing the class, the instructor relies on material that represents traditional orthodox Sunni teachings. Classical works such as Tafseer ibn Katheer are used along with more contemporary works like Sh. as-Sa'dee's Tayseer al-Kareem al-Mannan and Sh. Muhammad Ameen ash-Shanqeeti's Adwaa al-Bayaan. English language resources such as Sh. Ahsan Hanif's course Qur'anic Progression are also utilized.
"Merium gently guides children to fall in love with the Qur'an"
- by Qanita
"My children truly enjoyed the hands-on, thought-provoking sessions. Merium's teachings extended beyond the weekly classes as she empowers children with skills and motivation that they use independently even outside of class. The mind-maps and journaling are creative outlets for children to grasp and use in other subject areas. Merium gently guides children to fall in love with the Qur'an, ponder over Allah SWT's words, and most importantly, she taught my children to actively engage with every ayah in the Qur'an."
Your Instructor
Merium Khan is the founder of The Muslim Educator Academy. She has a bachelor's degree in Social Sciences and has studied Arabic in the US and Jordan. She has been teaching for the last 20 years in Islamic full-time schools, weekend schools, private tutoring, halaqahs, and online classes for children and adults. She has authored a book on Seerah that is used in Islamic schools and has also worked as a curriculum developer and consultant. The one word that students and parents use to describe her teaching is “passionate.” She loves to bring concepts to life in thought-provoking ways while tapping into her students’ innate intelligence and knowledge. Through TME Academy, she hopes to bring her relationship-based, enthusiastic and interactive brand of teaching to a new generation of Muslim students. Sr. Merium lives on the East Coast of the US with her husband Siraj Sohail and their three kids.