‘The Good Life’ 2010 Summer Retreat Topics

1 May, 2010 admin Uncategorized

Theme

The theme for this summer’s retreat is Living the Good Life. The topic of the retreat derives inspiration from Surah an-Nahl, Ayah 97, in which Allah (SWT) states, “Whoever does righteous deeds, whether male or female, and is a believer, We shall, most surely, cause him to live a good life.” Lectures will focus on the concept of a pure and good life as represented by the prophetic Sunnah while exploring how every aspect of the “good life” can be actualized in our daily existence. Topics include discussions on physical health, pure livelihood, mental well-being, satisfaction, and lawful consumption.

For the full schedule, please click here – The Good Life schedule

1) What is the Good Life and How do I Attain it?

The first main session will expound upon aspects of Surah an-Nahl, Ayah 97 that pertain to the concept of the “good life.” A full explanation of the verse’s context and how it was understood by the scholars of the past will set the tone for the rest of the retreat’s speeches. General advice about pure and lawful sustenance, worldly bliss, leading a life of obedience, and achieving satisfaction with what is destined will be included. Lastly, the speaker will address the antithesis of the “good life” and how one can avoid living an unhappy life.

Subtheme: Physical Health

2) Prophetic Parallels: Healthy Eating and the Sunnah - (Sisters' Session)

Eating habits and healthy living are inseparable from the Prophetic way of life. This session will discuss how the Sunnah beautifies and perfects different aspects of life, amongst them being health and appearance.

3) Keeping it Clean: Fiqh of Taharah Workshop and the Importance of Hygiene

"From the acts of nature are five: circumcision, removing pubic hairs, trimming the mustache, cutting the nails and plucking the hair from under the armpits." The speaker will discuss the concept of being clean and upholding a high standard of hygiene. This is part of the fitrah (innate nature) of human beings. Purification and cleanliness not only refers to ablution, but apply to other sectors of life as well. This section will be conducted in a workshop format. The Fiqh of Purification (Taharah) will be discussed as well as the different aspects of hygiene mentioned in the above hadith.

4) Fiqh of Salah Workshop

Subtheme: Pure Consumption

5) The Spiritual Dimensions of Halal Consumption

This session will explore the spiritual importance of eating lawful food as well as the physical benefits of exercising precaution in food consumption. The audience will be made aware of the central importance of lawful eating in a Muslim’s life and the spiritual drawbacks of eating unlawful food. Examples will be given from the lives of the Prophets and Companions, as well as anecdotes from the lives of the pious predecessors.

6) You Are What You Eat: Educating Ourselves about What We Eat

Most people know very little about their dinner. Where did the food come from? What was put in it? How did it reach them? This session will seek to educate the Muslim about the origins of their food, both produce and meat, and expose the food industry for what it is: edible garbage. The speech will discuss conventional vs. organic food sources, the irony of organic industrialization, and the benefit of local food markets and informed consumption. Lastly, the speaker will provide practical solutions on how to eat healthy and minimize the harmful effects of the food industry.

7) Is it Really Halal? A Deeper Look at the Meat Industry

With a detailed account of the current state of the meat industry, the scholar will provide invaluable information from personal experiences after traveling the world investigating slaughterhouses, farms, and butcher shops. Statistics, procedures, and legal issues will be presented as well as solutions to the most common problems in the meat industry. The speaker will try to educate the audience about how they can help bring about change in the industry and improve the quality of their meat from health, hygiene, and halal perspective.

Subtheme: Lawful Sustenance

8) The Business of Contentment

The speaker will elucidate how the road of extravagance and materialism takes one farther away from the concept of simple living. Current economic turmoil has spawned depression and anxiety in the masses, a phenomenon that has not left Muslim communities untouched. The speaker will discuss how one can live a life of contentment and leave the “money brings happiness” paradigm of modernity by relating stories of the apparent poverty our pious predecessors lived in, while they remained the happiest people in the world. Why was that? What was their secret? After attending this lecture, one will, Inshallah, be educated with regards to avoiding frivolous spending habits and taking account of where wealth come from and goes to. This lecture will not cover the financial industry or its financial concepts.

9) Understanding Islamic Finance: Problems and Solutions

Islam is a complete way of life, one that encompasses the social, political, and economic realities of the world. In this session, the speaker will educate the audience with regards to the basic concepts of Islamic financing. Importanly, he will share his experience and expertise with regards to current financing vehicles and modalities. After attending this session, the audience will have an appreciation of the need to seek out Halal financing alternatives. They will also have a fuller understanding of Islamic financing options available today, their limitations, and an appreciation of the need for progressive solutions in this key sector.

Subtheme: Mental Health

10) Party Hard, Die Harder: The Dangers of the Entertainment Industry

The speaker will focus on the adverse social, emotional, and psychological effects that television, music, video games, and the internet can have one’s wellbeing, as well as the use of the mobile phone and how it is affecting social relationships. Overall, the speaker will explore the birth of social ineptitude within our communities and the manner in which it may ultimately lead to physical and mental problems. Not only is this overemphasis on entertainment destroying physical stamina and social aptitude, but it is also leading to spiritual destruction as well.

11) Can’t Find Peace: Battling Unease by Developing a Sound Heart

The speaker will discuss the consequences of choosing not to lead a good lifestyle: anxiety and depression. He will further address ways to develop a spiritual routine to prevent such ailments. Reciting Qur’an regularly or selected Surahs can help create barakah and fulfillment in one’s life. The speaker will further emphasize on such fundamental acts which bring merit, not only a spiritual, but also sustenance and psychological standpoint, as well.

12) Food for the Brain: The Mental and Social Benefits of Learning the Gracious Qur'an

Learning and teaching the Gracious Qur'an, even a single verse, are amongst the most virtuous and blessed acts a Muslim can undertake. Whether one has memorized a small or large portion of the Qur'an, one should be asking himself/herself, "How can I spend my life learning and teaching the Qur'an? And what, practically, are the benefits?" This session will elucidate how pursuing the memorization of the Qur'an and spending one's life reciting it, learning about it, and living by it increases one's happiness, intellectual abilities, and social aptitude. After attending this session, individuals will be motivated to increase their interaction with the Holy Qur'an and see the worldly benefits attained by learning the Holy Qur'an.

Subtheme: Worldly Bliss

13) God-Given: Attaining Goodness by Seeking Knowledge

“When Allah wishes good for someone, He bestows upon him the understanding of Deen” (Bukhari). Knowledge is the cornerstone to living a good life. It embellishes the life of a Muslim by providing it with meaning and focus. What does seeking knowledge require? How does one attain its goodness? How does one create the means to seek knowledge while going to school or work? The focus of this session is to recognize knowledge as a cornerstone to living 'The Good Life'. Additionally, the session will highlight that seeking knowledge is not as far-fetched as one may think. It will expound on various ways a Muslim can put himself/herself upon this noble path and thereby learn the conduits of worldly bliss.

14) Priceless Surroundings: Finding and Keeping Good Friendship

Life can get lonely and finding a good friend can make all the difference in the world. What are the qualities of a good friend? How far will a good friend take one in this world and the next? Where can one find such priceless souls? And a bad friend? This session will seek to educate the Muslim about the importance of seeking quality friends and how this leads to a more well-balanced social life. In a time when the environment may not be conducive to upright morals, friendships play a key role in building good character.

15) A Breath of Fresh Air: The Importance of Recreation in Islam

Exercise and activity has become a national agenda for the country. The reality is that this emphasis has always been there in Islam. In this session, the speaker will define what recreation means based on the prophetic model. Recreation has a meaning beyond just enrolling in a gym; it requires being active and positive throughout the course of one’s day while avoiding laziness. The speaker will also address ways in which women can lead a more active lifestyle.

16) Happily Ever After (Parallel sessions)

Healthy Marriage Life (Couples-Only Session, Upstairs)

In this session, the speaker will share concepts and practical advice to help couples, old and new, lead a blissful married life. In a time where more and more couples are suffering from discord, this is a must attend session. When life at home is peaceful, life in general becomes a bed of roses. After attending this session, individuals will walk away with practical advice on how to improve their married life and achieve fulfillment and happiness.

Healthy Abstinent Life (Singles-Only Session, Downstairs)

The trial of the age is that of chastity. Everywhere one turns, temptation lurks around the corner. When every day is a struggle, how can one find a place to sound anchor? In this session, the speaker will educate the audience on how to achieve and maintain an abstinent lifestyle while staying active, happy, and fulfilled. After attending this session, the audience will walk away with practical advice on how stay clean until marriage.

17) Holding Hands: Healthy Communal Relationship

The speaker will discuss how to maintain strong ties of brotherhood and sisterhood despite differences of opinion. The key issue of tolerance will be addressed. Many people lack the ability to communicate with different kinds of people merely because of their lack of exposure. Ethnic, socio-economic, and cultural differences when handled in an un-Islamic manner creates imbalance. Due to this imbalance, our community is becoming a community of two extremes. We are either socially impotent or too outspoken to the point of hurting others around us. After attending this session, the audience should be able to interact with others maturely regardless of the type and extent of differences. The need to move beyond ethnic and cultural divides will also be stressed.

18) Globetrotting: The Importance of Traveling

In this session, the speaker will discuss how traveling allows one to learn about other cultures and educational traditions. He will encourage the audience to immerse themselves in the company of those outside his or her own cultural comfort zone in order to understand and embrace the historical, ethnic, and cultural diversity that comprises Islamdom.