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Ya Sin: a hifdh journey in America
If we memorize the Quran without changing our hearts then what is the point? Ya Sin: a hifdh journey in America addresses this central question through an endearing family, first introduced in Umm Muhemmed's A Qur'aanic Odyssey: Towards Juz Amma. Once again, we meet familiar characters, including Ibrahim, Amna, Khadija, and Abdurrahman. This time, however, it is amidst Ramadan and the memorization of Surah Ya Sin.
The goal of the story is not to teach Surah Ya Sin but instead to show how learning the surah may unfold in a 21st century Western family with many of the same challenges that we all face. Hifdh al Quran (namely memorizing and striving to preserve the Quran) is both foreground and background in the story.
The goal of the story is not to teach Surah Ya Sin but instead to show how learning the surah may unfold in a 21st century Western family with many of the same challenges that we all face. Hifdh al Quran (namely memorizing and striving to preserve the Quran) is both foreground and background in the story.
186 pages, Paperback
First published August 22, 2015
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
November 4, 2015
Review remarks about'Ya Sin; by Jane Lee Wolfe, Director, Bog Chapel, Inc. - a spiritual health and fitness not-for-profit.
'Ya Sin is a charming sequel to A Qur'aanic Odyssey, but you don't have to have read AQO to enjoy 'Ya Sin. 'Ya Sin is the Ramadan Odyssey of one family. It is full of human beings learning to calm and clean their hearts and raise their children during the month of fasting. Daily life marches on - complete with granny fussing about excessive cell phone use while assuring us that she's not being critical, just observant. The children move in and out of kid stuff - toys, puzzles, stuffed animals - into Qur'aan memorization, or vice versa, depending on which order shows the most potential success for faith development and discipline. The footnotes are fabulous, and you can lilt through the novel and study through the notes, as much as this family does. A grand read, a grand education.
November 9, 2015
“Yasin, a Hifdh Journey in America” is primarily a story about a mother’s struggle to help her young son to memorize the Quran in a way that is meaningful and fulfilling. Providing him with motivation to continue on this path at a steady pace without being overwhelmed and losing interest is only one of the many challenges she faces. Trying to balance a career and complete her own memorization while taking care of a household that is ethnically diverse is a daunting task.
The author subtly weaves in other themes into the story that adds to the richness of the narrative:
Mother-daughter relationship: The protagonist’s relationship with her own mother highlights the delicate nature of such a bond while giving her invaluable lessons about parenting.
Sibling rivalry: She learns to deal with the constant competition between her children with love, compassion and patience.
Multi-racial marriage: Her interactions with her husband, who comes from a different religious and cultural background, forces her to be more cognizant of the sensitivities of other cultures and their way of life.
Balancing career and family: Raising kids while trying to have a career of her own teaches her the importance of time-management and prioritization.
Relationship with Non-Muslims and cultural integration: Her interactions with other Non-Muslims in the community
The overriding theme, however, is her attempt to teach her children understand and act upon the Quran that they are memorizing. The way she incorporates what her son is memorizing into everyday lessons for him is the best part of the book. Relevant Ahadith, Quranic ayahs and hikayat are quoted to further instill the concept being learned. It is a very important that parents make memorizing the Quran a worthwhile experience for the children. The children should be able to understand how to implement what they are learning into their lives otherwise it will just turn into rote memorization with no benefit.
Cons: The copious footnotes became a tad distracting. I would suggest putting those at the end of the book as a reference for those who need to read more on the subject.
There are so many interesting themes in the book that can be further developed. I wanted to find out more about the characters. So perhaps, at least some of the main characters can be further developed. There is great potential for this to become a series for kids in 5th grades and upwards. It will especially resonate with the kids who are memorizing the Quran and face similar challenges. It could also give hope and encouragement to those who plan on embarking this journey giving them a guideline about how to go about doing it in a beneficial way.
The author subtly weaves in other themes into the story that adds to the richness of the narrative:
Mother-daughter relationship: The protagonist’s relationship with her own mother highlights the delicate nature of such a bond while giving her invaluable lessons about parenting.
Sibling rivalry: She learns to deal with the constant competition between her children with love, compassion and patience.
Multi-racial marriage: Her interactions with her husband, who comes from a different religious and cultural background, forces her to be more cognizant of the sensitivities of other cultures and their way of life.
Balancing career and family: Raising kids while trying to have a career of her own teaches her the importance of time-management and prioritization.
Relationship with Non-Muslims and cultural integration: Her interactions with other Non-Muslims in the community
The overriding theme, however, is her attempt to teach her children understand and act upon the Quran that they are memorizing. The way she incorporates what her son is memorizing into everyday lessons for him is the best part of the book. Relevant Ahadith, Quranic ayahs and hikayat are quoted to further instill the concept being learned. It is a very important that parents make memorizing the Quran a worthwhile experience for the children. The children should be able to understand how to implement what they are learning into their lives otherwise it will just turn into rote memorization with no benefit.
Cons: The copious footnotes became a tad distracting. I would suggest putting those at the end of the book as a reference for those who need to read more on the subject.
There are so many interesting themes in the book that can be further developed. I wanted to find out more about the characters. So perhaps, at least some of the main characters can be further developed. There is great potential for this to become a series for kids in 5th grades and upwards. It will especially resonate with the kids who are memorizing the Quran and face similar challenges. It could also give hope and encouragement to those who plan on embarking this journey giving them a guideline about how to go about doing it in a beneficial way.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews