As the sun dips below the horizon, the tranquillity of the evening at your local mosque will be palpable. The management committee has graciously allowed you to use the madrasah room overnight for your Trials & Tribulations challenge, a unique initiative designed to deepen your understanding of the struggles faced by refugees. This space will soon be filled with the warmth of sisterhood and the aroma of shared meals.
By 9pm, you and your fellow participants will begin to arrive, each of you elegantly dressed in your favourite abaya. The diversity in the colours and styles will be a vibrant representation of your collective identity and individuality. It will be a beautiful sight that underscores the bond you share, as you gather for a purpose greater than yourselves.
Each sister will come bearing a dish to share, creating a feast that showcases your culinary talents and different cultural backgrounds. A table in the corner will soon overflow with a mouth-watering array of biryani, pasta, fragrant chicken, and other delightful treats, promising a night of both nourishment and connection.
After you’ve settled in and admired the spread, you’ll gather for a talk about the significance of trials and tests in Islam. The conversation will flow naturally, allowing each of you to share personal experiences and reflections on how challenges shape your faith and practice.
The discussion will take a poignant turn as you begin to contemplate what it must be like to be a refugee—leaving behind everything you have ever known in search of safety. The emotions will run deep as you consider the heart-wrenching decisions these individuals face, often at a moment’s notice. You’ll feel a collective heaviness in your hearts as you realise that many of you have never had to make such sacrifices.
After this profound discussion, you’ll gather for the Isha prayer, the rhythmic sound of your voices making dua afterwards rising nearly in unison, an echo of your shared faith and hopes. Once the prayers are completed, you’ll sit together on the floor, sharing a single plate of food. Eating with your hands, you’ll savour the biryani and chicken, each bite reminding you of the communal aspect of your gathering. It will be a simple yet profound experience that fosters a sense of unity among you.
As the clock inches toward midnight, you’ll transition into the tahajjud prayer, a time for reflection and connection with the Divine. The quiet whispers of your prayers will fill the room, a serene contrast to the bustling world outside. By the time you finish, the weight of exhaustion will begin to settle in, and you’ll make your makeshift beds on the hard floor, surrendering to the night.
Sleeping fully clothed on the bare floor will prove to be a challenge. Without blankets, you’ll find yourself tossing and turning, restlessly shifting to find comfort in the unyielding surface beneath you. The discomfort will feel like a distant echo of the challenges refugees face, where home is a luxury and comfort is often an unattainable dream.
As dawn approaches, the call for Sahoor will stir you from your restless slumber. Despite the fatigue that clings to your bones, you’ll gather once more to prepare a small meal. The effort will feel monumental; you’ll force yourselves to eat, understanding that this nourishment is essential for the challenge ahead. With full hearts, you’ll make your intentions to fast, praying Fajr in a state of collective tranquility. Afterward, you’ll take a moment to read Quran and make duas, your voices rising softly as the first light of day begins to break through.
Finally, as you prepare to set off for part two of the challenge, you’ll feel the weight of weariness in your limbs. Yet, despite the tiredness and anxiety still lingering, you won’t help but feel a sense of purpose. This experience will have transformed into something deeper—a lesson in empathy and understanding.
Reflecting on the night, you’ll realise how this small glimpse into discomfort and uncertainty will help you empathise with refugees. Their ordeals won’t be mere stories; they will be lived experiences filled with pain, hope, and resilience. In the quiet of the madrasah room, amidst laughter and shared meals, you’ll feel a connection to those who leave their homes at a moment’s notice.
The challenges you face that night, though small in comparison, will open your heart to the real struggles faced by so many, igniting a flame of compassion and a renewed commitment to support those in need. But now it will be time to take flight: to set out on the greater challenge that will push you to your limits, and way beyond.