Lighting the Heart: Islamic Wisdom for Navigating Crisis
What do we turn to when life becomes difficult? How do we understand the circumstances we call a crisis, and where do we find the strength and wisdom to move through them?
For centuries, Muslims have turned to the Holy Qur'an for guidance through uncertainty, hardship, and change. Its revelations, alongside the teachings of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), offer ways to reflect on the human experience and our relationship with the Divine.
Yet navigating crisis is not only about enduring difficult circumstances. It can also be about opening the heart, deepening awareness, and rediscovering the compassion that connects us to one another.
When we soften the heart, we make room for compassion, understanding, and the wisdom that has been available to us all along.
In the fifth workshop of One Spirit Learning Alliance's Sacred Texts Series: Navigating Crisis, Rev. Dr. Khadijah Matin invites participants into a conversation with the Holy Qur'an and other sacred writings.
Drawing on Islamic history, selected Qur'anic chapters, Sufi spirituality, and writings from the African American experience, she will explore how these traditions offer insight into both historical and contemporary crises.
Through her own perspective as an African American woman who converted to Islam in the 20th century, Rev. Dr. Khadijah Matin will share how the teachings of Prophet Muhammad, the revelations of the Qur'an, and other spiritual writings have informed her understanding of faith, compassion, and the human journey.
Saturday, April 17, 2027
10 AM – 4 PM ET
Live on Zoom · Recording included
General Public $135 · OSLA Affiliated Alumni $100
What We'll Study
Understanding Crisis Through an Islamic Lens
What do we mean when we speak of crisis? Are there different ways to understand the difficulties we face?
Beginning with the teachings of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), we'll consider how Islamic history and sacred teachings help us examine the circumstances we experience as crises, both personally and collectively.
The Holy Qur'an: Revelation, Reflection, and Guidance
Through selected surahs, or chapters of the Qur'an, we'll explore how sacred revelation speaks to the challenges of human life. Rather than approaching the text only as something to study, we'll consider what its teachings invite us to understand about ourselves, our relationships, and the ways we respond to difficulty.
Sufi Spirituality and the Lightening of the Heart
Drawing on selected Sufi writings, we'll explore the spiritual significance of opening and softening the heart.
What becomes possible when we approach our experiences with greater awareness and compassion? How might spiritual reflection help us recognize sources of strength and understanding that have been present all along?
Islam, the African American Experience, and a Personal Journey of Faith
Rev. Dr. Matin will bring Islamic teachings into conversation with selected writings from the African American experience and reflections from her own journey into Islam.
Through these perspectives, we'll consider how faith, history, and lived experience shape the ways we understand hardship, spiritual growth, and our responsibilities to one another.
What You'll Take Away
A Deeper Understanding of Islamic Perspectives on Crisis
Explore how the Qur'an, the teachings of Prophet Muhammad, and Islamic history offer ways to understand and respond to difficult circumstances.An Introduction to Sufi Spirituality
Encounter writings that invite reflection on the heart, compassion, and the inward dimensions of spiritual life.New Perspectives on Faith and Lived Experience
Consider how sacred teachings are understood and practiced through the experiences of individuals and communities, including the African American Muslim experience.Resources for Continued Reflection
Participants will receive a collection of readings and sources to continue their personal exploration after the workshop.
Who Should Attend?
Those Curious About the Qur'an and Islamic Spirituality
Whether you're encountering the Qur'an for the first time or have an established relationship with Islamic teachings, this workshop offers a welcoming setting for reading, listening, and conversation.
Those Exploring Faith, Compassion, and the Human Experience
If you're interested in how spiritual traditions help us understand hardship, open our hearts, and respond to others with greater compassion, this workshop offers perspectives worth exploring.
Those Interested in Interspiritual Dialogue
Participants from different religious and spiritual backgrounds are invited to engage with Islamic teachings, Sufi writings, and the perspectives that emerge from personal experience.
All Paths and All Levels Welcome
No previous knowledge of Islam is required. Newcomers to One Spirit, current students, graduates, and longtime community members are always welcome, along with folks from any faith or spiritual tradition, including none at all.
What to Expect
This workshop will unfold as a conversation with the Holy Qur'an and related sacred writings.
Rev. Dr. Khadijah Matin will introduce selected texts and historical perspectives, inviting participants to reflect on the questions they raise about crisis, faith, compassion, and the human experience.
A collection of writings and resources will be provided so participants can continue their own exploration beyond the workshop.
About Your Facilitator
Rev. Dr. Khadijah Matin, known to some as a “woman who walks through walls,” is an ordained interfaith minister, educator, chaplain, and scholar with more than 30 years of experience in history, health, and adult education.
Her work explores the intersections of faith, family history, and identity, with particular attention to African American history, spirituality, and community. A passionate advocate for culturally competent education grounded in accurate historical context, she has served as National President of the Afro-American Historical & Genealogical Society and contributes to interfaith dialogue, historical research, and community education.
At One Spirit Learning Alliance, she serves in the Interspiritual Companioning and Counseling Program. She is also an Ariane de Rothschild Fellow and holds an MS in Education from Fordham University and a Doctor of Ministry in Multifaith Studies from New York Theological Seminary.
Her teaching brings together historical understanding, lived experience, and spiritual inquiry, inviting participants to explore how faith and the wisdom of sacred traditions shape the ways we understand ourselves and one another.
Registration Details
What Your Registration Includes
Six-hour live, interactive workshop with guidance into the sacred text.
Workshop recording, available through June 30, 2027.
Reflection questions, guided practices, and community discussions to deepen your experience.
Spiritual practices and resources for integration beyond the classroom.
Registration Pricing
General Public: $135 · OSLA Affiliated Alumni: $100
OSLA Alumni: →Log in to your OSLA Portal to apply your affiliate discount.
Not affiliated yet? →Learn More about Affiliation
Sacred Text Series Pricing
This workshop is part of One Spirit’s Sacred Texts Series, bringing six sacred texts into conversation around the wisdom, resilience, and possibilities available to us in times of change.
Complete Six-Workshop Series: $495
→Explore all Six Offerings →Register for the Complete Series
After You Register
You'll receive a confirmation email with instructions for accessing the workshop's Hylo Course Board, where you'll find the Zoom link and workshop materials.
Can't attend live? The recording will be available within 72 hours of the workshop and accessible through June 30, 2027.
Questions? Contact help@1spirit.org.