How to have a conversation:

Estimated duration: 90 minutes—or as long as you want!

SETUP:
1. Choose one participant to be the Moderator. The Moderator will
conduct the first four rounds and keep time. The Moderator will
also participate in the Conversation.
2. Line up the following cards in order and place them face down
in the middle: Icebreaker, The BIG question, all Pair-share cards
in one pile, and Reflect. Shuffle the Go online, Watch, Ask, and
Read cards and place them in a pile in the middle.
3. You will need a screening device (e.g., a laptop) to collectively view
the videos linked in the Watch cards.
4. Make enough copies of the Takeaway card for each participant
and keep them face down in a pile to the side.
5. The order of the rounds is important!
6. Keep track of time to pace the Conversation! The Moderator yells
out “You have X minutes. Go!” Depending on which round you’re
in, you may modify time limits as you see fit.

REMEMBER TO:
THINK: Tap into your experiences, but also try to think outside of the
box. Some questions might challenge your ideals. Welcome it.
LISTEN: Always keep your eyes and ears open and give full
attention to whoever is talking. There is a lot to learn.
SHARE: Don’t be afraid to speak your thoughts. They’re central
to the game.
ENJOY: Above all, have fun! You’re in for a revealing experience.
ROUND 1 – ICEBREAKER:
The Moderator reads out the Icebreaker card. Participants are
instructed to listen carefully and follow instructions.
ROUND 2 – THE BIG QUESTION:
Come together as a group. The Moderator will read out the The BIG
question card. Participants jot down their answers on a paper or
device within the time limit. Everyone does this exercise individually.
ROUND 3 – PAIR-SHARE:
In this round, each participant must choose a partner and split into
pairs. Odd-numbered groups can create an extra group of three
people. The Moderator draws a Pair-share card and reads out the
first question on the card. Participant A of each group has a minute
to share their thoughts. Moderator calls out “Switch!” When one
minute is up, Participant B shares for a minute. Moderator calls
“Time!” and reads the second question on the card. Participants
again have one minute each to share. Go through all Pair-share
cards in this way. Give extra time for groups of 3.
ROUND 4 – GO ONLINE/WATCH/ASK and READ:
All participants come back together in a circle. One participant
draws a card from the deck in the middle and reads out one
question at a time. Each participant shares their thoughts after each
question. After the discussion, the person sitting to the right of the
previous questioner draws out a new card and reads it.
Note: If a Watch card is drawn: the Moderator must use the link on
the card to screen a video for everyone to watch. After viewing, the
participant who drew the card reads out the questions one at a time.
Discuss as a group after each question.
ROUND 5 – REFLECT:
The Moderator closes the discussion with the Reflect card by
reading out one question at a time and giving each person a chance
to answer and share their thoughts. There’s no time limit to the
Reflect card. The Conversation officially ends after everyone has
shared —but you can choose to continue for as long as you want!
THE TAKEAWAY CARD:
Distribute the Takeaway cards to each participant once the
Conversation ends. Participants should read these individually right
after the discussion or in their own time.
Icebreaker:
Who are you?
One by one, have each person list
3 words to describe themselves:
2 true and 1 false.
The rest of the participants must try
to guess which characteristic out of
the three listed might be false.

Adapted from the publication: 

Proofs of Prophethood Series at yaqeeninstitute.org
The BIG question:
How can we
be sure that
the Prophet g
was a prophet?
Grab a phone or a piece of paper
and jot down whatever comes to
mind when you hear this question.
You have 1 minute. GO!

Adapted from the publication: 

Proofs of Prophethood Series at yaqeeninstitute.org
Pair-share:
Think of someone who you
love to interact with. What
is it about them that makes
you want to be in their
presence/company?

Pair up with the person next to you

and take turns answering the question.
Think about the way the person you
love presents themselves in their words
and actions.

Adapted from the publication: 

Proofs of Prophethood Series at yaqeeninstitute.org
Pair-share:
1 What practices of the
Prophet g (i.e., his sunnah)
do you embody in your day-
to-day life?

2 Why might you choose to

mirror even the smallest of
his actions?

Pair up with the person next to you

and take turns answering the question.
Think about any short prayers you may
recite before leaving the house, or a
habit you may have developed.

Adapted from the publication: 

Proofs of Prophethood Series at yaqeeninstitute.org
Ask a question:
1 The Prophet Muhammad g
is described by God in the Quran
as “a mercy to the worlds.”
2 Share an example of how
the Prophet g embodied
this characteristic. Feel free
to Google.
3 What does this say about
his mission?

Take turns sharing your answers with

the whole group.

Adapted from the publication: 

Proofs of Prophethood Series at yaqeeninstitute.org
Ask a question:
1 Share an example of
something the Prophet g
taught. (You can think of
something you have learned
from him.)
2 If you were to describe the
teachings of the Prophet g in
one word, what word would
you use? Why?

Take turns sharing your answers with

the whole group. Think of how you can
categorize his teachings into themes.

Adapted from the publication: 

Proofs of Prophethood Series at yaqeeninstitute.org
Go online:
Google:
Genesis 21/13-18, KJV
1 Does this sound familiar?
What is being talked about?
2 What does this passage
prophesize?

Grab a tech device and google away.

Then, take turns answering each of the
questions with all participants.

Adapted from the publication: 

Proofs of Prophethood Series at yaqeeninstitute.org
Watch:

bit.ly/2p7vv1O

Play from minutes 5:00 to 7:10.

1 What is anti-intellectualism?
2 How does it shape our
understanding of the Prophet g?
3 What can we do to counter these
misconceptions?

Click on the video or bit.ly link. Watch the

video. Then, take turns answering the
questions with all participants.

Adapted from the publication: 

Proofs of Prophethood Series at yaqeeninstitute.org
Watch:

bit.ly/2WZxFgo

Play from minutes 6:24 to 8:04.

1 How does the history of Arabia
foretell the coming of the Prophet g?
2 What does this tell us about the
purpose of a prophet?
3 What are the benefits of having a
prophet sent in dark times?

Click on the video or bit.ly link. Watch the

video. Then, take turns answering the
questions with all participants.

Adapted from the publication: 

Proofs of Prophethood Series at yaqeeninstitute.org
Read:
The sun eclipsed in the lifetime of
Allah’s Messenger g on the day
when [his son] Ibrahim died. The
people said that the sun had eclipsed
because of the death of Ibrahim.
Allah’s Messenger g said, “The
sun and the moon do not eclipse
because of the death or life (i.e., birth)
of anyone. Rather, they are two of
the signs of Allah, by which He instills
fear in His slaves. When you see the
eclipse, pray and invoke Allah.”

1 What did you understand from

this narration?
2 If the Prophet g was dishonest
or an imposter, how would he have
responded differently to this situation?

Adapted from the publication: 

Proofs of Prophethood Series at yaqeeninstitute.org
Read:
“There has certainly been for
you in the Messenger of Allah
an excellent example (uswatun
hasanah) for anyone whose hope
is in Allah and the Last Day and
[who] remembers Allah often.”
[Qur’an 33:21]

1 According to this verse, what is the

purpose of sending a prophet to people?
2 What does this tell us about the
Prophet’s g message?
3 What does this tell us about the
importance of character?

Adapted from the publication: 

Proofs of Prophethood Series at yaqeeninstitute.org
Reflect:
“[Prophet Muhammad g] was sober and
abstemious in his diet and a rigorous
observer of fasts. He indulged in no
magnificence of apparel, the ostentation
of a petty mind; neither was his simplicity
in dress affected but a result of real
disregard for distinction from so trivial a
source… His military triumphs awakened
no pride nor vainglory, as they would have
done had they been effected for selfish
purposes. In the time of his greatest power,
he maintained the same simplicity of
manners and appearance as in the days of
his adversity. So far from affecting a regal
state, he was displeased if, on entering a
room, any unusual testimonials of respect
were shown to him.”
Washington Irving (d. 1859), an American
biographer and diplomat.

1 Why is it important to know about these

characteristics of the Prophet g?
2 What do his characteristics say about him?
His mission?
3 How do his characteristics testify to his
prophethood?

Adapted from the publication: 

Proofs of Prophethood Series at yaqeeninstitute.org
Takeaway:
We hope you had a
great conversation!
Here’s something to think about:

Click on QR code to view link.

Adapted from the publication: 

Proofs of Prophethood Series at yaqeeninstitute.org