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:
Same and different
Divide participants into small groups of
3 or more. In each group, members will
need to identify FOUR things that they
ALL share in common, and FOUR areas
in which they are ALL different. After
some time, have each group share
with everyone.
This can also be done as a whole
group exercise.

Adapted from the publication: Souls Assorted:

An Islamic Theory of Spiritual Personality at yaqeeninstitute.org
The BIG question:
What can your
personal traits
offer you and
your community?
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: Souls Assorted:

An Islamic Theory of Spiritual Personality at yaqeeninstitute.org
Pair-share:

bit.ly/2MYtVbI

1 What’s your spiritual personality?

2 What are your unique strengths?

Grab a tech device and click on the

image or bit.ly link above. Take the quiz!
Then, pair up with someone who has
a different personality and take turns
answering the questions.

Adapted from the publication: Souls Assorted:

An Islamic Theory of Spiritual Personality at yaqeeninstitute.org
Pair-share:
1 Have you ever struggled
with “knowing” yourself?
Do you think it’s important to
understand your personality?

2 How can knowing your

strengths and weaknesses
help you?

Pair up with the person next to you and

take turns answering the questions.

Adapted from the publication: Souls Assorted:

An Islamic Theory of Spiritual Personality at yaqeeninstitute.org
Ask a question:
“Verily, We have created you all out of a
male and a female, and have made you
into nations and tribes, so that you might
come to know one another. Verily, the
noblest of you in the sight of Allah is the
one who is most deeply conscious of Him.
Behold, Allah is All-Knowing, All-Aware” 
[Quran 49:13]

1 How has Allah created us

with diversity beyond our
physical appearances?
2 How is diversity in
personalities an asset to the
community? How can knowing
your personality change the
way the community works?

Take turns sharing your answers with

the whole group.

Adapted from the publication: Souls Assorted:

An Islamic Theory of Spiritual Personality at yaqeeninstitute.org
Ask a question:
1 What are your interests or
hobbies? How are they related
to your personality?
2 What about the friends
you hang out with? What
personality traits do you
gravitate towards? Are they
similar to yours or different?

Take turns sharing your answers with

the whole group.

Adapted from the publication: Souls Assorted:

An Islamic Theory of Spiritual Personality at yaqeeninstitute.org
Watch:

bit.ly/32XTmzK
1 What do you do that brings you
closer to Allah?
2 What acts of worship are easier for
you? Harder? How does this align with
your spiritual personality?
Grab a tech device and enter the link,
or point your phone camera to the QR
code. Then, take turns answering the
questions with all participants.

Adapted from the publication: Souls Assorted:

An Islamic Theory of Spiritual Personality at yaqeeninstitute.org
Watch:

bit.ly/32vZe28
1 How does the Qur’an acknowledge
diverse personalities?
2 What are some ways we can make
our actions/messages most effective
when speaking to or interacting
with others?
Grab a tech device and enter the link,
or point your phone camera to the
QR code. take turns answering the
questions with all participants.

Adapted from the publication: Souls Assorted:

An Islamic Theory of Spiritual Personality at yaqeeninstitute.org
Read:
Personality refers to our preferred
behaviors and attitudes for interacting
with the world. The key word to
highlight is preference rather than
responsibility. In other words, our
personality tendencies are generally
value-neutral or amoral, just like our
preferences for food, scenery, art, and
recreation. Furthermore, personalities
are generally fixed, difficult to change
and... attempting to act contrary to one’s
personality results in negative mental
health outcomes.

1 What is personality?
2 List 2 personality traits that you have.
3 Have you ever thought or said the
words “that’s not me”? If you try to be
someone you’re not, how can it impact
you in the long run?

Adapted from the publication: Souls Assorted:

An Islamic Theory of Spiritual Personality at yaqeeninstitute.org
Read:
The Prophet g said: “Indeed Allah
Most High created Adam from a
handful that He took from all of the
earth. So the children of Adam come
in according with the earth, some of
them come red, and white, and black,
and between that, and the lenient, the
hard-headed, the filthy, and the pure.”

1 How does this hadith establish that

we have differences in our bodies,
minds, and souls?
2 How does diversity in creation
bring harmony to the global practice
of Islam? Think of how different
inclinations compel people to
perform different good deeds
(beyond the obligations).

Adapted from the publication: Souls Assorted:

An Islamic Theory of Spiritual Personality at yaqeeninstitute.org
Read:
Contrary to personality, which is
generally stable and value-neutral,
character (akhlaq) is value-laden
and can be changed. Our character
refers to moral traits, qualities such as
humility, sincerity, patience, gratitude
or arrogance, hypocrisy, impulsivity,
and ingratitude. Developing positive
character traits is a task that we have
been given by Allah and one for which
we will be compensated according to
our effort.

1 What is the difference between personality

and character?
2 Are we expected to change our
personalities? What about character?
3 Share two positive character traits you want
to work towards cultivating.

Adapted from the publication: Souls Assorted:

An Islamic Theory of Spiritual Personality at yaqeeninstitute.org
Reflect:
People naturally differ in what their
spirituality drives them towards, and
what activities in the faith they find
themselves most passionate about—
some towards the social aspects
of faith (e.g., feeding the hungry,
sheltering the oppressed, etc.), and
others towards the solitary and
reflective practices (e.g., recitation,
contemplation, etc.). It also influences
how they experience spirituality and
to which reminders their faith is
most responsive.

1 What are you most passionate about?

2 How can engaging in the positive things you’re
passionate about bring you closer to faith?
3 What can your personal traits offer you?
Our community?

Adapted from the publication: Souls Assorted:

An Islamic Theory of Spiritual Personality 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: Souls Assorted:

An Islamic Theory of Spiritual Personality at yaqeeninstitute.org