7 Day Silent Retreat

The Dialogue of Action- Interfaith Dialogue- Islam and Christianity
A 7-day silent retreat celebrating Ramadan and Easter
 
When I spoke of about a silent retreat one day, Abdalla became very inquisitive. It sparked the idea to conduct our own reflective retreat in my home. I did some research and found good resources for young Catholic adults. Abdalla is knowledgeable about the bible and Christian teachings so I knew that portion would go well. I also wanted to incorporate the Islam teachings, fasting and praying five times per day.
 
We reviewed many reflections and decided on five of them, day 6 and 7 were not open for discussion because I previously planned to incorporate dating and marriage. It is common in Islam religion for the man to request the father of a woman for marriage and if granted spend little or no time together until they become husband and wife. 
 
Beginning the first day Abdalla intently read the teachings. I could see him pondering, thinking and then compiling his thoughts on paper. My plan was to share and discuss the reflection questions when we broke our fast while eating dinner.
 
Abdalla would withdraw to the spare bedroom to read, put on his thawb (tunic), roll out his mat to pray to Allah (God). Before prayer, Muslim custom is to wash the feet, legs, hands, arms, eyes, lips and ears; each cleansing having its significance for God.
 
We decided to share our reflections early he first day so that we could participate in St. Michael’s livestream Sunday mass at 3:30. Let me tell you, this boy had plenty to contribute, which got us to arrive for mass fifteen minutes late. Forgive me Fr. Jim!
 
We continued along the week reading, reflecting and discussing topics entailing the inestimable worth of a person, Giving and Receiving, Personal Strengths and Service, Faith in Action, Thanksgiving to God, Self-Confidence, Being Single, Dating, Premarital Sex, Marriage and Fatherhood.
Each day we broke to share at 3pm because of the amount we both seemed to be sharing. I was surely pleased with this, enabling us learn much about each other. I am thankful that he now has someone he can express himself to. He had written this prayer during our retreat.
 
Thank you, God, for the love you have shown me and shower me with a lot of blessings. The education you have given me that is my mom, brothers and sister. You took away my father and blessed me with another papa. I thought I had lost, but you had given back what you took. I appreciate and please control over my life and lead me into a right path where I can be a good great father, a good husband and most of all to be able to provide for my siblings with education and support mom and those who may need help from me. Give me strength to lead others and wisdom to show them the right way. Thank you for letting me being alive in a good health despise the situation I have been through. Thank you for the people in my life, through them I have learned and gained a lot. Bless them and grant them their wishes of kind heart.
Amiin