Creative Ideas for Halaqas

Charades - write different words (movies, events, places, books, etc) on a card and then throw into the hat. Each person picks a card and has to act out the card without speaking. The rest of the group must guess! If somebody doesn’t know the movie/book/character on a card; have them pick another.

Heads Up - you can download the free app for this easy phone version of charades

Bingo - create a customized Bingo sheet for your group

2 Truths and a Lie - have everybody say 2 truths about themselves, and one lie; without indicating which is which. The rest of the group has to guess which one was the lie.

Telephone

M&M Ice Breaker game - Pass out little M&M bags to everybody. Have each person open it. Go around circle and based on each M&M color, each person has to share something. For example, Sarah picks yellow M&M, she gets a specific question. Lynn’s turn: she picks green - he answers a different question.

Crazy Facts - pass a note card around to everybody. Each person has to write one outrageous thing they’ve done, or a crazy fact about themselves. Throw all into a hat. Pull each one out (one by one) and have the group guess who did what.

Around the Alphabet - First person has to say name of something that starts with letter “A”, next person letter “B”, etc. If you startle/pause you’re out. Works best if you pick a general theme like food/occupations /sports/any other general topic you can think of.

• Example- Food: apple, blueberry, coconut, deep fried chicken, eggs, etc

Card games - Spoons is a super fun one! B.S, etc. Pick a game that at least 2-3 people in the group already know how to play, so you can save time with the instructions.

Other Icebreakers are available here with easy instructions!

"Heart, head, heel" - name something that got you "to feel, to think, to do"

Surah Al-'Asr

State one thing you learned

State how you're feeling in one word

"Rose and a Thorn" - this is good for exercise for feedback. Have everybody share a positive thing (the rose) that they liked. And then also a negative thing (the thorn) which needs improvement

Group Dua

“Hopes, Fears, and Expectations” - each person reflects as a group their hopes and fears and expectations for the upcoming time, event, or goal

Have girls write down goals regarding the topic on a note-card and take it home as a reminder of their goal

"Traveling Duaa Book" - girls take turns taking a decorated journal home to write down a Duaa or verse that they will share with the group

Bring a bag of goodies or small prizes as incentives (bracelets, 5$ gift card, candy)

Have girls pair up and discuss, then discuss with the group

Print out Free PDF Journals or Duaa Cards and incorporate them into your Halaqa

Have the girls take turns sharing a hadith, a touching verse, or a name of Allah (SWT) each halaqa so they're engaged

Buy a Plant and keep it in your halaqa location. Buy something that can do well indoors for a few months, and doesn't need frequent watering. You can name your plant as a group!

Seek out female role models in your community. Seek women in different professions or with different hobbies to come and share their passions with your halaqa group!