It’s that time of year again when we have to discuss Christmas with our children. It’s a source of anxiety for a lot of Muslim families. If you’re a Muslim parent living in a non-Muslim country, you may have learnt to adapt to many western practices. But, as Muslim parents, how do we navigate Christmas? Let me suggest 7 Ways we can Teach Kids about Prophet Isa (as) during the festive season!
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In Episode 56 of the RaisingMums podcast, I share ways to navigate this holiday period with 7 Ways to Teach Children about the Prophet Isa (as).
The key takeaway points from this podcast are:-
Children can become confused by the different stories they hear.
They want and need to know the truth.
Misunderstandings can take them out of the fold of Islam.
Knowing the true story helps kids to feel confident in their Islamic identity and builds understnding with people of other faiths.
I hope these tips are helpful in navigating this festive period and help you to hold valuable conversations that will allow our children to understand and respect the differences we share while staying true to our Muslim identity.
Summertime is the perfect time to create fun learning opportunities for your children. Making Islam fun for kids can seem like a daunting task, but here are 10 activities to help your children enjoy Islamic learning and the lovely summer weather at the same time!
And for the days when the weather doesn’t seem so inviting, there are some great indoor activities as well!
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Islam For Kids: All About Allah
Making Islam fun for kids begins with nurturing a love of Allah (SWT). These 3 interactive activities make a great a start:
99 Names Hunt
Print out the names of Allah from this website and stick them around your house or garden for your kids to find. Choose places that are clean and keep the the names off the ground. This can be a regular activity and you can focus on certain names each time you play.
Photo credit: quotelovin.com
To make the game a little more challenging for older children, try saying the English name and your child has to find the Arabic translation, or vice versa. This activity is perfect for opening a discussion about the many amazing qualities and attributes of their Creator.
Go for nature walks and help your kids create their very own scrapbook of beautiful things Allah (SWT) has created. They can press flowers or leaves into their book, draw sketches of animals, go birdwatching or collect specimens of minibeasts! This bug catcher kit is loads of fun for little explorers!
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Islam For Kids: Qur’an Study
Just because summer is here doesn’t mean the Qur’an lessons need to stop! Add some creativity to your Qur’an sessions with these activities:
Take It Outside
With the sun shining and the temperatures rising, it can be difficult to hold your kid’s attention during Qur’an lessons. So, pack a cosy blanket and a picnic and take it outside! This will be an exciting change for your kids and help them associate positive and happy memories with learning the Qur’an.
Qur’an Journaling
Get creative and pull out all the art supplies! Using this simple structure for Quran journaling, help your kids interact with the Qur’an and engage with it. The art supplies make this incredibly fun and your kids will learn that the Qur’an can teach and comfort them when they need it.
Use the summer weeks to help your kids focus on their salah and develop a healthy prayer habit!
Salah Tracker
Salah trackers are a brilliant way to help children become personally responsible for their own salah and celebrate their progress. Allowing your kids to be independent with their salah shows them you trust their own prayer journey. These trackers from Muslim Mommy are perfect to get you started!
Prayer Space
Having a dedicated prayer space for their salah adds to the excitement for children. Fill their space with things they love that will help them feel positive and happy during every salah time. Plus, you can bond as you set up the space together! Help your children design their own salah posters and add comfy cushions to curl up with whilst they perform their post-salah adhkar (supplications). Check out this amazing Salah Space!
Islam For Kids: Stories of the Prophets
Studying the prophets is the perfect way to help children discover wonderful role models. With Muharram upon us, why not focus on the amazing stories about Musa (AS)?
Build A Boat
Stretch those S.T.E.M muscles and build a boat! Begin with the famous story of Musa’s mother placing him in a basket as a baby and floating him along the river. Use these ideas to build your own sturdy boat or basket. Then, if the weather allows, head to a lake, river or stream nearby and discover how sea-worthy your models are!
Photo Credit: inspirationlaboratories.com
Red Sea Study
You can’t learn about the Prophet Musa (AS) without learning about the Red Sea. The story of Musa splitting the sea to escape from the evil Pharaoh has all the ingredients children need for an engaging story!
However, by studying the Red Sea you can help your children realise how true the story is. Knowing the sea really and truly exists will upgrade this story from exciting to mind-blowing for your children. Help your kids draw, colour or label their own map of the Red Sea. You could take this further and put together a geography presentation!
Seerah Story Time
Well, after all these activities your kids will be going to bed fulfilled, happy and oh-so-tired! Soothe them to sleep with a regular bedtime story of the Prophet Muhammad (SAW). Make sure you end on a cliffhanger each night! This will leave your kids eager for the next instalment the following night. Curl up in bed together and bond over the beautiful stories that fill the life of the final messenger. This book from Leila Azzam is a wonderful addition to any Islamic library for kids.
Share your summer!
I would love to see what you and your children get up to this summer! Tag @OurMuslimHomeschool on Instagram or Facebook and share your summer activities so we can all see what fun you’re having!
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Eid al-Adha is almost here! We can use this special time to teach our kids what Hajj is and why it is so wonderful. Use these activities to not only teach your kids about this amazing journey, but to create meaningful memories and experiences.
We can sometimes feel like our time for worship is diminished when we are doing chores or taking care of the kids. However, teaching them about Hajj can be filled with rewards when done with the right intention.
What is Hajj?
Abu Hurairah narrated that he heard Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) say:
“Whoever performs Hajj and does not commit any obscenity or transgression will return [free from sins] as he was on the day his mother gave birth to him.” (Al-Bukhari)
Hajj is one of the five basic pillars of Islam, and it happens once every year during the month of Dhul Hijjah. Muslims from all over the world make their way to Makkah in Saudi Arabia. Each Muslim must make this journey at least once in their lifetime, if they are able. Therefore, 10 days of this special month are celebrated by Muslims around the world in recognition of those performing Hajj.
However, just because you’re not making the blessed journey yourself, doesn’t mean you and your family can’t honour the pilgrimage at home.
Try these Hajj-themed activities to teach your kids what Hajj is and why it is so special.
Sensory Activities
Hajj Sensory Bins
These sensory bins from The Muslimah Guideare easy to make and fun to explore. Find stones to throw at the jamaraat with the Muzdalifah bin, pour water using the Zam Zam bin, and use the Safa’ and Marwah bin to tell your kids the story of baby Ismail.
Finger print painting
This activity designed by Muslim Kid Genius will show the wonderful diversity which exists within the tawaf ritual. Little ones will love getting their fingers in some paint! As a result, you can teach them about the unity of Muslims from all backgrounds walking around the Kabah together.
What is a Hajj lesson without a Kabah activity? Using teamwork and the many cardboard boxes we save “just in case”, build your very own Kabah using this papier mâché method. You could use this Kabah for the tawaf ritual during the role play activity below. Scroll down for details!
Mixed media Picture
Mixed media pictures are wonderfully fun to make, because you can literally use anything to fill your picture with texture. Little ones will particularly enjoy this activity, and even your older kids will be pretty impressed with the results. Check out this amazing picture from A Muslim Child is Born.
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Discuss with your little ones the various ways someone can travel to Makkah. Explain how the Prophet (pbuh) and his companions travelled from Madinah to Makkah before we had planes and cars! Your kids can use various art supplies such as pastels, paints, and collage materials to make these transportation colouring pages fun and creative!
Tracing pages
Train those fine motor skills by giving younger kidsthese tracing pages from Muslim Learning Garden. You can discuss tawaf, pelting stones at the jamaraat, the tents in Mina and even the run between Mounts Safa’ and Marwah.
Reading time
An activity as effective as it is timeless, reading will always be a joy for your kids when you get involved. There are so many kids’ books online which cover the Hajj pilgrimage in a fun and beautiful way.
Give old treasure maps a creative spin and talk to your kids about the different locations which are so important to the Hajj pilgrimage. Plus, you could use these maps in the role play activity below! Scroll down for details.
Kabah paperclip bookmark
This activity from A Crafty Arab is brilliant because not only can your kids have a lot of fun making these paperclip bookmarks, they will make wonderful little Eid gifts from your kids to other family members.
Mosaic art
Teach your kids the wonders of mosaic art as they learn the patience and perseverance it takes to make something truly amazing!These Hajj-themed pictures will make great gifts. Plus, what child doesn’t like getting glue on their fingers?
Foam pilgrims
Image Credit: helloholydays.com
Teach your kids about ihram (the garment pilgrims wear on Hajj) by making these amazing foam pilgrims from Hello Holy Days. Your kids could use them as props for role play or when using their Hajj displays from the activity above.
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Group Activities
Role play
Get the whole family involved and role play the rituals of Hajj,just like this post from Multicultural Motherhood. This can be done inside or outside. If you’re inside, use a different room for each location. Use your maps and your papier mâché Kabah from the activities above!
Using these 4 challenges from The Muslimah Guide, let your older kids put their engineering skills to work. Using these challenges as a guide, you can have a Hajj-themed building competition. Complete with prizes, of course!
Family Quiz
It’s time to put all your Hajj knowledge to the test – as a family. Host a Family Quiz Night using these questions from Education Quizzes. Switch up the fun by letting your kids hold the question cards and test YOUR knowledge!
The most important aspect of this special time is to have fun with your kids. Use these activities to create positive associations with Islamic learning and bond at the same time.
If you try any of these activities with your kids, make sure youtake a photo and share it on Instagram or Facebook using the hashtag #ourmuslimhomeschool so I can see it!
One of the most effective ways to teach our kids Islamic studies, is by using excellent children’s books.
Over the past decade, I’ve collected a small library of Islamic books for kids. I know what makes a good children’s book, and what makes an excellent one!
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Seriously, when it comes to Islamic Studies, you cannot be too particular about which books you use with your children.
If you’re looking to teach your children more about Hajj, then read on friend!
In this blogpost, I’ll be sharing with you my favourites kid’s books about Hajj; books that inspire wonder and awe, whilst also informing the mind and heart.
I know…I expect a lot from my books!
Here are my recommendations!
The 9 Best Children’s Books About Hajj
For Children Under 5
Two Pigeons on a Pilgrimage
This is the story of two pigeons, as they witness the rites of Hajj! Illustrated by a very talented 12 year-old girl, this rhyming story even includes some fun matching games.
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Children Aged 5-9
Makkah and Madinah Activity Book
This fun sticker activity book is packed with dot-to-dot drawings, colouring pages, puzzles to solve, and loads of stickers, to help your children explore the sacred sites of Makkah and Madinah.
This is retelling of Hajar in the desert, and her struggle to find water for her baby son, Ismael (as). Beautifully written, with spectacular illustrations, this is a book your family will treasure.
This beautifully printed activity book will capture the imagination of your children! Its brimming with all kinds of fun activities, colourful illustrations and fascinating facts to teach your children about the amazing journey of Hajj. They’ll love it!
This unique book, follows a young family on their trip to Makkah. In addition to the usual important sites, it also shows you where many other sites of Islamic historical significance can be found; including the house of Khadijah (ra) and what it looked like inside.
It tells you about the birth place of Prophet Muhammad (saw) and how to find it! More than half of the book is dedicated to sites around Mecca that hold an importance with the Seerah and our Islamic heritage.
The Islamic Calendar month of Rajab has great significance for Muslims. Through fun activities, like these, children can learn more about the Hijri calendar and the miraculous Isra’ wal Mi’raj.
They’re super simple and easy to do; perfect for the classroom or to do at home too inshAllah.
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The Islamic Calendar Month of Rajab
Allah (swt) says in the Quran:
“Verily, the number of months with Allaah is twelve months (in a year), so was it ordained by Allaah on the Day when He created the heavens and the earth; of them four are Sacred (i.e. the 1st, the 7th (Rajab), the 11th and the 12th months of the Islamic calendar). That is the right religion, so wrong not yourselves therein”
[al-Tawbah 9:36]
The main significance of Rajab, that I encourage you to teach to your children, is that Rajab is the month when we begin to prepare for Ramadan. It is also the month in which Isra’ wal Mi’raj, the Night Journey, is believed to have taken place.
Here are some of the activities we have been doing in Our Muslim Homeschool to teach the children all about Rajab!
Rajab Dua Copywork
The dua for Rajab should be memorised by children who are able to.
One way to engage children further, and aid their memorisation, is to make the dua into handwriting sheets!
Imam Abu Bakr al-Warraq said: “Rajab is like a wind, Sha`ban is like a cloud and Ramadan is like rain.”
So, we decided to use the month of Rajab to learn about the weather!
Plant Seeds for Ramadan
Imam Abu Bakr al-Warraq said: “In the month of Rajab you sow the seeds, in Sha`ban you irrigate them and in Ramadan you reap the harvest.”
To visually represent this lesson, we sowed seeds of our favourite vegetables, in the hope that we will harvest them in Ramadan insha’Allah.
Practice Fasting
My older children have also used Rajab as an opportunity to practice fasting before Ramadan begins.
Fasting a few days within the month of Rajab and Shawwal can help children, and their parents, prepare for Ramadan. It also gets them excited about the coming months!
Learn about the Isra Wal Miraj
It is agreed upon by many reliable scholars that Al-Isra’ wal Mi’raj mostly likely occurred during on the 27th night of Rajab. However, there is some that debate this. Allah knows best.
Whether Rajab or not, the Night Journey of the Prophet (saw) should be taught to children as it is second only to the miracle of the Quran itself.
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With this activity, your children will be learning geography alongside their Islamic studies!
Why not add a little maths too!
Have your older children calculate the distance between Mecca and Jerusalem using the scale in an Atlas. They could even work out the speed the Prophet (pbuh) travelled too!
(Speed = Distance / Time)
Make a Miraj Ladder
This fun and easy craft is a wonderful way to visually represent the ascension of the Prophet Muhammad through the heavens.
You can make your Miraj Ladder in English, Arabic or any language you prefer!
For full instructions on how to make your own Miraj Ladder and a list of resources needed, just CLICK HERE!
Encourage Prayer in Rajab
It was during the Isra’ wal Mi’raj that the Prophet (saw) was given the command of the 5 obligatory daily prayers.
Use the story of the Night Journey to inspire children to pray. Encourage them during this month to join you as you pray, or get them to pray together.
There are even reward charts, workbooks and colouring books available online to encourage your children to perform salah.
Rajab is an opportunity for our children to develop a deeper connection with the deen. Through fun and engaging activities, like these, your children can learn about their faith, the life of the Prophet (pbuh) and the significance of Rajab in the Hijri calendar.
If you decide to try any of these activities with your children, make sure you take a photo and share it on Instagram or Facebook using the hashtag #ourmuslimhomeschool, so that I can see it!
This blogpost as written as part of the Islamic Months Mama Book Tour! If you’d like to see what other mums have been doing throughout the Islamic Calendar, check out Shade 7’s Instagram page.
Imam Abu Bakr al-Warraq said: “In the month of Rajab you sow the seeds, in Sha`ban you irrigate them and in Ramadan you reap the harvest.”
One of the most momentous nights in Rajab, and perhaps ever in the history of creation, is Laylatul Miraj – The Night Journey!
On a side-note: If you’re looking for a resource to teach young children about the Hijri calendar, I would recommend the Islamic Months Book by Shade 7 publishing.
The Story of the Night Journey
On this incredible journey, Prophet Muhammad travelled from Mecca to Jerusalem on the Buraq. Ascending the heavens, he met eight prophets in the seven heavens. Each prophet greeted Prophet Muhammad with, “Welcome, O’ pious Prophet and pious brother!” (Bukhari)
Finally, he entered the presence of the Divine, and after going back and forth between Allah and Prophet Musa (as), he was ultimately given the command of the five daily prayers.
If you are unfamiliar with the story, you can find retelling of it on YouTube to play to your children … like THIS ONE!
Once your children have become familiar with the story, it’s time to get crafty and recreate the Prophet’s (pbuh) journey with this Miraj Ladder!
Isra wal Miraj Activity
To teach our children about the Night Journey – Laylatul Miraj, we chose a hands-on craft project that kids of all ages could take part in.
This Miraj Ladder, helps to visually depict the journey our beloved Prophet (pbuh) took. It shows his journey from the Masjid al-Aqsa, Jerusalem through the seven heavens, and into the presence of Allah (swt).
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Miraj Craft Supplies
For this Islamic art project you will need the following:
1. Begin by setting out nine separate sheets of watercolour paper
2. Paint each sheet a separate colour using your watercolours. You may want to do a rainbow or an ombre effect, or just allow your children to choose!
Use this as an opportunity for your children to learn about mixing colours. It’s so much fun!
Allow the paint to fully dry before moving onto the next step.
3. Take your cardboard and cut it into a rectangular shape. This is the template you will be using for the rungs of the ladder. We choose to round the edges of our rectangles, but feel free to get creative with your own design!
4. Draw around your template on each of the coloured papers. You may wish to do a few extras in case the children make mistakes in future steps.
5. Cut out these rectangular rungs carefully with scissors.
6. Place the rungs of the ladder in the order and, using a permanent marker, write the following in Arabic or English.
Allah
Ibrahim
Musa
Haroon
Idris
Yusuf
Yahya and Esa
Adam
Masjid al-Aqsa
For young children, I would advise you allow them to write it in pencil first, in case they make a mistake, before using the permanent markers.
7. Using your hole-punch, make two holes on either end of each rectangle.
8. Thread the string/ribbon through these holes, carefully piecing together your Miraj ladder.
This is a great opportunity for young children to develop their hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills.
Seeing it all come together at this stage is so much fun!
9. Finish by tying the ends into a neat bow, and securing the string at the back of each rung with clear selo-tape.
There you have it! A finished Miraj Ladder for your children to display and enjoy!
Simplify it further!
If your pressed for time and want to make this craft even easier to do:
Use coloured card for the rungs of the ladder, instead of painting.
Write the names for your children, and simply ask them to put them in order.
Glue the rungs of the ladder to a large piece of paper, instead of threading them onto string.
The miracle of the Miraj is perhaps second only to the Miracle of the Quran itself!
What an incredible opportunity we have as parents to share it with our children!
With fun activities like this, you can help your children to form strong connections to the Seerah of the Prophet (pbuh) and the Islamic tradition.
If you decide to try this craft with your children, make sure you take a photo and share it on Instagram or Facebook using the hashtag #ourmuslimhomeschool, so that I can see it!
Praying you all have a beautiful and successful Rajab.
Peace and Love,
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Many of us dream that our children will memorise the Quran.
We hope that etching those noble words into their hearts will help to shape them as they grow up; that the Quran they learnt as children is never forgotten but is a source of support and guidance for them throughout their adult lives. We hope that memorising the Quran will raise their rank, and ours, in the next world. Ameen
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“The one who recites the Quran and learns it by heart, will be with the noble righteous scribes (in Heaven) and the one who exerts himself to learn the Quran by heart and recites it with great difficulty, will have a double reward.”
(Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 4653; Muslim, 798)
This inspiring story is from one of our readers, Sr. Sarwat Hussain, who has kindly allowed us to share her wisdom and advice on how you can help your children to memorise the Quran fast. inshallah.
All Praise is due to Allah, the most merciful and beneficent.
Assalamu Alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu, I am Sarwat Hussain.
Alhamdulillah I am blessed with two kids, Maryam and Ibrahim. Maryam is 8 and Ibrahim is 7. Maryam started memorizing the Quran at 6 and completed at 8, Alahamdulillah. It was a great journey. My both kids are homeschooled.
The first time I noticed Maryam’s interest in Quran was when she was sitting next to me holding the Quran. She started saying Subhanallah. She was just 18 months old!
1. HOW DO OUR CHILDREN MEMORISE THE QURAN?
Alhamdulaiilah, we just got more organized. We just made sure all necessary duties were taken care of so we could sit with Maryam without any interruptions.
With our support, she spent 3.5-4 hours a day memorising the Quran.
Maryam also used to attend the local masjid for the hifz classes three days a week. Our local Imam kindly offered us classes online too.
She use to listen Imam Misri Al Afasy audio to correct her tajweed. We established the rule to repeat every new Ayah at least TEN times before moving onto the next one.
After that she would connect everything together and read it back to me.
We started with three Ayahs per day. As time went on, subhanallah, she was able to do it 3 pages per day Alhamdulillah.
I always with her while memorizing new Ayas. The biggest challenge was to keep up with the Juz she had already memorized (Manzil). Now I listen to her recite two juz per day as revision.
As parents, we always try to teach them that Islam is not separate from our daily life. Islam is not just about performing Salah or reading the Quran. It is a way of life. You practice it in everything. We always teach them to be good with neighbors and respect the others from the different belief systems.
3. HOW DO WE KEEP IT GOING?
It is not an easy journey. We turned to Allah for the guidance and make dua for them whenever we face the challenges and always tell them that “You are very special, Allah likes you lot and bestowed his blessings to memorize his book, Al Quran Kareem”. We try to talk about the Angels, Jannah and the shaytaan.
Bedtime Quran stories and Seerah stories helped us lot to motivate them. We are still learning and improving ourselves to raise them as a good Muslims. Please pray for them.
May Allah make them among the most righteous of Muslims. Ameen. Ya Rabbul Alameen.
Alhamdulillah, Maryam started learning Arabic language. Inshallah, it will help her to understand the Quran with detail so that she can teach the importance of the Quran to the young generation. Inshallah, this will help to motivate and inspire them to learn and memorize the Quran.
We would love to provide some tips to the parents who are planning to choose this path.
You can follow us on Facebook page @HafizaMaryamRiyaz or Maryam F Riyaz). Inshallah we will try our best to answer your questions.
What an inspirational story! With the dedication of her parents, she memorised the whole Quran in just two years and at only 8 years-old! mashAllah!
If you are a homeschooling mother and have an inspirational story that you would like to share with our readers, please get in touch. I’d love to hear from you and we would all love to hear your story!
Have your children memorised the Quran? What advice would you offer other parents whose children are hoping do the same? Leave me your tips in the comments below!
I’m so grateful you stopped by!
Peace and Love,
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If we can do nothing else as parents, we must teach our children to know Allah.
Learning about the 99 names of Allah connects the hearts of children to their Lord. It helps them to develop a better understanding of Him and their own place in this world. And what better way to teach children than through gentle, play-based activities!
The more you know Allah, the more you will love Him.
Imam Al-Ghazali
This blogpost is sponsored. Faithful Kids kindly gifted me the Beautiful Names of Allah Memory Game and compensated me for my time. It also includes affiliate links. Please see Disclaimer for more information.
I was delighted to be introduced to the Beautiful Names of Allah Memory Game by Faithful Kids. My children and I have enjoyed playing this game together and learning the 99 Names of Allah as we play!
99 Names of Allah Children’s Game
This beautiful box contain 3 colour-coded sets of cards, with each set making the game progressively more difficult. The cards are printed on thick high-quality card and designed with elegant geometric patterns. The name itself is clearly printed in Arabic, along with a transliteration and translation.
I really loved that they include a small A4 poster of the 99 Names of Allah and a thoughtfully written pamphlet showing you how to play the various games.
How to Play the Memory Game
The idea of the game is simple enough for children as young as 4 year-old to understand! My little girl certainly enjoyed playing!
Simply place the cards face down on the table and take turns to find the matching pairs. As each player turns over a card, they must read that card aloud to the group. This helps other players to know which cards are where, and helps with the memorisation of the Asma-ul-Husna. The winner is the player to find the most matching pairs.
Other ways children can use them
In our homeschool, these cards have become a regular part of our morning routine!
We use them as flashcards, each day revising the names previously learnt, and selecting the next card to memorise. I hope in this way, we will be able to memorise all 99 Names of Allah by the end of the year insha’Allah.
Since these cards are so beautiful, I’m planning to display them on my wall. Each time a new name is learnt by the children, we will stick it up on display.
We play the memory game for a special treat a few times a week, enjoying our time together, whilst also revising the Blessed names we have learnt.
Teaching your children about Islam can be a daunting prospect! Where do we start?
How do we teach the material?
Once they do start learning the various Islamic sciences, how do we keep up the momentum and maintain their enthusiasm.
How can we encourage our children to want to learn about Islam?
What are the best online resources available to help parents?
This blog post was sponsored by aliandsumayaschool.com. See disclaimer for further details.
I was recently introduced to the Ali and Sumaya school, an online Islamic school, that teaches children the principle Islamic sciences, from the comfort of my own home.
It has been such a blessing to incorporate it into my children’s Islamic education, and I am so excited to share it with you.
What is an Online Islamic School?
When we first logged on, I was so impressed! It’s like an Islamic version of ABC Mouse! mashAllah! Instead of teaching phonics or maths, it teaches children Quran, duaas, Arabic, and more!
The children absolutely adore it, and really look forward to doing their lessons! I have seen an incredible shift in their attitude towards learning the Islamic sciences. When I announce that it’s time for Ali and Sumaya school, they rush to get to the computer and watch one another do their lessons.
They even recognize the characters in the school from the Ali and Sumaya DVDS, which only adds to their enthusiasm!
However since we began the programme, about 2 months ago, they have continued to offer more levels,and add more learning material to their website every month!
How does it work?
Most lessons offered involve your child watching a short animated video, where the material is explained. These videos have been made to a very high standard! The audio is clear, with beautiful recitation of Quran, and the animation is amazing!
Then after practicing what has been taught, they complete a short quiz to ensure they have understood the lesson.
They way the school assesses memorisation is very simple, but very clever. The teacher will recite part of an ayah or duaa, and then conceal part of it with a “beep”. The child then has to decide what is missing from the duaa, and select the correct answer from a number of options.
If they pass the quiz, they are awarded a “badge.” The badges are the equivalent to virtual stickers, and my kids love collecting them!
A nice feature on the site is the presence of a leader board. For every lesson you complete, you are awarded points, and the students with the highest number of points will feature on the global leader board.
What age does my child need to be?
There are no specific requirements for age or experience. The only thing I would recommend is that your child should be able to comfortably use the mouse or a tablet, otherwise they may struggle to complete their lessons.
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Are their sources reliable?
There are so many different ways people practice Islam today, especially with regards to worship. The creators of the Ali and Sumaya school consulted a number of religious teachers from Egypt and Saudi Arabia.
If you have any further questions about the scholars and sources that were used, you can email the Ali and Sumaya school directly. Click HERE for their contact details.
How long are the lessons?
The time each lesson takes does vary between subjects and levels. However, the makers of the Ali and Sumaya school recommend that children spend 10-20 minutes on each lesson, as few times a week to get the most out of the programme.
We have chosen to use these online classes slightly differently. Instead of everyday, we have been using the Ali and Sumaya school as a reward for good behaviour or academic achievement! They enjoy using this online school so much that they will actually work towards it! They really do love it!
Benefits of Online Learning
Personally, I think the biggest benefit of using an online school like the Ali and Sumaya school, is that the kids enjoy it! Subhanullah, what a difference it makes to your child’s learning when they are having fun!
When a child is self-motivated and interested in learning the material, they will retain that information more effectively than if you are forcing them to do their lessons. The Ali and Sumaya school is a fantastic way of nurturing a positive attitude towards studying Islam.
One of the biggest challenges we face as parents today, is the constant struggle we have with limiting screen time. This internal battle happens in almost all of us everyday. Many of us feel guilty at the amount of time our children spend watching TV, or playing on other electronic devices. What is wonderful about the Ali and Sumaya school, is that that guilt is gone! My children can go online, and do their lessons, and learn something really beneficial! Alhumdulillah!
The Ali and Sumaya school provides a halal alternative to the mainstream media. Furthermore, it is a safe and wholesome way for children to spend beneficial time online.
How do I enroll my children?
The creators of the Ali and Sumaya school only take in a limited number of students each term so that they really get to know those pupil’s needs, and assist them as much as possible.
If you would like to secure your child’s place for this terms intake, you can visit their website: AliandSumayaschool.com for more details.
If you have any questions about the Ali and Sumaya school, and how we use it in our home, please leave them in the comments section below!
This blog-post was written in partnership with Al Maurid Books. Although I was compensated for my time, and given a review copy of the book, all opinions expressed here are 100% my own.
Teaching the 99 Names of Allah to children can be challenging for any Muslim parent. In our Muslim homeschool, we use a variety of crafts and hands-on activities to help our children remember the 99 names of Allah.
I believe that learning the names of Allah does not need to be rushed. By taking our time, we allow the names of Allah to impact on their hearts, thereby helping to nurture a deeper and stronger connection to the Divine insha’Allah.
Each activity below is designed to help children understand the 99 names of Allah. The names themselves can seem complicated and somewhat abstract to young children. By associating the Divine name with an activity or craft, we show the children a more concrete representation of that name, creating a connection that will help with memorisation, as well as their understanding.
And besides….it’s so much more fun this way!!!
To watch a Youtube Video about all the activities we have been doing,
CLICK ON THE VIDEO BELOW!
Why should Children Learn the 99 Names of Allah?
Learning the names of Allah (swt) is a great way to help children to understand the nature of Allah and create a love for the divine in their hearts insha’Allah.It has been narrated Abu Huraira that the Prophet (SAW) said,
“Allah has ninety-nine names, i.e. one-hundred minus one, and whoever knows them will go to Paradise.”
Sahih Al-Bukhari – Book 50 Hadith 894
Allah
The first place we began is with the name “Allah.”Using a FREE TEMPLATE of the name, we filled in the letters with sequins and buttons to make a beautiful calligraphy to hang-up on our wall. For more information on this craft CLICK HERE
Alternatively, you could use glitter, tissue paper or even make a collage from old magazines or newspapers.
Al-Khaliq
Al-Khaliq can be translated as “The Creator”.
For this name, I felt the best way to teach the children about how Allah creates, is to witness His creation.
So we went outdoors; to the park, to the woods, and just around our own garden, and spent some time talking together about what Allah had created. We talked about how He created everything from nothing, with no help.
This concept is something that even the youngest of children can understand. Allah made the clouds, Allah made the sun, Allah made the birds etc. I asked the children to collect things from our nature walk. We came home with so many twigs, leaves and flowers!
Once we got home, we made a poster using a FREE Colouring Page of the name Al-Khaliq.
Around the name we stuck all the beautiful things that the chlidren had collected. It looked lovely up on the kitchen wall!
For more details about this craft, you can read my previous blogpost HERE.
Al-Malik
Al-Malik translates as “The King.”
As a visual representation of this name, the children made a crown! Whilst they were making it, we talked about how Allah doesn’t wear a crown, and how Allah does not look like any king that they can imagine. We spoke a little about the role of a king and I asked them,“Who is the King of the Kings? ….. Allah!”
If you would like to make this crown with your children, CLICK HERE.
Ar- Razzaq
Recently, we have been learning the name Ar-Razzaq which translates as “The Provider.”
To help the children understand this name better, we have been using the book “Aishah Learns to Bake” by Latifah Peerbux.
This is the story of a young girl called Aishah who wants to bake. Her mum agrees to teach her how, but she asks her to guess all the ingredients they need. What is wonderful is how her mum uses clues with an Islamic or Prophetic twist!!!
For example, as a clue for dates, her mum says,
“Allah even says we find this fruit up in heaven! It’s the same fruit we eat in Ramadan to break our fast!”
Aishah Learns to Bake by Latifah Peerbux
Aishah continues to guess all the ingredients for her cakes, learning more and more as she does so.
The book ends with her father explaining to her how Allah is Ar-Razzaq, the Provider.
It’s a sweet and heart-warming story that helps children to understand what a blessing it is to have food, as well as the Blessings that different foods contain; and ultimately to be more grateful to Allah for providing us with them.
As the hands-on activity, we made the Honey and Date cupcakes that Aishah and her mum baked. They were delicious! Alhumdulillah!
Al- Wadood
Al-Wadood can be translated as “The Most Loving.”
The idea that Allah loves us, even more than mummy and daddy, is something that even very young children will understand.
This art activity is a great one for small kids too! We drew the outline of a heart onto a piece of paper. The children then scrunched up lots of small piece of tissue paper and glued them all over the heart!
They looked so pretty, and were a wonderful visual reminder that Allah loves them!
Ar-Rahman
Most recently, we have been looking at the name Ar-Rahman, which can be translated as “The Most Compassionate.”I’m still thinking about what hands-on activity we can use to help the children to better understand this concept.
My initial idea was to ask the children to take care of our cats for a week. I hope that this will teach them that just as they are taking care of their cats, Allah is taking care of them, and their family, and all the people in the whole world, and all of creation!
What do you think? If you have a better idea I’d really appreciate it if you would share it with us all in the comments section below!!!
Have you been teaching the 99 Names of Allah to your children? How do YOU approach it?
If you have any useful resources, I’d love to hear about them.
Please let us all know by leaving a comment down below!
For an (almost) daily look into our homeschooling day follow me onInstagramor Facebook.
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Peace and Love
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