Back to School Idea 6
Following the Back to School series, per someone’s request, please find attached a link to short and useful duas for students:
http://www.duas.org/student.htm
Hope it is useful Inshallah!
Back to School Idea 5
Inspired by the link below, I thought it would be great to have the Quranic wisdom on how to pray for our children’s friendships – another crucial part of Back to School-ness.
(Note: I have taken the points from the article and just added our Islamic references.)
“God knew that his creation of human beings required community and friendship. Cultivating good friendships is important to every parent. Praying for healthy friendships for your children is a wonderful way to encourage the right choice of friends. Take a few minutes to discover 5 ways to pray for your kids’ friendships”:
1. Pray for your child’s heart to understand that they are never alone.
Allah is always there, closer than our jugular vein (50:16). He says: “When My servants asks you about Me, [tell them that] I am indeed nearmost. I answer the supplicant’s call when he calls Me. So let them respond to Me, and let them have faith in Me, so that they may fare rightly.” (2:186)
2. Pray for your child’s mind to make wise choices regarding close friendships.
“Friends can be the very thing that builds you up or tears you down. Any person we choose to be a friend will influence our daily choices. Because of their influence, praying for wisdom is critical!”
Here is a lovely dua in the Quran for this: “My Lord! Grant me [unerring] judgement, and unite me with the Righteous.” (26:83)
3. Pray for your child’s spirit to be friendly.
To have friends, we need to be friendly. And the way we speak to people has a very big impact in this. Allah says: “A good word is like a good tree: its roots are steady and its branches are in the sky? It gives its fruits every season by the leave of its Lord.” (14:24)
Doing good also increases love between people. Allah says: “Indeed those who believe and do good deeds for them will Allah bring about love (endear them [to His creation]).” (19:96)
4. Pray for your child’s mouth not to participate in talking poorly about others or gossiping.
“Talking about others separates friends rather than bringing them closer together.”
Allah says: “O you who have faith! Let not any people ridicule another people: it may be that they are better than they are;… And do not defame one another, nor insult one another by nicknames.” (49:11-12)
5. Pray for your child’s love to reach beyond the surface of superficial friendship.
Let us pray that our children are like those that Allah talks about: “They believe in Allah and the last day, and they enjoin what is right and forbid the wrong, and they strive with one another in hastening to good deeds, and those are among the good.” (3:114)
P.S. Thinking about all this reminds me that we need it as much as our kiddos! May Allah strengthen all our friendships inshallah
Back to School Idea 4
Thank you www.busymummys.co.uk for this idea!
The Kissing Hand – Easing morning drop off the gentle and loving way!
The first two days of school were drenched in tears. So I decided to read them this book I’d been recommended by a friend a few months ago, when my daughter was going through separation anxiety issues, out of nowhere (at age 4!!)
So we read the book, ‘The Kissing Hand’ about a raccoon Chester who did not want to go to school. It was as if the book was written just for my kids! Chester said the exact same words my kids used as pleas to stay at home.
I wanted to draw a heart on their palm, but wasn’t sure of school rules, so we decided to use a sticker that represented the ‘Kissing Hand’ to keep with them while they were at school to give them comfort and ease saying Khudahafiz (goodbye) at drop off.
My daughter chose a butterfly and my son wanted a star, none of them wanted hearts. My daughter held it in her hand, which she promised to hide in her pocket when at school, while my son wanted it stuck on his cardigan. I kissed it and wrote three things on there.
A – that Allah is always looking out for you and protects you
AB – the Ahlulbayt are with you, guiding you, since we recite Salawat in the mornings
M+P – Mummy + Papa love you very much and will come to pick you up very soon.
To say the least, there were more smiles than frowns at drop off today…
And tears? What tears? They were nowhere to be seen
You could use henna, tattoos, stickers, etc, depending on the school policy. Hide them in their pockets or pencil cases, stick them on the inside of the cardigan or even their vests, where they know where it is but it is away from other kids’ eyes so they don’t get questioned.
If you can’t get hold of this wonderful book, checkout this video clip where this lady reads out the book for kids.
Back to School Idea 3
Found this through Pinterest and LOVED it –http://playfullearning.net/daily-affirmations-for-kids/.
Especially given the recent Back to School theme of posts I have been sharing, i thought it might be of interest – I’ve been sticking one in my kids’ lunchboxes every now and then.
There are some blank printables on the site which we can get…we have such a wealth of inspirational tools for affirming our kids in Islam, so I tried out a few! It could be a great way to just remind them of any Asma’ul Husna, ayahs or ahadith that you are learning with them, and can be adjusted for any age range!
Back to School Idea 2
Found this awesome idea on Busy Mummys (www.busymummys.co.uk):
Here’s a beautiful prayer tool for your children to use!
FIVE THINGS I WANT YOU TO REMEMBER AT SCHOOL
You’re all grown up. You insist on brushing your own teeth and putting on your own clothes. Not to forget, even choose what you’ll wear. It’s hard to see you not need us anymore. For it was only yesterday when we rocked and sang to you, fed you and bathed you. Taught you words to say, but even that, now you choose your own. As you start to become an independent little girl and spend more time away from us, there are many things I want you to know. But for now, because you’re still quite little, here are five things from Five great people you love, I want you to ALWAYS remember:
1. Be Kind – Remember P.Muhammed (SAWW), always Smile and be kind to all. Big and small. Tall and short. Never judge. Never mock. Smile when you enter and smile when you leave. Smile and be kind even to those who are mean.
2. Choose Your Words – Remember I.Ali (as) and speak politely. Mind your P’s & Q’s. Look around to notice and talk to those who are shy and haven’t many friends.
3. You are Beautiful – Remember B.Fatema (as), never forget that you are amazingly beautiful and VERY CAREFULLY DESIGNED by Allah. It’s not how we look or what we wear that makes us beautiful, but how good we are on the inside. Let noone tell you otherwise. You are a very special flower blooming in Allah’s garden.
4. Be Patient – Remember I.Hassan (as) for he was always patient. Don’t interrupt the teacher and let the younger kids finish their stories. Wait for your turn at the playground and in the classroom too.
5. Do Your Best – Remember I.Hussein (as) and do your best. Keep trying and never give up. Give your all in everything you do. Ask Allah for help, work hard and Allah will always help inshA!
*For older kids, you could extend to the fourteen Masumeens and their awesome virtues. May the Almighty bless our kids to make this world a better place through their Akhlaq, inshA!
