Levels of Fasting

RAMADAN LESSON # 6

LEVELS OF FASTING

What are the thoughts on my mind ?

Does the  time seem to go slow ?

Can I not stop thinking about food cause that's not what fasting is about ? 

Do I avoid arguments and fights ?

Am I mindful of Allah ?

Do make extra efforts to do more dhikr and tilawah ?

 May Allah help us to keep maqbool fasts Ameen.

We get many chances to discuss the do's and don'ts of fasting during the day. These reminders (as frustrating as the can get at times) are a blessing, as these are the building blocks of understanding the essence of fasting.

The meaning of Saum can be reviewed from Ramadan Lesson # 1

Narrated Abu Huraira: The Prophet said, “Whoever does not give up forged speech and evil actions, Allah is not in need of his leaving his food and drink (i.e. Allah will not accept his fasting.)”

Sahih Bukhari:  Book# 31  Hadith# 127

Copywork (Use the blank space under the text to write reflections): print or cursive

RAMADAN HIGHWAY CODE



source: Islamic Posters

After discussing todays lesson in the lights of different ahadith and every day examples, Lil Muallims made their own Levels of Fasting posters, like the one below.

The levels of fasting poster was inspired by a small diagram in this amazing book

Click on the image to buy this book

Extended Activity

Make a list of things that come under each level. 

• Observe the difference
• make an goal for yourself 
• make an action plan for yourself

Download

Levels of Fasting Poster Colored
 Levels of Fasting Poster Blank 
Levels of Fasting Extended Activity
Levels of Fasting Goal Setting

1st Revelation

RAMADAN LESSON # 6

For this lesson we concentrate only on the:

The very 1st Command of ALLAH

IQRA - READ

Allah's 1st Command

One really needs to contemplate why Allah chose this word to be the first word of Divine revelation ? It is actually a VERY IMPORATNT COMMAND to always seek and pursue knowledge, cause not doing so causes stagnation and downfall.

This can be further illustrated by the following points:

• The life of Prophet Muhammad Sallallaho alaihi wasallam's life was spent teaching and spreading Allah's message
• The Shabah's looked up to each other and respected the more on the basis of their understanding of the Quran, sunnah and the deen. 
• We are expected to follow the example of the people of knowledge from the Sahabah, the Ta'abi'een and Ta'aba ta'baeen based on their exemplary and profound understanding in the matters of the deen.
• Cordoba, Isfanah, Kufa, Baghdada and so many other cities of the Muslim Empiure were considered as high seats of learning. Peopel would travel thousands of miles to be in company of men of knowledge of deen, fiqh, sciences (astronomy, botoany, engineering, mathematics etc )
• When the Muslims ruled for almost a 1000 years, those years are considered as the golden age. The European Renaissance has it's roots in the knowledge the got from the works of the Muslim scholars and Scientists
• We are expected to seek the company of the people of knowledge.

What gave all the above mentioned people an edge ........ their KNOWLEDGE which only comes by seeking it and learning which in turn comes by READING !



The knowledge from which no benefit is derived is like a treasure out of which nothing is spent in the cause of Allah. Al-Tirmidhi, Hadith 108

Copywork : print or cursive

REFLECTION: imporatnce  is  not only of READing but also of reading what is Beneficial Inshallah

This was our drive for  our :

  

Beidhniallah, we hope to continue seek knowledge with our Ramadan Readathon Reading baskets from this Ramadan to the next.

INSHALLAH

Downloads:

The 1st word of revelation shown above can be printed from here. To make it decorative we cut it out and stuck it on construction paper. 

Other related activities and printable (jeem-jabal, ghain-ghar, waw-wahi) can be seen here

Our 1st Wahi activity from last year can be seen here 

Zaky's Learning Club

RAMADAN RESOURCE

RAMADAN ADVICE FOR CHILDREN

I just found these cute downloads and printables on Zaky's website yesterday. It's called Zaky's Learning Club. There are several issues from previous years, full of word searches, mazes, activities, posters etc. Six out of the seven issues are  on Ramadan. Most are quite color intensive, but worth having Mashallah ! I have found it.... now I have to figure out a way to get them color printed too Inshallah :)  

Do check them out........ ZAKY'S LEARNING CLUB

Quran was Revealed in Ramadan

RAMADAN LESSON # 5

ALLAH SAYS IN THE QURAN

" Shahro Ramadan allaazi Unzila feehil Quran"

(Surah Tul Baqarah - Verse 185)

Translation

"The month of Ramadân in which was revealed the Qur'ân,....."

Copywork: print or cursive

I gave Lil Muallim # 2 the picture of an open mushaf to color and then asked him to write numbers in Arabic in a grid just like they would be in a calendar. I did write down the numbers in sequence for him to copy from. Next we pasted the papers on bristol board. I traced out the words Ramadn (for the name of the month on top of the calendar dates) which Lil Muallim # 2 traced.

 Finally we glued thin craft sticks to connect the two cut outs to depict 'unzila' (revealed/sent down). To make sure the sicks didn't move while the glue dried we taped them to the table, and weighed it down with a thick book. When done we also taped the sticks from the back (just in case :))

The final craft on our Ramadan craft wall......Mashallah!

Later we reviewed the craft a couple of times during the day, with me pointing to each part of the craft and Lil Mualim # 2 reciting the Ayah. Mashallah!

Download:

You can find the printable for this craft here and here.

IMPORATNT NOTE


Every single Book of Allah was revealed in Ramadan as we know from Ahadith

The Suhuf of Ibrahim (A) was revealed on the 3rd day of Ramadan

The Torah was revealed to Musa (A) on the 6th day of Ramadan

The Zabur was revealed to Dawud (A) on the 18th day of Ramadan

The Injeel was revealed to Eesa (A) on the 13th of Ramadan


The Quran was revealed to Muhammad (SAW) on the 24th of Ramadan

ALLAHO AKBAR.......How divine is this Month !

Fasting is a shield

RAMADAN LESSON # 4

Abu Huraira reported Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: 

"Fasting is  a Shield"

Sahih Muslim : Book# 6  Hadith# 2565

Copywork: print or cursive

Meaning that just like in war a shield protects a soldier from being hit by  a sword a fast protects  a fasting person from doing bad deeds as he is constantly thinking of Allah and doesn't want to spoil his fast or reduce his ajr. So as a reminder of that to stop ypur self from doing something wrong you can say 

"As Siyamo Junnah!"

Lil Muallimah's Shield

Lil Muallim # 2's Shield

Download

Shield Craft Printable

In previous years they have made their own out of paper plates and aluminium foil with their own hand drawn sword or design stuck on them. 

Lil muallim # 1 and Lil maullim # 2 had also made one as a cover for Fasting is a Shield booklet for our Ramadan lapbook some years ago. For this they had very patiently stick tiny pieces of aluminium foil one  by one around the design. Mashallah!

Opening the Fast

RAMADAN LESSON # 3

DUA AT IFTAR TIME

 
Iftar (opening the fast) at sun down is a special time in Ramadan. It is a blessed time as Allah listens to all and any suplications, we make at this time. Why ? Because He loves us and appreciates our abstaining from all forbidden things for His sake. The rewards are from Him and based on the purity of our intention Subhanallah!

“By Him in Whose Hands my soul is, the smell coming out from the mouth of a fasting person is better in the sight of Allah than the smell of musk. (Allah says about the fasting person), ‘He has left his food, drink and desires for My sake. The fast is for Me. So I will reward (the fasting person) for it and the reward of good deeds is multiplied ten times.”

Sahih Bukhari:  Book# 31 Hadith# 118

Copywork (Use the blank space under the text to write reflections):print or cursive

As mentioned in the  book of Ibn Maja, Abdullah bin 'Amru bin 'Al-As (R) reported that the Messenger of Allah (Sallallaho alaihi wasallam) said:

  “Indeed, as to the faster, about the time he breaks his fast, his

du'a, (supplication) will not be turned away by Allah.”

Copywork: print or cursive

In another hadith in Tirmidhi  the Messenger of Allah (saas) has been reported as saying:

"There are three categories of people whose du'a (supplications)

 will not be rejected: the person who observes the fast until he

breaks, a just ruler, and the person who has been wronged."

Copywork: print or cursive

This hadith supports the previous one, while adding that when

prayers are offered during fasting, supplications are highly

encouraged.

There is also a special dua our dear Ptrophet Muhammad Sallallaho Alaihi Wasallam taught us to read before opening fast.

TRANSLATION:

"The thirst is gone and the throats are wet again and the reward is established, Allah willing"

IFTAR DUA MAGNET

Project for Lil Muallim # 2. Made a printout with the iftaar dua and colored the picture drawn bu Ummi :) They can draw themselves too :). Next we stuck it on a recycled piece of carton and laminated it with protective sheet. Lastly we stuck 2 pieces of magnetic sticker strip at the back. Voila our Iftaar dua fridge magnet was ready.

See it here:

Later on we gifted ours to a dear elderly relative. You can make these as gift items too, or to make and sell to collect money for any charitable cause Inshallah eg (Masjid construction, funding digging a well, school supplies for the poor, our famine struck brethren around the world, sponsor an orphan or any other cause you may know of)

Please remind the kids to do it ONLY to seek Allah's pleasure Inshallah!

May Allah accept it from us Ameen

Next year....... First I aksed Lil Muallim # 2 to recite the iftar dua. Then I asked him to add the harakahs, he did this with my help. Next he colored it in with constant questions of what would make it look good? :) I drew the outline for the smaller heart to enclose the dua so he could shade lighlty in that. Once he was done the coloring I cut it out and he stuck onto the magnetic sheet. I helped him laminate the top with contact sheet. 

On our fridge.

There was actually a mistake in the harakat placements which I later fixed with a permanent marker over the contact sheet.

I really enjoyed the fact that Lil Muallim # 1 and # 2 checked the magnet a couple of times at Iftar dua while reciting the dua to fix their vowels :) Alhumdolillah !

Printable for this craft is available here.

Fastometer

RAMADAN LESSON # 2

source: Boston Globe Ramadan 2010

This is a such a cute picture Mashallah! May Allah protect and preserve these children Ameen

HOW AM I FASTING ?

FASTOMETER

  One my favorite Ramadan projects from previous years is our Fastometer. I was going through a lesson on levels of fasting in a book and had a Eureka moment. I instantly started making this project with Lil Muallim # 2.  We titled it, FASTOMETER, how did I fast today? Then we drew a kind of a thermometer, dividing it in 3 parts. 

Level 1: Ordinary 

Level 2: Special 

Level 3: Extraordinary. 

We pasted related images in front of each level. Again we used images from here.

 Then I made a surprise for the kids when they weren't around. I doubled a piece of bristol board and cut one edge like a pointer. Then I cut a slit along one side of the Fastometer and slid the arrow through it till only the pointer showed on the fastometer. Then I folded the point of the extra length of the arrows extended part onto our chart so as to secure it.

Voila! So now they can judge their own fast everyday self assessing themselves. But how would they know how differentiate between the levels. That brings us to our next project below. But first see the pictures of our fastometer. I am attaching pictures of how I made it too. :)

Fasting is Ibadah

RAMADAN LESSON # 1

WHAT IS FASTING ?

Fasting is an act of worship (Ibadah). Allah says in the Quran in ayah number 183 "O you who believe! Fasting has been prescribed to you as it was prescribed to those before you, that you may learn self restraint,"

Copy work (Use the blank space under the text to write points on how one will learn self restraint): print or cursive

Self restraint can be discussed with kids, through a fun discussion. Fasting should not be taught as "staying away from eating and drinking from morn to dusk". The word for fasting in arabic is "Saum" which means to abstain (stay away). Stay away from what, is where the fun discussion comes in :)

Doing bad things ....

What kind of bad things ?

Discuss examples of all kinds of bad things that can be done with eyes, ears and mouth (talking). 

Are these good things to do ? If not should we do them whether we are fasting or not ?

If not, and as fasting means staying away that means we can't do any of those things at all while we are fasting, if we want to please Allah.

As...........Fasting is an Ibadah .... an act of worship :)

Discuss the definition of Ibadah at the kids level.

Ibadah is a way of showing our love for Allah Subhanawa ta'allah, by telling Him all you have, what you would like to have, praising Him and most of all Thanking Him for everything. Ibadah makes us feel close to Allah because we talk to Him from our heart while doing it.

We can do Ibadah by:

• Praying Salah
• Dua (supplicate to Allah
• Dhikr (rememberance of Allah and Exalting Him)
• Tilawah (recitation of the Quran in a beautiful manner) 

Lil Muallim # 1 made a small chart on what fasting is. In his words : 

"Fasting is a state of Ibadah I should spend it Glorifying and Praising Allah" 

Ofcourse Ummi needs to remind but then isn't that what Ummis are for?

The image was taken from here.

  
Here is a powerful Ramadhan prep talk, in the light many authentic ahadith which will be the base of upcoming Ramadan Lessons pages Beidhnillah.

Ramadan Bulletin Board Border

RAMADAN BORDER

We made these using word clip art. The colored and black and white files are available on the Ramadan button on the menu bar. We have a black and white printer so we coloured ours in and laminated it with transparent protective sheet from the $ store.

See picture:

Felt Prayer Mats

OUR FIRST THREAD AND NEEDLE LESSON

This was our very first thread and needle activity. Alhumdolillah. We used the back stitch. She picked it up easily but needed me to guide here where to take out the needle from after putting it through. She did it in two steps and I sat with her all the way guiding her both the times.

Lil Muallimah`s prayer mat.. 

In the end she was quite pleased with her accomplishment Alhumdolillah!

You can see our basic Qiblah lesson done with this prayer mat here, and an advanced Qiblah lesson here.

Kabah Our Qibla

Where's the Qibla

In which direction do we pray Salah

We  have done a lesson on Qiblah last yera with Lil Muallimah as posten in our Ramadn posts. Here's how it was done.,

Discussion:
I asked Lil Muallimah to lay out a prayer mat for me for Salah. As this is a daily routine for her Alhumdolillah she laid it out in the correct direction. Then I asked her, "Have you ever seen me pray in any other direction other than this ?" She said "No". Then I asked her, "Do you know why?" and she said "No". :):):) The cords of curiosity were now struck :):):) Then I took her to the window in the direction of the qiblah and showed her outside. I said, "You know how big Allah has made the earth we cant see everywhere from this window, right?" She nodded her head in yes. Then I said, "Can you see your cousins house from here ?" She said "No". So I said,  "In the same way far far away Kabah is straight ahead from here, we cant see it, but we know that it is there. So we pray in this direction because Kabah is our qiblah."

After this talk Lil Muallimah also made a model of  Kabah with me using foam sheets. The pictures are quite self explanatory.

Once the model Kabah was built I again repeated "When we pray salah we face the Kabah as it is our Qiblah." Then I asked her to lay down the lil prayer mats on her own facing the qibla.

We repeated the activity a few times and enjoyed it too.

An explanation of the lil prayer mats can bee seen here. 

The other prayer mats were made by me, and are from our Ramadan Sensory Tub.