OUR GOOD DEED JARS
In the previous years we have done the good deed tree inspired by Umm Abdul Basir's one. Last Ramadan round I wanted to do something different and thought provoking.
I wanted my Lil Muallims to think beyond "Doing good deeds gets us closer to Jannah!" I wanted them to understand that we have to strive VERY HARD to get it.
The inspiration for this idea came from Surah Luqman, while I was making my Ramadan plan for Lil Muallim # 1 . Allah says in ayah 16
"O my son!" (said Luqman), "If there be (but) the weight of a mustard-seed and it were (hidden) in a rock, or (anywhere) in the heavensor on earth, Allah will bring it forth: for Allah understands the finest mysteries, (and) is well-acquainted (with them)." (translation: Yusuf Ali)
This ayah made me think of Suarh Zalazalah especially the last two ayahs....
Surah Al-Zalzalah
1. When the earth is shaken to her (utmost) convulsion,
2. And the earth throws up her burdens (from within),
3. And man cries (distressed): 'What is the matter with her?'-
4. On that Day will she declare her tidings:
5. For that thy Lord will have given her inspiration.
6. On that Day will men proceed in companies sorted out, to be shown the deeds that they (had done).
7. Then shall anyone who has done an atom's weight of good, see it!
8. And anyone who has done an atom's weight of evil, shall see it.
Subhanallah! Could the message and warning be any clearer?
So here's what I did. I picked up these jars and my box of mustard seeds and told my Lil Muallims that.........
Me: "This year we won't be making the good tree but will record our deeds in a different way."
I showed them a mustard seed. and discussed how tiny it was. I continued to discuss that "All our good and bad deeds are collected and as Allah says..... in the surah you have memorized .......
Then shall anyone who has done an atom's weight of good, see it!
And anyone who has done an atom's weight of evil, shall see it.
We will put in one mustard seed for every good deed that you do in this small jar".
Lil Mualim # 2: " But they are so tiny!"
Lil Muallim # 1"That's scary!"
Me: :):):) "Exactly this way we will see how long it takes to really fill this jar. How much can we fill it in this Ramadan ? And we don't like how it's going then we have to work really extra hard to collect some good deeds. Inshallah that can help us to really understand that getting to Jannah requires a lot of conscious efforts from us in Allah's way. So let's make dua that May Allah guide us and help us to strive to seek His pleasure Ameen"
It was interesting to note their serious faces upon this conversation. Over the days it dawned upon them more and more that it took a lot to actually even the cover the base of the bottle with the mustard seeds.
By 15 Ramadan, the base was fully covered and then the last ten days were seen as the potential days that would fill the bottle significantly......:) Alhumdolillah
Plus each child noted how older ones jar was fuller than than their own. I found it a remarkable way of inculcating the desire to do more naturally, noting activities that made the olders ones jars fuller and trying to do it too this your or aiming to do it when they are capable of it. Beidhnillah.
By 15 Ramadan, the base was fully covered and then the last ten days were seen as the potential days that would fill the bottle significantly......:) Alhumdolillah
Plus each child noted how older ones jar was fuller than than their own. I found it a remarkable way of inculcating the desire to do more naturally, noting activities that made the olders ones jars fuller and trying to do it too this your or aiming to do it when they are capable of it. Beidhnillah.
