Ramadan Book for Babies

السلام عليكم ورحمة الله وبركاته

Many of our dear sisters have recently given birth and for their newest additions to the family this will be their first of, insha'Allaah, many Blessed Months. I thought it might be nice to have a little keepsake book that records baby's first Ramadan and some of the things that baby experienced.

Download 'Baby's First Ramadan' here insha'Allaah

Within this small little book, there are personalized sentences that mother and/or father can complete. There are also pictures of specific items/events related to Ramadan and to baby. Baby also learns a little about this blessed month and what we do during Ramadan. Toward the end of the book, there is also a little list that parents can fill out that mentions things that they hope to do with baby each day in Ramadan insha'Allaah. 

Enjoy insha'Allaah!

Basic Salat Sequencing Cards for Toddlers

السلام عليكم ورحمة الله وبركاته

The salat (and wudhu) sequencing cards from Learning Roots are excellent and beautifully crafted masha'Allaah. For children three years and older these cards are a wonderful way to teach the sequence of the salat (and wudhu).  

But as many parents will tell you, many older infants and toddlers begin to show an interest in praying with their parents before they turn three. Admittedly, they often exit the salat quite early and perhaps skip a few steps *smile* but they seem to really put their heart into it (especially the sujood masha'Allaah!). 

I thought for the little ones (under threes), we certainly want to encourage this early interest in the salat. This interest is also a great way to include a bit of math and cognitive work for them by letting them work on simplified salat sequencing cards. With simple language to help them understand ordinal words (first, next and last) we can teach them the basic sequence of a rakat of salat insha'Allaah. The cards can also be used with infants as well. If you print them in black and white you can show each card to the infant one at a time and simply name the position of salat (i.e. Qiyam, Ruku, etc.).

I made four large cards (I did not make the pictures on the cards) showing the four basic steps in a rakat and an answer key for the child(ren) to self-correct if needed.  

 Using very simple language you present the activity to the child in the following manner insha'Allaah:

1). Ask the child to bring a work mat to the area you'd like to work in insha'Allaah.


2). Bring the tray containing the sequencing cards and answer key sheet to the work mat. 


3). Sit on the child's right hand side. Explain that together, you will learn how to make salat insha'Allaah. Take out the cards and place them on the mat. Make sure the cards are not in the correct sequential order. 


4). Show the child the card that shows the first step in the salat and explain, using as few words as possible, what we do during this step and when we do this step (i.e. this is the qiyam. This is the first step we do in the salat. We stand like this and then make the takbir -  i.e. say "Allaahu Akbar"). 


5). Place the card in the first spot in the upper right hand side of the work mat, starting from the child's right hand side.


6). Complete each card this way, moving from right to left, until you have shown and very briefly explained all four cards and they are on the mat in the correct order. Take out the answer key sheet and set it underneath the cards and show the child how you check to make sure you have put each card in the correct order (i.e. place the key under the cards and point to the first card and then point to the first position on the key. Alternately, you can even take the each card and place it next to the first, second, third, etc. positions on the key to compare them).


7). Mix the cards up and invite the child to try by himself or herself insha'Allaah. When the child is done, invite them to check (and self-correct if needed) their answers against the answer key. When the child gains proficiency, you can add cards (i.e. another qiyam, ruku, etc.) to show more steps of the salat as it progresses.

  Here the sequence of cards was not done properly.

 Provide the answer key and allow the child to compare and self-correct insha'Allaah.

Self-corrected activity

Leave this activity out on a low shelf for the child to access and play with as often as he/she would like insha'Allaah.

I printed the cards on cardstock and then mounted them onto poster board just to make sure they can withstand frequent handling insha'Allaah. I would even suggest that after those two steps, the cards be laminated if possible, especially if they will be used in a classroom insha'Allaah. 

Here are the cards pictured and the key. You can download the same cards in black and white here and the black and white answer sheet here insha'Allaah.

Enjoy insha'Allaah!

Arabic Letter Felt Block

Assalamu alaikum,

This little craft will have to made by ummi because it's for the wee ones (smile).

What You'll need insha'Allah:

- Hot glue gun

- Felt in different colours

- Cube Template (I just googled and used an image/template that I felt was large enough insha'Allah)

- Foam shapes (optional)

- Stick pins (the kind you use to hold a pattern down when you're sewing)

- Scissors

- Poster Board

How you make it insha'Allah;

1. Print the block/cube template. With tape, lightly tape it to a poster board. Cut out the pattern. Leave the tape on for now insha'Allah. You'll remove it in a bit insha'Allah.

2. Pin the pattern to the felt insha'Allah (it should be the original paper pattern still taped to the poster board pattern you just cut out insha'Allah). Remove the tape one square at a time and re-pin the block pattern to the felt. Cut the pattern out. Cut the felt pattern a bit larger than the poster board pattern (you can trim it later insha'Allah but if you don't do this you will see some of the white poster board peeking out when you put the cube together).

3. With the hot glue gun, one block at a time, remove the pins and glue the felt to the poster board block pattern.

4. Assemble the cube (but not with the glue gun - just see if it goes together fine insha'Allah) and here you will trim the extra felt on the edges if needed insha'Allah.

5. If all is well insha'Allah, use the hot glue gun to assemble the block. Do this one side at a time and for the top of the block, glue the inside of the cube, not the pattern itself because it will be difficult to insert it into the inside of the block without burning yourself (believe me - I did it and burned my fingers...ouch!...hehe).

6.  With a sharpie pen or marker, on the felt (or foam), draw the Arabic letters you want on your cube insha'Allah. Remember to draw them backward so when you apply the hot glue to the side with the marker on it, you will have the letter facing the right direction insha'Allah.

7. Cut the letters out and glue them to your block/cube. You're done insha'Allah!

Enjoy insha'Allah!

Athkar an-Nawm

Assalamu alaikum,

This activity is for newborns until three years old (and beyond insha'Allah). The importance of reciting the athkar an-nawm cannot be overstated. Even at birth the foundation for language is being laid so reading the athkar nightly has this added benefit and Islamically, is something not be neglected insha'Allah.

Some nights you may be tired (or perhaps exhausted is more accurate) but do your best not to forgo this important activity that benefits your child in dunya and in akhira...may Allah reward you.

Here are the athkar to be recited and there is a link at the end that provides more information (unfortunately, it is only in Arabic but I'm working on finding something in English too insha'Allah). Jazakillahu Khayr to my co-blogger for locating this information!

عَنْ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُمَا قَالَ : ( كَانَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يُعَوِّذُ الْحَسَنَ وَالْحُسَيْنَ وَيَقُولُ : إِنَّ أَبَاكُمَا كَانَ يُعَوِّذُ بِهَا إِسْمَاعِيلَ وَإِسْحَاقَ : أَعُوذُ بِكَلِمَاتِ اللَّهِ التَّامَّةِ ، مِنْ كُلِّ شَيْطَانٍ وَهَامَّةٍ ، وَمِنْ كُلِّ عَيْنٍ لاَمَّةٍ ) رواه البخاري (3371)

Ibn 'Abbaas (radhi-yAllaahu 'anhumaa) related that the Messenger of Allaah (sal-Allaahu 'alayhe wa sallam) used to commend al-Hasan and al-Husayn to Allaah’s protection, saying:‘I commend you two to the protection of Allaah’s perfect words from every devil, vermin, and every evil eye.’ (U'eethukumaa bi kalimaat illahi al-taammah min kulli shaytaanin wa haammah wa min kulli 'aynin laammah).

You can also read the mu3awathaat (surat al-ikhlas, al-falaq, and an-nas) and blow in your palms and wipe over your child's/childrens' bodies.

Here is a fatwa for further reference but again, unfortunately it's only available in Arabic : Fatwa from Islam-qa.com