Sunday, December 15, 2013

0 Fabric Arabic Alphabet Book


This is a little gift from Ummi to our wonderful "Little Sister" who has bought so much joy to our family and is adored by all.

Subhanallah, the days are passing so quickly that my little girl is almost reaching her one year Insha Allah. Not just one year let many years pass, but still I can remember all 4 of my birth experiences in vivid detail for the rest of my life Insha Allah.

Masha Allah, Little Sister is picking up things well, quite advanced and wants to do what her siblings are doing. Imitate reading, writing and reciting. She always grabs her brother’s qaaidha whenever he is reciting and makes funny sounds, as if she is trying to pronounce the alphabets Baa, Thaa and aaf for alif LOL! Tearing and folding poor boys Quran. So I thought of sewing this lovely fabric alphabet book for my little girl. She can do whatever she likes (no worries of tearing or hurting the eyes with laminated edges) I used all the stuff what was available at home and inserted some plastic bags to make some crunching sounds when she turns the pages. The “H” inside the heart is the initial letter of her name which shows the unique ownership of her book.

 
 

Though it was a time taking job I am glad that she loves it so much and she has lots of little teachers to teach her (her siblings).

I do hope that this would be the foundation for her to recite the words of my beloved lord in future Insha Allah, which is going to be an everlasting reward for parents even after our death. Indeed life is not a real life when there is no motive behind it, and the wisest motive is to leave behind something which will give us success in both worlds (Pious children).

Thursday, November 28, 2013

1 Volcano Project

It was a humdrum Sunday morning and kids wanted to do something interesting…. I was wondering what to do and finally came up with this idea of volcano eruption experiment from Aunty Janice’s impressive Book of Super Science Models.

Here is what we used for the activity. Did a volcano model with sand with a bottle in the middle and then Mixed up some red paint with vinegar as we didn’t have red dye and a little bit of dish washing liquid and poured it into the bottle inside the volcano and finally added some baking soda and this is what happened… The volcano eruption and the lava flow.





It was very exciting and interesting for kids as they could see the reaction within few minutes, YEH the boring Sunday is now interesting.

We ended up with the backboard display activity of volcano done by Big Sister. She wrote down the Quranic verse on the title strip, Subhanallah the Quran speaks about every miracles and aspects of present, past and future in detail.

What a great pleasure to spend time with different ages of kids talking, listening and discussing together and getting to know their innocent feelings and great ideas.

May Almighty be pleased with all what we do !

Monday, November 18, 2013

1 First Day of Little Soldier


A little man with his white thobe stepped into our classroom, A new student to our homeschool, Who is it….. OH, It is our little soldier, The future great soldier of Islam Insha Allah.

What a joy is the first day of school… Yes, All of us knew it! similarly our little soldier’s my dear son’s first day was too. Though he is quite advanced in other activities and is with us during class hours, formal education just started. I have to use different techniques to handle this curious fellow as my previous both students are girls. LOL

We celebrated his first day of school with some decorations and balloons and the little boy was very happy. As we started our class I asked him what he wants to learn, This is what he said “I WANT TO LEARN ALABIC” Alabic means Arabic in his language :) . As he is interested in Arabic I thought of introducing two words per week Insha Allah.

I hang up the picture that he colors on the bulletin board for few days until he is familiar with the word.


Here is our home made bulletin board with our little soldier’s colored picture of the week and some of Little Princess’s activities.

Our classroom is now so busy with three students of different ages and between them my ten month old pretty little girl crawling, climbing, grabbing books and messing up the whole class.

I spend a serious time with each one of them explaining the lessons and make the others busy with some easy lessons which can be done without my help while I am busy with one of them, And the rest of the lessons are planned depending on how the day is.

As we are homeschoolers we are free to learn at any time we wish YEH!

This is a journey of serious undertaking that any parents has the potential to do successfully, it takes dedication and creativity. Though it is challenging the rewards are many Insha Allah.

Indeed a great responsibility rests upon the shoulders of every parent on raising up good Muslims. A great  Ummah  of Islam,. As family is the original educational incubator that either breathes life into it or kills the nature.(Fitra)

This year's journal with our 6 members of the family :) 


May Allah bless us and our offspring with real education which transforms the mind into a new mind and turns the heart into a heart that is filled with the love of Allah and spirit of Islam!

Friday, October 18, 2013

0 Companion Quest by Learning Roots




And the first forerunners [in the faith] among the Muhajireen and the Ansar and those who followed them with good conduct - Allah is pleased with them and they are pleased with Him, and He has prepared for them gardens beneath which rivers flow, wherein they will abide forever. That is the great attainment.[9:100]

عَنْ عَبْدِ اللهِ بْنِ عُمَرَ، قَالَ مَنْ كَانَ مُسْتَنًّا فَلْيَسْتَنَّ بِمَنْ قَدْ مَاتَ، أُولَئِكَ أَصْحَابُ مُحَمَّدٍ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ كَانُوا خَيْرَ هَذِهِ الْأُمَّةِ، أَبَّرَهَا قُلُوبًا، وَأَعْمَقَهَا عِلْمًا، وَأَقَلَّهَا تَكَلُّفًا، قَوْمٌ اخْتَارَهُمُ اللهُ لِصُحْبَةِ نَبِيِّهِ صلّى الله عليه وسلم وَنَقْلِ دِينِهِ، فَتَشَبَّهُوا بِأَخْلَاقِهِمْ وَطَرَائِقِهِمْ فَهُمْ أَصْحَابُ مُحَمَّدٍ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ، كَانُوا عَلَى الْهُدَى الْمُسْتَقِيمِ وَاللهِ رَبِّ الْكَعْبَةِ.
Abdullah ibn Umar رضى لله عنهما had mentioned: Whoever wishes to follow the way of another should follow the ways of those who have passed away. These were the companions of Muhammed صلى الله عليه وسلم, Who were the best people of this Ummah, Their hearts were pious, their knowledge was deepest and they were least pretentious. You should therefore emulate their character and mannerisms. By the Rabb of the kabah! The sahabas of Rasulullah صلى الله عليه وسلم are correctly guided.

Alhamdulillah, Glad that we are blessed to have another precious collection for our book shelf. “Companion Quest”.

The great personalities whom Allah chose to assist our beloved Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم for propagation of this pure deen.

It is an utmost important responsibility upon every parent to inculcate the love and respect of the noble Sahabas into the innocent minds of children, especially at this time of corruption.

Masha Allah, A wonderful pack to teach kids with fun. There are two major reasons why I am saying fun.

First, Research shows that anything learned with tension often gets flushed out along with unpleasant memories.

Second, The fun factor lift our spirits and gives us that sense of well-being that opens our minds and hearts.

I would like to express my heart felt gratitude to Learning Roots for this thrilling game and all other fascinating stuffs.

Few words from Big Sister about the beloved sahabaas  رضى لله عنهم


Friday, September 20, 2013

1 Al-Khaliq

Alhamdulillah we are here after a longtime with some of our Little Princess's activities. This is a small booklet which she did for her Aqaaid lesson under the topic "Allah made everything". 

Subhanallah, how wonderful and amazing is it to talk about the mighty lord who raised the skies without any pillars and who adorned them with starts and moon. The one who created Adam عليه السلام , blew his spirit into him and chose him for apostleship, just as he chose Idrees عليه السلام and Nuh عليه السلام. He made Ibrahim عليه السلام his intimate friend. Musa عليه السلام his interlocutor and Ismail عليه السلام the one to be slaughtered. The one who helped Hud عليه السلام, Softened iron for Dawood عليه السلام, Subjugated the wind for Sulaiman عليه السلام, Supported Salih عليه السلام with his signs and Haroon عليه السلام with his message. Made the Masih عليه السلام a spirit, Taught Yousoof عليه السلام the interpretation of dreams and distinguished Luqman عليه السلام with wisdom filling his heart therewith when he was asleep. 

The one who sent Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم our beloved prophet and the final messenger as bearer of glad tidings the warner and a radiant lamp who is clothed with the garment of honor and acceptance.    

Such is Allah the one who can not be described by words. I talked to kids about Allah while she was making the book and I explained that how much time it is taking to prepare this small book but... Allah is such powerful that it does not take any efforts or time for Allah to make anything. He says "be" and it becomes and so on etc...    

As this is the first and foremost thing that should be instilled into the pure hearts of our littles ones. 

 

 This is what she did with natural clay as she is very fond of butterflies

May Allah accept our efforts!

Wednesday, July 31, 2013

1 Eid Cards


Subhanallah, The days are passing so quickly we are now in the blessed last 10 days of Ramadan. As the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said look for Lailathul Qadr during the odd numbered nights of last 10 days of this month. Fortunate is the person who gets the full bessings of the night of Lailathul Qadr by spending it in ibada of Allah. May Allah make us among them!.

Though the time passes swifty kids need their enjoyinment and entertainment, I hope that the time I spend with them will be counted as ibada in order to protect them from haram entertainment. 

Big Sister wanted to sent some Eid cards to her friends, this year we tried with different and simple design. Alhamdulillah it came out well. 

 
Little Princess's first Eid card to her penpal

 Little Soldier's Eid card. Poor little boy wanted to make even though he don't have a penpal, tying to find one soon. Insha Allah.

Cute matchbox gift boxes done by Big Sister - crafty girl :)

May Allah Accept our fasting and other ibadhas and make us among the pious!

Monday, July 8, 2013

2 Welcome O Ramadan


Alhamdulillah, Happy and thankful to my beloved creator for giving us another chance of Ramadan the blessed month to purify ourselves. The honored guest whom we are eager to welcome. 

I know that this Ramadan is going to be completely different for me with 4 little ones. I would like to exert myself in terms of my own ibadaah, but I have to attend the needs of my young ones who depend on me. By the mercy of Allah we can be rewarded for our intentions even if we are unable to carry out the actions. So, I couldn't put a Ramadan plan, have to workout on how the situation is. Insha Allah, I'll try my best to spend more time in Quran. 

By the grace of Allah, kids (Big Sister & Little Princess) are well prepared for Ramadan, we discussed a lot about the virtues of Ramadan, what should be done during Ramadan, which actions should be avoided and why Ramadan is given for us, also the special door of Raiyyan which is prepared for those who fast. And finally I told them, if we live the whole life like how we live in Ramadan we'll be happy when we meet Allah like the day we are happy when we see the moon of Eid. 

Alhadmullah they have decorated the house to welcome Ramadan, as the Jannah is decorated for those who fast. the top picture was done by Little Princess. Insha Allah trying to make her to fast this year.

Big Sister's decoration
My little man (Little Soldier) is familiar with the word "Ramadan" only in word but wants to munch every time :)


Little Princess's Ramadan chain, each strip is removed each day, by the end of the month chain will be completed and she knows that Ramadan has 29 or 30 days.


Our simple Ramadan gift pouch. Prepared just to encourage young ones.


Leaflet was done by Big Sister for the gift pouches

Lovely little badges designed by hubby.

 Oh Allah, help us to spend this Ramadan in complete submission and worship to you, also help us to celebrate this Ramadan as our last, So we may be able to put all our efforts into pleasing you!

Monday, June 3, 2013

0 Hijri Calendar


Surely, the number of months according to Allah is twelve (as written) in the Book of Allah on the day He created the heavens and the Earth, of which there are Four Sacred Months. That is the right faith. So, do not wrong yourself therein. And fight the Mushriks all together, as they fight you all together, and be sure that Allah is with the God-fearing. [9:36]


عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ رضى الله عنه أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ‏"‏صُومُوا لِرُؤْيَتِهِ وَأَفْطِرُوا لِرُؤْيَتِهِ فَإِنْ غُمِّيَ عَلَيْكُمْ فَأَكْمِلُوا الْعَدَدَ‏"‏

Abu Huraira ضى لله عنه reported Allah's Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم as saying: Observe fast on sighting it and break (fast) on sighting it (the new moon), but if the sky is cloudy for you, then complete the number (of thirty).. [Muslim]

Actually to say the kids were having fun with making moon phases crafts but finally it ended up with this project (Islamic Calendar) 

The Hijri calendar which is based purely on lunar cycle, was first introduced in 638CE by companion of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم and the second Khalifa Umar ضى لله عنه

Umar ضى لله عنه consulted with his advisors from the companion and it was finally agreed that the most appropriate reference point for the Hijri calendar was Hijrah (the immigration of the Muslims from Mecca to Madina) the Hijri calendar therefore has much deeper religious and historical significances in the Muslims life.

It is indeed a unique occasion to ponder that the Islamic era did not start with the victories of Islamic wars nor with the birth or death of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم. But it starts with sacrifice and prepares the Muslims to do the same.

Muslims are obliged to use the Islamic calendar because all of the ruling needed time tracking are related to it. Many of the marital and spousal relationship rulings of the women are directly connected to the lunar months. Also to determine the beginning of Ramadan, 2 Eids, calculation of Zakah, Haj and it's relative worship, sunnah fasting, age etc..  

This is the lap book that was done by Big Sister, Alhamdulillah she enjoyed it a lot and learned many things.

Click here to see the video in larger view

Here Comes the moon phases crafts.

Big Sister's waxing moon phases
Little Princess's waning moon phases
Little Soldier's moon phases

This activity guide and template download link

May Allah make us among those who adhere to the command of Allah and follow the lifestyle of Rasulullah صلى الله عليه وسلم in all aspects of our life!