0 Eid 1441 (2020)

Alhamdulillah, we’re almost at the end of Ramadan. May the Almighty accept our deeds.

Each year is different, each Eid is different, different experiences, emotions, and memories, by His will.

When the kids were younger, it was all about colorful Eid banners, collage art, and cards.

This year, as we are in COVID-crisis, it’s going to be a unique experience, no family-gatherings, visits, handshakes and hugs… which we took for granted.

So, we prepared some lovely envelopes to be sent out to our little nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends In Shaa Allah.

Pretty girls' envelopes 

Smart boys' envelopes  

Wish you all a Happy Eid!

May Allah grant us safety, and allow this hovering cloud to move over and restore normality and ease, and let us come out of this trial closer to our Creator and more refined humans. Ameen!

0 Quarantine into Qur'antime

Quarantine into Qur'antime

Assalamu Aleikum Lovely Sisters!

Let us make our Quarantine into Qur'an-time. A very good opportunity to prepare ourselves for The Month of The Qur'an, which is ahead of us.

Dear moms, it's a time to invest in an everlasting investment which Allah has gifted us with, out of his mercy, our children.

Spend more time with the Qur'an;

• Pay attention to recitation with proper Tajweed
• Build the connection and love of Qur'an, as love is the basis of every action.

Begin simple and small;

• Begin with Surah al-Fatiha, which we repeat in our Salah, the Surah of guidance, cure and supplication.
• We cannot connect to Him except through what He has revealed.
• Read together the virtues of the blessed Book (explain and discuss with kids)

Every minute spent with the Qur'an is indeed a light for every step of our life.

As the Hadith states that The People of Qur'an, are Ahlullah people of Allah.

Allah Ta'ala says Whoever the Qur'an & my remembrance preoccupies him from beseeching Me, I give him the best of what the beseechers are given._ Abu Sa'eed al-khudri Radi Allahu 'anhu (Sahih Muslim)

The rewards are plenty, spend time, learn, practice, and enjoy the beauty of this Book, the spring of the heart.

May Allah keep us and our progeny connected to the Qur'an forever!

Umm Abdullah.

0 Healthy Eating Workshop

 

And in yourselves. Then will you not see?

O mankind, eat from whatever is on earth [that is] lawful and good and do not follow the footsteps of Satan. Indeed, he is to you a clear enemy. [2:168]

O you who have believed, eat from the good things which We have provided for you and be grateful to Allah if it is [indeed] Him that you worship. [2:172]

[Allah said], "O messengers, eat from the good foods and work righteousness. Indeed, I, of what you do, am Knowing. [23:51]

Alhamdulillah, I'm so glad that we were able to do this workshop. Because when it comes to food many don’t have a basic understanding of the difference between halaal and Thayyib.

This was something we were working on as our science lessons, but Alhamdulillah it was destined to be far more than that.

This was the beginning of our project.

Most of all eating and drinking is not realized to be a command by the Creator. As the religion is considered to be only at times of worship.

Also, they are told to avoid eating refined flour, sugar, junk etc.… but again its not said why and what are the effects they have on our system.

Furthermore, the ingenious system of digestion and how it works is also not thought, so that we can be grateful to Him and preserve the system by sustaining it in the way guided by the Creator and paying attention to the Prophetic ways of eating.

Some pics from the event.

We had a sale afterwards.

Jazakumullahu Khairan to all our participants and all those who worked together to make this happen.

Our special thanks to our dear chief guest Asma Ali Khan, and her mom for taking their time and accepting our invitation.

And congratulations to our quiz winners (senior session- Umm Hathim) and (junior session Ruqaiyah Shakeel.)

Some of the recordings from our workshop below: 

0 Nothing but Love by Zeneefa Zaneer (Book Review)

Love, it’s a word that keeps you moving through your life. But sometimes making you crazy. Being mindful of the Creator and seeking his guidance to act wisely at times of trials in our love is indeed a gift which is given to someone who is gifted.

Baraka (blessing), this is a really a suitable name to be given to this dazzling beauty (the main character) for the jewel of qualities she possesses in her life (forgiving, forbearing, a pure innocent heart, well-wishing for others, striving for the good of others despite her own sufferings.)

Understanding a human with a whole perspective is so important when it comes to establishing the foundation of a sacred family unit.

What captivated me was how Baraka deals with Amash’s behavior, wisely and kindly with a broad understanding of his past and considering the future, though she herself is in an emotional roller-coaster.

Something I would like to highlight here is, when it come to boys, they are mostly unable to verbalize the emotions running within themselves unlike girls are, which in return turns into aggressiveness and stubbornness along with all the fluctuating hormones. More preference should be given to the emotional well-being of a child than it’s given to college degrees. Because the expected outcome from a high education cannot be enjoyed or produced by a person when he is emotionally unstable. (May Allah protect us)

It’s the responsibility of every parent or guardian to pay to attention to their emotions carefully with an understanding attitude. The unattended emotional traumas have a major outcome in their growth as well as the future which is a serious matter to be concerned, as he is the one going to be the head of the family and has to deal with the emotions of the growing youths who are going to come out of him.

Being aggressive or trying to avoid family tasks and gatherings is a matter to be concerned and taken into consideration at the beginning of the course.

Being a supportive wife is far more different than being a life-coach for the soulmate. It is not an easy task like the heroic Baraka was. It demands tons of patience and forbearance and another ton must be added when non-understanding in-laws are involved :) 

When it comes to marriage union it’s a give and take process.

From beginning to end the feminine qualities of this damsel is something magical, which can mold and melt the heart of an arrogant and stubborn man into a family man.

The gem packed qualities of Baraka are something that should be possessed by every woman sincerely for the sake of Almighty, that’s when the unrevealed doors of help open up to balm and comfort the broken soul.

The ending of the novel is fantastic with carefully measured ingredients of a wonderful marriage recipe (by author Zeneefa Zaneer). Here are a few lines, you can bake the stuff if you get the whole recipe from the book :)

Take two empty hearts
Glue them with a halal knot
Fill them with a few cups of trust
Throw in some slices of interest
Pour a pint of care
And a barrel of laughter…

Hope you continue with your amazing master-pieces Zeneefa!

O the Most Loving, it’s with your love that we are able to love each other for your sake, because anything done for other than you is lost!

1 Salah

 

And enjoin prayer upon your family [and people] and be steadfast therein. We ask you not for provision; We provide for you, and the [best] outcome is for [those of] righteousness. (20: 132)

The Prophet  صلى الله عليه وسلم said: 

مُرُوا أَوْلاَدَكُمْ بِالصَّلاَةِ وَهُمْ أَبْنَاءُ سَبْعِ سِنِينَ وَاضْرِبُوهُمْ عَلَيْهَا وَهُمْ أَبْنَاءُ عَشْرِ سِنِينَ وَفَرِّقُوا بَيْنَهُمْ فِي الْمَضَاجِعِ

“Order your children to be punctual in Salah when they attain the age of seven years, and when they attain the age of ten years hit them for abandoning Salah and provide them with separate beds” [Abu Dawud]

A day of celebration! My youngest just turned 7 and started Salah.

Subhanallah! Such an amazing moment to see a child standing in front of Allah تعالى.

Indeed, Salah is a gift that was given by the Almighty to our beloved Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم after a huge tragedy in his life, the loss of 2 close ones who were his pillars of support, physically and emotionally (His beloved uncle Abu Thalib and dear wife Khadeeja رضى الله عنها).

Subhanallah, we fail to understand the beauty and the true essence of Salah.

Umar رضى الله عنه said while standing on a pulpit, “A man might have white hair in Islam (i.e. he reaches old age while Muslim), yet he has not completed even one Salah for Allah the Exalted! He was asked why that is, and he answered, “He does not perfect the prayer’s required Khushu.” [Al Ihya]

In fact, Salah is the tool for us to navigate through the challenges of life, may it be of happiness or immense sadness.

As Ibn Al-Qayyim رحمه الله says “Sadness departs with a sajdah. Happiness comes with a sincere Du’a.”

May Allah تعالى make us among those who perform their Salah with all its due requirements and accept it out of His mercy!

 

Here are some worksheets we did from TJ Homeschooling

A mini book on sutra

Some of the books we used

 A lovely handmade journal from Abi

And a little note from me to make her understand how special this day is…

Also, would like to share this wonderful book of Salah, very useful.

Finally, the amazing course my older ones are doing on the Vocabulary and Linguistic Beauty of Salah by Shaykh AbdulNasir Jangda, Meaningful Prayer really, a mind-blowing session and brings a lively feeling in our Salah, Subhanallah.

Now comes the beautiful video that my elder two did ;)

Worth celebrating this day to instill the love of Salah in the hearts of little ones, so that they remember how valuable and important act of worship it is.

This opens the mind in learning more about Salah and getting to know the beauty of it until our last breath escapes from the lips whilst engaged in this divine act of worship.

My Lord make me an establisher of prayer, and [many] from my descendants. Our Lord, and accept my supplication. (14:40)

0 New Grade - Muharram 1441

Alhamdulillah, we have been blessed with another year by the grace of Allah. Another year, another opportunity to invest for our eternal life.

The beautiful journey of home educating is something I love deeply and it’s a part of my life. Learning is something that happens every day, every hour, every minute, and every second.

Each occasion and situation molds you and makes you who you are. What is important is that everything taking place in life should connect us to our Lord, the Almighty. Every stage in our life is unique and teaches us something.

As parents we have a role to play in each stage of our child’s life, from birth to death. This journey begins with excitement, frustration, crafts and fun. Then comes the time of concentrated studies, different interests and different involvements.

This wonderful journey that once began with toddlers and babies are now with a teenager and kids, Masha Allah.

All what I learn through this is, just the way we seek knowledge, it’s also important to seek deepening, wisdom and connection.

May Allah the Almighty accept all our deeds done for his sake, and grant us and our progeny eternal success in both worlds, Ameen!   

The Lovely journal cover Kintsugi Jar by artist Martin Howard

Kintsugi (金継ぎ?, きんつぎ, "golden joinery"), also known as Kintsukuroi (金繕い?, きんつくろい, "golden repair"), is the Japanese art of repairing broken pottery with lacquer dusted or mixed with powdered gold, silver, or platinum, a method similar to the maki-e technique. As a philosophy, it treats breakage and repair as part of the history of an object, rather than something to disguise.

0 A Letter to Abdullah Ibn Abbas رضي الله عنهما

Reading aloud has been an enjoyable part of our family for many years, Alhamdulillah.

This is an amazing and refreshing moment to begin our day by uplifting ourselves together as a family. It brings out the stories of pious predecessors to enlighten our dead hearts to ponder over their heroic achievements in both worlds, SubhanAllah!

There is nothing more valuable that we can give our kids than instilling the love of the Creator and his beloved Prophet صلی الله عليه وسلم and the companions رضي الله عنهم who preserved and passed the truth from generation to generation.

Reading to them molds and cultivates the truth in their pure hearts. I feel that every family should enjoy their own reading sessions to lighten up their hearts with the truth. 

This is a letter from my 6-year-old to Abdullah Ibn Abbas رضي الله عنهما that she wrote after we read out the book “Child Companions Around the Prophet صلی الله عليه وسلم”

Ibn Abbas’s رضي الله عنه story has captured her heart and she wanted to tell him how glad she was to know about him.

Finally, she said to me, “Ummi I’ll take it with me when I die. So, I can give it to him when I meet him in Jannah.” As she was about to finish writing she was asking me, “Ummi, how will he understand it because he knows only Arabic?”  I told her InshaAllah we will be able to speak Arabic in Jannah.

May Allah keep us among the righteous company in this world and the next! Ameen.

0 Readers are Leaders

Alhamdulillah, back again with the grace of Allah تعالی  with a project of our Little Sister on reading.

As we know, the early revelation revealed to our beloved prophet  صلى الله عليه وسلم was to read.

Subhanallah, reading to kids and they reading to me [circle time], pondering over the real stories of the prophets, companions, heroes and everlasting after life is a thrilling moment in my life. It is something that connects our minds to the event, era and scene of the story.

Reading is something that rekindles the dead heart and empowers our spirit. However, the pleasure and fueling of the soul comes only if the child is meeting the requirements of a good reader.

I would like to quote some of the characteristics a reader needs, to enjoy his reading, according to the National Institute of Literacy:

• Fluency: being able to read quickly and accurately. Fluent readers recognize words automatically. They are able to group words quickly to help them get the meaning of what they read. When fluent readers read aloud, they read smoothly and with expression. Their reading sounds natural, like speech…

• Vocabulary and knowledge of the world: vocabulary is the name for words we must know in order to listen, speak, read and write effectively. Time and again researchers have found strong connection between the size of children’s vocabularies, how well they comprehend what they read, and how well they do in school…  Children learn vocabulary in two ways: indirectly, by hearing and seeing words as they listen, talk, and read directly by parents and teachers teaching them the meaning of certain words. Vocabulary and knowledge of the world are, of course, very closely tied together. Children who know something about the world are much better able to understand what they read about in school.

• Comprehension: comprehension means getting meaning from what we read. It is the heart of reading. If children can sound out the words but do not understand what they are reading, they are not really reading.

Making children connected to books from a tender age is a great way to make them learn and get to know many things easier and quicker.

By the way, here are some shots of the project.

The book we used for the project

Getting to know the parts of a book

 

A mini booklet on how to handle a book

 

  

 The chapter she chose for the comprehension work was “pain and hope”

 

May Allah make us among those who read and practice the truth!

1 Tikiri Baba by Yasodhara Pathanjali (Book Review)

The book “ටිකිරි බබා” (Tikira Baba) is so interesting in its context and art. The colorful art of nature along with the sweet dream of the story takes a child into an exotic world.

Indeed, a beautiful work of color and thoughts really connects the mind of a child to the beautiful creation around them. 

My 5 year old really enjoys it and as she could not understand Sinhala, she wanted me to translate it into English several times, as she loved it so much and enjoys the beauty of art while I translate it to her.

Of course, it is a wonderful work of combining both, the colorful creation of God, and the fascinating thoughts of little children together.
 

Keep up with the Job sister Yasodhara!!!

Find her homeschool page @ Wildberries Go Exploring