Sr Alif  blogs

Ramadan and Eid Songs or Nasheeds are always special. Here is one written by Sister Umfaheem Abdul-Jameel. A Jannahsteps original, not one…..but two!

DOWNLOAD HERE: New Moon Ramadan Song

If You See the New Moon!

(Sung to the tune of “If you’re happy and you know it”)

If you see the new moon, it’s Ramadan!

If you see the new moon, it’s Ramadan!

It’s the 9th month of the year

in Islamic Calendar!

If you see the new moon, it’s Ramadan!

This song can be used to teach other Islamic months as well!  Just change the month and the number of the month.

If you see the new moon, it’s  ____________!

If you see the new moon, it’s  ____________!

If you see the new moon, it’s  ____________!

It’s the ___th month of the year

in Islamic Calendar!

If you see the new moon, it’s  ____________!

DOWNLOAD HERE: Eid Day

Eid Day!

(Sung to the tune of B.I.N.G.O)

Today is the day to celebrate

For it’s the day of Eid!

Take a bubble bath!

Put on your best clothes!

Pray at the masjid!

Then have fun all day!  

Artsy Ummi blogs

Could not resist to make a Ramadan Craft to say the Dua for the Ramadan New Moon. Didn’t get a chance to take pictures yet….will post them when I do. But in the meantime….here are the instructions:

DOWNLOAD HERE: Moon Sighting Dua Craft 

1. Print and cut out the download, and paste it on the paper plate.

2. Color the sky dark blue. Color the star a light shade of yellow.

3. Outline glue on the moon.

4. Pour glitter on the glue area. Take the excess off.

5. Tie a ribbon on top, and hang it before Ramadan, so that the whole family can remember to say the Ramadan Moon Dua.

Busy Baby Mama blogs

I’m getting the jitters…Ramadan is right around the corner and am I prepared for it? For most sisters who have kids, and I mean even one can seem like you have a full house…the challenge during this Holy month is how to make delicious Suhoor/ Iftar and at the same time read the entire Quran. I would love to lounge on my living room carpet and indulge in my personal ibadaah, but then as usual that dreaded time comes when I HAVE TO COOK. Yes, instead of pulling out the Quran I have to take out the pots and pans, and begin my daily ibadaah of making Suhoor. I know I’m still getting blessings by making those parathas, french toasts, and hot cereal in little or no sleep…but I ask myself every year, will I have ‘time’ for my own worship?

Then I came across this website. Myhalalkitchen.com. These 2 posts from her site were a life saver! This inspired me to make  my own Ramadan Menu template and get organized in the kitchen so I can spend less time preparing food and more time preparing for my Akhirah. Inshallah! 

 Download here:  Ramadan Menu Calendar  Template. 

Busy Baby Mama  blogs

My heart went out to a child who was holding a 9 month old baby during the late night tarawih prayer last year. I asked about her mom, and the 10 year old Egyptian American girl responded with a smile and not a trace of detest, “She’s at work, and my dad needs to pray” I thought to myself this could be a wonderful time to bring children together while adults are praying and do craft activities, and have babysitting services so that someone like my little muslim worker can get a little break to enjoy her Ramadan. I always see youth escape after 8 rakahs, running around the mosque enjoying the Ramadan moon care free of their parent’s eagle eye.

It’s Allah’s mercy on some of them, that they grow to love the masjid and Islam even though there are no fancy activities for them!  However much I admire their courageous and carefree spirit, I still wish that there can be a children’s program during Tarawih prayer and give them a fun time filled with games and craft activities to make their Ramadan memorable and special.

This can be started by few concerned mothers (even fathers) who frequent the masjid. They just need one room in which they can bring some art supplies, games, craft materials, papers and even playdough. Mothers who have their “month break” could watch the children (as long as they are not in a musalla area), or some young teenagers as well. If they can afford to, add small playground sets inside. If everyone want to contribute financially to this, they can even hire a baby sitter to watch the kids. Bigger centers that have extra space away from the musalla can hire instructors to give lessons in karate or taekwondo. Don’t forget to have a schedule posted for volunteers and times that they can be available for extra help. I believe it would run pretty successful if there is even 2-3 people involved.

Please let us know if you were able to implement this or are already doing it, I’d love to hear from you about it!

Artsy Ummi blogs

Since our post on advent calendars received a lot of attention from the crafty Muslim moms who ask “Why BUY when you can DIY?” I thought of sharing some awesome handmade calendars. So if you’ve got the time, and you want to practice your art skills, why not make your own?

Here is a list of great Muslim Advent Calendar Crafts that my creative hands want to get messy with!! Bring out the glue, paint, and scrapbook papers. This is so inspirational! I hope to get to blog mine too one day! May Allah bless these creative sisters! (Click on the each image to take you to their respective blog)

Umm Proffessional blogs

My always-on-Islamic-web-browser-Muslimah sent me this link www.outstandingramadan.com. There is a great e-book you don’t want to miss out reading before you start your Ramadan. Here is an excerpt from this book “Recharge Your Faith: How To Make your Ramadan Outstanding”;

“A successful Ramadan is all about planning; you must have a clear vision of what you want to gain and specifically how you are going to achieve it. This is why, as you will soon see, the majority of this book focuses on the time leading up to Ramadan. Whether you are a working professional or a mother with children, you will find that simple strategic planning of your schedule before Ramadan will free up your time drastically for ibaadah (worship).” -Amirah Mauthoor

My friend shared with me how she used this idea to fix her office desk. Here’s what she had to say:  ”I  cleared my computer desk (which is where I spend most of my free time), and created office central where my phone, address book, and other essentials are easily visible on the table top. I created my own Ramadan Reminders Calendar  which is posted on the wall with some ramadan activities I can do everyday with my family.  It’s simple list of deeds that can be done with your family in 30 minutes or less.

I put Muhammad Al-Shareef’s “Ramadan Wheels Chart”, “TJ Ramadan Calendar Activities” , and “TJ It’s Ramadan” up on my  colorful Bulletin boards. Lastly I  printed a copy of Sister Amira’s wonderful E-Book right next to my planner. This hopefully will keep me in connection with my goals this Ramadan.  

Sr Alif blogs

Ramadan is a great time to introduce astronomy lessons into your child’s education and integrate these science concepts into the Holy Month. The Islamic concepts to focus on are:

• All Muslims follow the Lunar Calendar as the Islamic Calendar.
• There are 29 or 30 days  for each Lunar Month.
• Ramdan is the 9th Lunar Month.
• Muslims must start fasting when the New moon is sighted for Ramadan.
• Muslims must stop fasting when the new moon is sighted for Shawwal.

 

Buy a Telescope: You can buy a fairly good telescope for $30.00-$50.00 from any education stores such as Lakeshore Store or even toy stores such as Toys R Us. It’s a great educational tool to discuss the importance of  moonsighting and to observe the Islamic calendar. You can have your older children be in charge of sighting the moon and sharing their observations with the little ones in the family. 

Make a toy telescope: Have your child paint a paper towel roll, and decorate it with star stickers. Place a clear cellophane wrap  on one side of the opening and place it tight with a rubberband. Punch 2 holes on opposite sides, and tie a pipe clear , string, or ribbon from one end to the other. Voila! An instant telescope craft for your little ones. 

Record the Moon Sighting: Get your children to look through the telescope each evening or night and observe different lunar phases. Get them to draw what they see on a Moon Phase chart like the one below. Even young children can participate!

 DOWNLOAD MOON PHASE CHART: Moon Phases Chart

 Lunar Cycle  Lesson: This lesson is so simple, that anyone can do it. In class and at home. All you need is some aluminum foil, glue or clear tape, soccer ball, and a flashlight.

http://www.kidsgen.com/school_projects/moon_phases.htm

You can even make a poster with the phases. 

Visit your local Planetarium: Your child will never look at the sky the same way after seeing the simulated sky with narration of different constellations.  Here is a list of all the planetariums in the United States.

http://www.touristinformationdirectory.com/Planetarium/Science_Center_Observatory_planetariums_US.htm

Make a Moon Model: Use clay or paper mache to make a complete model of the moon with its craters and colors. 

Make Moon Phase Cookies: Even eating snacks can be a moon lesson with Oreos (and some milk).

http://tjramadan.talibiddeenjr.amanahwebs.com/05-recipes-ramadan-kids-ore-moon-phases.htm 

Umm Professional blogs

Every Ramadan, I found more and more Islamic Websites creating different Ramadan Advent Calendars. Some calendars have simple dates to check off each day. Others have pockets that allow the parents to place a daily Ramadan task or challenge for the child to complete. Once the task is completed, the child is rewarded with a prize or treat that can be neatly tucked into the pocket.  I featured some of my favorite ones to buy for my children and family. 

Barakah Life: Silk Ramadan Calendar

L-Iman : “Flower in Ramadan” Calendar  

A Ramadan calendar made with textile fabrics in an extraordinary design with pockets. Every calendar is unique and follows either a blue or a pink color theme. 

It might be a little pricey as people in the States will be paying in Euros and it costs 69.95, not including shipping! But if you have multiple kids you can hand it down….it might be well worth it! 

Umm Professional blogs

Assalamualaikum!

Alhumdulillah, we have been blessed with yet another month of Ramadan. Let’s take this opportunity to gain as many blessings as possible and use our time wisely to enjoy and hoard as much thawab as possible this month. Inshallah, it is also a great time to educate our children. Please visit our website daily as we plan to post something for you to do with your children each day. Inshallah.

Artsy Ummi blogs

We are so excited to hold our first ever art competition at Jannahsteps. We’ve even lined up some AMAZING prizes (we’ll tell you all about them in a second!)

Does your child have some artsy skills that you would like to share? Here’s a chance to feature your child’s masterpiece as well as win some prizes! Jannahsteps would like to foster our future youth to be creative  in Islamic perspective.

Theme: ”Islam is Peace”

How can you show that Islam represents Peace? Let’s get our kids to think about what represents and promotes peace in Islam.

What  ideas can we find in the Quran and Sunnah that promote peace? The Quran teaches us to be kind to others. It teaches us that it doesn’t matter what color our skin is; we are the creation of Allah. The rich give money and food to the poor so they don’t act greedy and share their blessings that Allah has given them. Muslims are instructed to take care of nature and their surroundings. Muhammad (peace be upon him) taught us to take care of our neighbors, no matter how bad they are. These are just some thoughts on how Islam promotes peace. Let your children think about how they can show to others that Islam is a beautiful religion that promotes love and mercy for all humankind.

Entry Requirements

1. 2-Dimensional forms: drawing, painting, calligraphy, collages, mix media. No photography, video, or computer graphic design this time. Size of the artwork can be decided by the artist. Multiple entries are allowed.

2. It must be done mostly by children themselves. Parents can brainstorm ideas with their child, but cannot actually do the artwork. If we feel that the parent did most of the work, then the artwork may be disqualified.

3.  Kids aged 4 to 11 can take part in this competition. 

4. Please email us the digital scan of your artwork at jannahsteps@gmail.com, by August 31st. include the name and age of the child. Also include your postal address. 

Want to hear about our AWESOME prizes?  

Winning Prizes

First Winner 

Artwork Will be Featured in the Noor Kids Book Series

One year subscription of Noor Kids Book Series

Second Place Winner

One year subscription of Noor Kids Book Series

Noor Kids T-Shirt

Third Place Winner

One year subscription of Noor Kids Book Series

Two Honorable Mentions

Noor Kids T-shirt

We apologize to our international participants, we only have shipping available for US and Canada residents. Inshallah, in the future, we might hold a competition that includes all the corners of the world.

The top five winning artwork will also be featured in our blog as downloadable Eid cards.

So get your kids busy by pulling out their arts and craft materials this summer vacation and be a part of this Islamic Art celebration!