Busy baby Mama blogs

You know this year is super mad busy. Kids going back to school, and many to do list that just can’t seem to get down. The last thing I’m thinking about is an Eid Party. But how can I not? One thing I realized about our Muslim children is that they are exposed to birthday parties that are so attractive that it’s important to celebrate our holiday just as special if not more to make it a memorable and an extra special event.

I came up with a to do list.

1. Make invitation cards and give them out at your next Iftar in the masjid. DOWNLOAD HERE: eid invite-1. You can also request each child to bring a gift for another child (no more than $5- $10). So each child will go home with a gift. Also let them know that the gift should be non gender related. This will make gift exchange hassle free.

2. To make decorations you can print this download (DOWNLOAD THIS: eid mubarak party bag labels ) on color paper and paste them on centerpieces. Add balloons around the rooms, and tissue chains. You can choose a color theme like green and white. Make a big poster sign that says Eid Muabrak. Kids can easily make this for you in a jiify.

3. To make a goody bag, print downloads and paste them on goody bags. The content can be healthy treats. I found Annie’s gummy rabbits packs and chocolate chip granola, a nicer alternative to candies. Also Dollar Tree has some nice party favors and school supplies that you can walk away with a lot for $10.00. Party City’s might have some sale items that you can get for 10 cents -25 cents per party favor.

4. Decorate a home made or ready made cake with “Eid Mubarak”. Add moon and stars if you like. you can draw a mosque, palm trees, little muslims…your imagination is the limit! This image is from brilliantcakes.com

5. Nasheed that you can have on while the kids enjoy playing.

6.  Game Ideas:

Arabic Alphabet Hunt -children will have to find all 28 Alphabet letters which are hidden around the house. You can put write the letters on an index card . Have them placed randomely around the house or room. When they find them, they  bring them back to get a small treat. As they find them they put them in order and they all get a prize.

Eid Clothes Game- This is for 2 players or two teams. Each team will get a small bookbag or suit case placed across the room. They must race to the bag, gab a bag, and put on the clothes and race back to their starting point. The team that finishes first wins. 

Tubs of Ilm Water game : Look at this link.

Islamic Pictionary: Make 2 teams. Play this game like the regular Pictionary. Each team member in both groups  must draw a picture of something from the Quran or Quran-related until their team members figure it out and shout the answer.

Musical Chairs with Nasheed: Play the same game except use Islamic songs.

7. End of the Party finale!

Gift Exchange-Have them decorate a brown shopping bag, and attach ribbons as handle. Place all the gifts they brought in one garbage bag that can not be seen. Each child can dip their hands inside without looking. They immediately put this in the gift bag. Instruct them not to open it until they get home if you like.

Make a Palm Tree Pinata out of  brown shopping bag and green paper palm tree leaves. It’s takes 10 minutes to make, and anyway it takes less than that to break…

End it with Surprise balloon toss! One teacher at Hamza Academy, Zahra Biler, had secretly blown up 20-25 balloons, put them on a bed sheet,  and thrown them in the room at the end of the party.  Yell “EID  MUBRAAK!”  before tossing them, which will naturally signal the kids to go chasing after the loose balloons. Soon as they grab one, you might want to write their names on them.

After such a fun and exciting event, send them home with their goody bags, gift bags, and their balloons. Insh-Allah, they will be begging for next year Eid Party.

Sr Alif blogs

We are so excited to interview Rania Shalaby, a mother of 3 who loves to be a part of her children’s education. She is a teacher for LA Public School for over 12 years. She has amazing ideas on educating her children’s non Muslim friends and teachers about her deen especially during the Eid season. Here she gives us ideas on how to involve your child’s teachers and classmates in the celebration of Eid.

“When my oldest child started Kindergarten, I started looking for ways to bring in our Islamic heritage into her school. For my daughter’s birthday, I donated the book My First Ramadan by Karen Katz to her class.

During the winter holiday season, I donated Eid decorations and crafts for the classroom. My daughter’s teacher was totally on board. Typically, schools celebrate the winter holidays (ie Christmas, Hannukah, Kwanzaa) with a holiday performance of some kind. That year, the school’s performance was the Nutcracker, so I couldn’t exactly request an Eid song to be included. They were however decorating the school auditorium with wrapped gifts. So I went on www.silverenvelope.com and ordered Eid wrapping paper and wrapped as many empty boxes that I could find. I don’t know if anyone in the audience noticed but my daughter and I were sure proud of ourselves.”

When my daughter was in 1st grade. I wrote up something describing Eid Al-Adha to the teacher and donated pencils inscribed with “HAPPY EID! EID MUBARAK” that I ordered from www.orientaltrading.com to be passed out to the students. This is the letter I wrote to the teacher….

Dear Teacher,
This weekend our family celebrated Eid Ul-Adha. It is not a very well known holiday but it is one of two holidays Muslims celebrate each year around the world. We follow a lunar calendar so our holidays fall on different dates each year. Our family usually goes to prayers early in the morning then gets together with family and friends where children usually receive gifts or money.
During this holiday season, there are usually discussions in the classroom about different family traditions and students usually learn different holiday songs and/or do holiday crafts. There are 4 Muslim families that I know of in 1st grade this year, 3 of whom are in our class. I would greatly appreciate it if some effort is made to include our traditions in your holiday discussions.
I put an Eid song on a CD and have included the lyrics. I also have a picture book that discusses this Eid. Please use them if you’d like.
Thank You.

This is the link for the Eid song I gave her. The picture book I gave her was 4-3-2-1 Eid ul-adha is so much fun! by Amira Gadd and Mariam Saada.

I realized later that I should have requested to go in myself to the class to discuss the holiday because I found out from my daughter that she didn’t do much other than read the book and pass out the pencils. But again, my daughter felt proud and that was enough for me. During the school holiday performance that year, I listened to Christmas songs in English and Spanish, Hanukkah songs, Kwanzaa songs, and even a Hawaiian Christmas song. I must tell you that I can count the school’s African American and Hawaiian population all on one hand. So, I felt very underrepresented and vowed to take a bigger stand the next year.

When my daughter got to 2nd grade, I had enough courage to plainly request that an Eid song be a part of their holiday performance. This time I got smart, and got 3 other families to sign the letter with me. Here is what we wrote:

Dear 2nd Grade Teachers;

We would like to let you know of an important holiday coming up in Mid-November: Eid Ul-Adha. It is not a very well known holiday but it is one of two holidays Muslims celebrate each year around the world. We follow a lunar calendar so our holidays fall on different dates each year.
During this holiday season, there are usually discussions in the classroom about different family traditions and students usually learn different holiday songs and/or do holiday crafts. We are 4 Muslim families currently in your classes this year. We would greatly appreciate it if some effort is made to include our traditions in your holiday discussions. We would be delighted if you choose an Eid song to include in your holiday program. Here is a link where you can listen to a very easy Eid song and we have attached the music sheet for it. We also have a picture book that discusses this Eid if you wish to borrow it. http://www.nancymusic.com/Eidplay.htm
Thank You.

One of the 2nd grade teachers, the best teacher in the world in my eyes, responded to our letter and said that 2nd grade will sing this song as part of their winter performance. Here is a youtube of their performance…

This same wonderful teacher also told us that they will be doing a holiday rotation, where the 2nd grade students visit 4 different classrooms and learn about 4 different holidays: Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and Eid. We were so delighted. Here is what was planned for the 30 glorious minutes:
The room was decorated with some Eid decorations I found online.The teacher did her own research and created a short powerpoint.She read aloud the book My First Ramadan. Ahead of time, we had baked and decorated star and crescent shaped cookies for the students to enjoy. Students were given a hand cutout and brown markers and they colored in designs similar to henna. And as a goodie bag, students received a couple of dates and a pencil inscribed with “HAPPY EID! EID MUBARAK!”
It was such a great day. The best part is that my daughter now feels that Eid is on the same footing as Christmas and Hanukkah. Alhamdulilah!
I can’t wait to see what I’ll get the courage to ask for in 3rd grade!”

Sister Reminder blogs

Just got this email written by Asma bint Shameem, and I thought I should share! 

What if I tell you that I know a way that will ensure that all your prayers are answered, that none of your Du’aas will be rejected and anything that you ask for will be granted? Wouldn’t you like to know what that way is? Wouldn’t you jump at the chance to avail that? But…..what is that way? How can we achieve all this and more?

The answer to that, brothers and sisters, isn’t anything secret or hidden. The answer has been there for ages. Actually, it’s been there for the last 1400 years… We just didn’t look hard enough. We just didn’t pay much attention to it. It is what Allaah Subhaanahu wa Ta’ala has promised His slaves every single day….every time he sits down to break his fast.

 The answer lies in the hadeeth of the Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alayhi wa Sallam) when he said:

“Indeed the fasting person has at the time of breaking the fast a supplication, which is not rejected.” (lbn Majah, Saheeh)

And he (Sal Allaahu Alayhi wa Sallam) also said:

“Three prayers are not rejected: the prayer of a father (parent), the prayer of a fasting person, and the prayer of a traveler.” (al-Baihaqi, Saheeh)

In another hadeeth, he (Sal Allaahu Alayhi wa Sallam) said:

“There are in the month of Ramadhaan in every day and night those to whom Allah grants freedom from the Fire, and there is for every Muslim a supplication which he can make and will be granted.” [Ahmad, Saheeh]

So Allah answers the Du`aa of the fasting person at iftaar time.

But, alas, most of us are either unaware of this great blessing of Allaah or are too busy thinking about food at this time. Some of us are frying ‘samosas’ till the last minute, setting the table and preparing ‘hot’ food. Some are too busy talking, arguing about the exact time to break the fast, or watching television (may Allah protect us), reading the newspaper and some are even sleeping until after the Maghrib adhaan has been called! And some are busy filling up their plates even before the time to break the fast has entered!

Subhaan Allaah! Allaah is promising us that He will answer our prayers and we are too busy to respond?!!

What a waste of a golden opportunity….a chance of a lifetime to have your supplications accepted!

What is the matter with us? Is food really the most important thing….the ultimate goal of our lives?!! Is it food that Ramadhaan is all about?!!

Why do we not take full advantage of this great gift of Allah? Don’t you see?! Here is your chance to earn Jannah!

Now is the time to ask for forgiveness…for EVERYTHING you have EVER done….And He will forgive you.

Ask Him for guidance for you and your family and He will guide you. 
Ask Him to solve all your problems, and He will find a solution for you.
Ask Him for this Dunyaa and He will grant it to you. And the Aakhirah….He will suffice you.

Shaykh ibn ‘Uthaymeen said:

“Du’aa’ should be made before iftaar (breaking the fast), at Maghrib, because this combines weakness and humility, and because he is still fasting. All of these are means of having one’s du’aa’ answered.”

It is said that the intelligent is the one who takes advantage of the situation. So don’t let this great opportunity pass you by. Know that Allah listens to the fasting person’s supplication and answers it. So finish all your work and preparations 5 minutes before Iftaar time. Teach this to your kids and your families and encourage them to do the same. Don’t let the Dunyaa distract you. Sit down peacefully, clear your mind of all thoughts, bow your head and raise those hands. Go ahead and make use of this precious…. precious time when you are breaking your fast to ask Allah for all those things that would make your life easy in this world and in the Hereafter. 
And do it with full faith and confidence that Allaah will surely respond.

Why wouldn’t He?? He said so and so He will.

May Allaah accept all of our Ibaadah and all our supplications and grant us Jannah.

Ameen.

Sister Reminder blogs

It is reported that “The Prophet (pbuh) was naturally the most generous of people and he used to be more generous than ever in the month of Ramadan” (Sahih Bukhari)

Ramadan can not be a month of fasting without the month of giving. Just as salah and zakah go hand in hand, so does this holy month with charity. Here are some interesting Ramadan charity ideas that can easily be done as a family or as a masjid community. And….don’t just stop after Ramadan! After this month it can continue on as a long term project, and a life long endeavor.

Make a Family Sadaqa Jar 

A friend of mine gave me a wonderful idea about making a family Sadaqa jar which can be made from an empty plastic jar. It’s good to be able to see the jar, so your child can see the money piling up. Every time they want to run to get an ice cream truck, or get a pizza, or want to buy something from the store-tell them to decide if they want to buy the item or place that money to the sadaqa box. Majority of the time they may opt to give instead. Every time they receive money from relatives, a portion of it can go to the  box. Before the end of Ramadan, you can have them open it up and count to see how much money can be raised by just collecting nickels and dimes! They can donate it to their favorite charity organization.

Fundraise for a Cause

A wonderful homeschool mom from Brooklyn sent us her idea to raise $ for the African Horn Famine. Jezak-Allah for the your idea! “My son did a great activity and raised over $160 dollars (through his relatives at iftarr) for the people of Somolia and Ethiopia (29,000 kids have already died this month from the famine!) We are going to send the money through Islamic Relief.

Just take a Ragu bottle (any bottle will do) and take tissue paper of all sizes- mix some elmers glue with water to paint all those tissues papers on. Then write a letter of appeal together. I wrote it and he held the crayon with me. Last, cut out strips of paper and write thank you. this is the person donating ticket they get as like  a receipt for their donation.
Masha’Allah its amazing how much those cute little faces can raise when they ask for money heh!”

Adopt an Orphan

This website Orphans in Need provide you with one to one connection with the orphan around the world. Only about $50.00 a month, you can provide an orphan clean water, shelter, nutritious food, medical attention, and education. They guarentee your contribution will be used on the child 100%, and not go to the overhead expense.

This organization provides information about your child you sponsored, and you receive a monthly report about the child’s progression. You will also have opportunity to communicate directly by sending letters and gifts, as well as visitation rights.

They are also building an ‘eco-freindly’ orphan village outside Delhi, India which will accommodate hundreds of children who would normally live in slums that exist in and around the major urban areas of  India.

Clean the Masjid

You don’t always have to give money… instead, give your time. I saw one high school MSA group that came together and cleaned the masjid before Jumma. This was a great help for the older gentleman working there who usually cleans the entire masjid himself before the Friday prayer!

Create an Eid Toy Drive in Your Local Community Masjid. Set a date for an Eid Toy Drive Give Away. I would do it a few days or even weeks before Eid to lessen the burden. Hand out flyers to masjids, Muslim businesses, and even in local non-Muslim supermarkets.  Then send out emails, facebook, and twitter your event to get your friends interested in donating new toys. You can remind them that it can be considered part of  their Sadaqatul -Fitr. And the needy kids will actually get gifts before Eid!

You can also support the National Eid Toy Drive and buy from http://muslimtoysanddolls.com/. For every $20.oo you buy from the store site, they give one toy and two gifts for parents of impoverished children in the US. It is wrapped and it comes with an Eid Card. The company’s goal is to give 2000  toys this year. For more information you can call 866-390-1559.

Sister Reminder blogs

There was a boy who came into my Islamic class very grumpy  one morning during the early days of Ramadan. I asked him if everything was Ok. He said, “No!” ” What happened? ” I asked. He said with detest, “My dad won’t let me fast because he said I’m too young.” Another student piped up and said,”Well you’re already 7 years old. You’re old enough!” He retorted,”That’s what I told him!” I had to chuckle to see the zeal in these children that Allah(SWT) gave them the love of fasting at such an early age.  It also is the spirit of good Islamic parenting that encourages children to fast when their families and friends are fasting too.

Here are some baby steps of fasting to encourage the children who are not yet of age, but can start practicing the Ramdan rituals:

1.  Create a Fasting Chart. Children can help color in the graph through out the Holy month.  They can use- Red for not fasting, Orange for fasting 2 hours, Blue for fasting half a day, and Green for fasting all day. Download the simple template here: Ramadan fasting chart. If you prefer a cut and paste chart already in color, then here’s the download. And here’s another one. 

2. Let them choose their Sahoor and Iftar Menu Daily: They can help write a simple dish on the Daily Sahoor and Iftar Planner.For example Sahoor: Oatmeal, Iftar: Macaroni and Cheese. Download here: ramadan menu of the day

3. Set a goal every day. Discuss with your child how long they will fast. It can be for one hour if you see that your child is restless. Or half a day if your child is very interested. Set the goal according to what is easy for them. The point is for them to feel a sense of hunger just for them to understand what “fasting” means. Do not exceed a point that the child is so uncomfortable that he begins disliking to do the act. You can always start with shorter hours, and everyday increase it. 

4. Let the child eat Sahoor later. If the child is not able to get up for Sahoor at Fajr, leave him to eat later. Let the child know that he can do this only because he is still practicing, and eventually he can practice waking up before Fajr.

5. Keep them occupied. Let them be busy with some play, toys, or games. Their fast will seem easier when they are busy and have something to do. Buy them special toys for Ramadan that you can surprise them with.

6. Be with other kids who are fasting. Have playdates with other kids and moms that are fasting. Just getting together and watching Islamic videos, playing board games, and just enjoying each others company can make the time pass more quickly and easily.

7. Remember those who have not. Most American children have never experienced poverty. The pangs of pain is a good reminder about the suffering of children in war stricken countries or countries with natural disasters. Especially during this time, discuss the African Horn Famine going on now in Ethiopia and Somalia and how over 24000 children died of hunger in this month alone. Reading children books and videos that remind our youth to care for orphans and the poor may also spring out charity ideas and projects. Visit http://islamicrelief.com/ to see pictures and donate.

8. Have some quiet time with the Quran. Let children spend time reading Quran or Hadith. If they are young, this can be a good time to rest and listen to some beautiful Qirat! 

9.  Make their favorite Iftar Sweets that they can break their fast with. Even if the child broke his fast earlier. Let the breaking of the fast at Maghrib be a special time to eat their home made treat. They can participate in making this as well. My children love making jello with strawberries!

10. Rewards! Rewards! Rewards! Have a treasurebox full of Ramadan sweets and prizes. Small prizes for a couple of hours fast while the big prizes for half to a full day. Go to Party City and Dollar Tree to fill your treasure box. You can make the treasure box  out of shoe box covered with contact paper and letter foams or just keep a huge gift bag to hold the prizes for them to dig in! 

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.  

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!