Hijra Windows 1439: Medina

These are the window elements that represent the Prophet’s (s) arrival in Medina.  This is part of our Hijra Windows Series to celebrate the Muslim New Year.  Please see Hijra Windows 1439: The Cave as well.

I made a template for a seated camel to represent Qaswa, the camel of the Prophet (s) who sat before the house of Abu Ayyub (r) in Medina.

I made a template for palm decorations to represent the palm branches that the people of Medina used to greet the Prophet (s).

Please share your ideas for celebrating he Muslim New Year with children.

Visiting the Ark of Nuh

An ideal activity with children for the Ashura holiday is a visit to a petting zoo if possible to give the children a tangible experience with animals.  We visited a local farm.

The bunny encounter was very special because the boys were allowed to hold the animal.

I do not think I have ever seen a mama chicken with her chicks in person before now.

The boys were excited to see a peacock.

Please share your ideas for celebrating the Ashura holiday with children.

Hijra Windows 1439: The Cave

Our main window for Hijra this year features the spider that  covered the cave to protect the Prophet (s).  This is part of our Hijra Windows Series for celebrating the Muslim New Year.

We have also included the rock dove and nest.

We have included the saffron colored snake that bit Abu Bakr (r).

I made the template myself and used a hole punch to make the eyes before stringing the snake onto a ribbon.

If you would like to read more about the Hijra story to your children there are two chapters in The Light of Muhammad by Hajjah Amina Adil please see chapters 17. The Hijra and 18. The Entry into Medina.

Please share you ideas for celebrating the Muslim New Year with children.

Hijra Windows 1439

For our New Years celebration this year we chose to add to our narrative garlands from last year with more dramatic elements.

We chose to showcase the elements of the Cave of Hira in the Sira of the Prophet (s).

We also featured some elements of the Prophet’s (s) arrival in Medina.

In the next few days we will post more details on the individual elements of the decorations.  If you would like to read about the Hijra story in the sira of he Prophet (s) there are two chapters in The Light of Muhammad by Hajjah Amina Adil beginning with 17. The Hijra and ending with 18. The Entry into Medina.

Please share your ideas for celebrating the Muslim New Year with children.

Flood of Nuh Garlands

This year we added a garland to our Ashura decorations featuring the flood waves from the story of Prophet Nuh (a).

If you would like to read more about Prophet Nuh (a) to your children there is a chapter about him in My Little Lore of Light by Hajjah Amina Adil.  This story is also part of our Illuminated Quran Curriculum at this link: 71. Illuminated Quran: Nuh.

First we made medallions for each wave in graduating darkness before the waters subside for Ashura in the final piece.

We glued pieces of colored paper in layers to represent the waves.

Then we strung the pieces together to represent the profession and end of the flood for Ashura.

Please share your ideas for celebrating Ashura with children.

New Year

For the Islamic New Year we reviewed the story of the Hijrah.

We made garlands with episodes from the text.

The garland follows the Prophet’s (s) journey from Mecca to Medina.

Materials: ribbon, watercolour paper, watercolour pencils, watercolour paint, The Light of the Prophet (s) book

The spider in the cave:

The web over the cave:

The rock dove that made its nest in front of the cave:

The yellow snake that waited hundreds of years in the cave to see the Prophet (s):

The palms that the people of Medina waved to greet the Prophet (s):

The camel of the Prophet (s) who sat down before the house of Abu Ayub:

Ashura Garlands and Activities

Last year our Ashura celebration included these activities:

• Drumming Concert
• Decorating with story garlands
• Ashura pudding cooking class

We are really hoping to have a drumming class next year to prepare for the holiday.

These garlands illustrate the story of prophet Nuh (as).
Materials: Watercolour paper, watercolour paint, ribbon

  Our ingredients for Ashura pudding.

Ashura Windows

This year we added some new elements to our Ashura windows.

We created a cloud element to the windows for the flood of Nuh (a).  I made this template and used it to make a mobile.

This is the completed window with all the elements for this year’s display.

I made a rain drop template and strung them on ribbon for the mobile.

Please share your ideas for Ashura decorating with children.

Al Mutaali: 78 The One Beyond Creation

This is the seventy eighth part of our series on the 99 Names of Allah (s) for children.
Please see Physicians of the Heart: A Sufi View of the Ninety-Nine Names of Allah for more information about each name in this project if you would like to know more.

Lesson plan:

Present the lesson bellow and discuss one or some of the suggested questions.

Assist the students with ideas for the artwork for this name or ask them to make their own interpretation of the medallion provided here:

Lesson for Al Mutaali: 78 The One Beyond Creation

The name Mutaali can mean the elevating journey or beyond the beyond.  For this medallion we chose to depict the Sidratul Muntaha or the farthest point.  The recitation of this name can be an antidote to being stuck on the path.

Suggested discussion questions:

What is the farthest place you have ever traveled from your home?

Have you ever been delayed or stuck on a journey?

What were some of the things that the Prophet (s) on his Night Journey after he passed the Sidratul Muntaha?

 

 

Display:

We suggest you choose a space that can accommodate all the 99 Names or to fix the names to a fold out accordion book in sequence if you do not have an appropriate space available.

Please share your ideas for teaching children about the 99 Names of Allah (s).

Al Wali: 77 The Protecting Friend

This is the seventy seventh part of our series on the 99 Names of Allah (s) for children.
Please see Physicians of the Heart: A Sufi View of the Ninety-Nine Names of Allah for more information about each name in this project if you would like to know more.

Lesson plan:

Present the lesson bellow and discuss one or some of the suggested questions.

Assist the students with ideas for the artwork for this name or ask them to make their own interpretation of the medallion provided here:

Lesson for Al Wali: The Protecting Friend

The name Wali can mean to lie down next to someone and offer protection.  The recitation of this name helps to heal from wounds from not being protected from the powerful.  For this medallion we chose to depict and artifact of an Ottoman shield.

 

Suggested discussion questions:

Have you ever protected someone who is more vulnerable than you?

Has someone ever protected you?

Why is it important to protect people who cannot protect themselves?

 

 

Display:

We suggest you choose a space that can accommodate all the 99 Names or to fix the names to a fold out accordion book in sequence if you do not have an appropriate space available.

Please share your ideas for teaching children about the 99 Names of Allah (s).