Islam for Kids: Islamic Holidays

I was asked to add a page of songs and stories for Islamic Holidays to my son's homeschooling preschool group. This was much harder than I thought it would be. I wanted to keep everything as respectful as I could to the other faiths in the group.
The songs and stories I have compiled can be used for teaching both Muslim and non-Muslim children about Eid al Fitr, Eid al Adha, and Ramadan.

Islam follows a lunar calendar. The holidays fall on the same day on the Islamic calendar each year but changes by about 10 day each year from the Gregorian solar calendar.

Ramadan is the ninth month on the Islamic Calendar. This year, 2013, Ramadan starts after sunset on July 8th and ends after sunset on August 7th.
During the month of Ramadan healthy, sane, adult Muslims fast. Fasting means that they abstain from food and drink from dawn till dusk. 
Ramadan is a very special month because it is the month when the Qur'an was first revealed to Muhammad (saw).

Tippy Tippy Tiptar

Tippy Tippy Tiptar first day of iftar,

What do I take to the mosque?

A plate of rice and a pinch of spice,

That's what I took to the mosque

Tippy Tippy Tiptar, second day of iftar

What do I take to the mosque?

A bunch of dates, on a pretty plate

That's what I took to the mosque.

- Iftar is the meal after sunset that breaks ones fast.

- Mosque is a Muslim's place of worship

Here is a lovely song by Nancy Stewart called Ramadan. You can hear the song here.

Ramadan
by Nancy Stewart copyright 2001

I have a friend, his name is Omar
His family celebrates Ramadan
The ninth month of the lunar year
His family celebrates Ramadan

Chorus:
Ramadan, Ramadan
His family celebrates Ramadan

Every morning they get up
And have a big meal before the light
Then they don’t eat, and they don’t drink,
They fast until the dark of night
(chorus)

I have a friend, her name is Ameena
Her family celebrates Ramadan
We go to school together and play,
Ameena prays five times a day, during
(chorus)

On the first day of the month that follows Ramadan
Their families invite us to the feast that they
put on Celebrating
(chorus)

Ramadan Mubarak (have a blessed Ramadan) Ramadan

The end of Ramadan is celebrated on the first day of the Islamic month Shawwal. This year it falls on August 8, 2013. This is called Eid al Fitr. In Turkey it is called Seker Bayram or Sugar Holiday since it is customary to give out candy to the neighborhood children and eat baklava.

Clip Clip Clippity- Clippity Clop

Clip Clip Clippity- Clippity Clop,

Here comes mother with her brand new mop,

splish over here, splash over there,

Cleaning scrubbing everywhere

Dusting all the cobwebs, beating all the mats,

Arranging all the furniture, hanging all the hats

Mother dear, please tell me- who is coming here?

She said my son, don't you know? Eid-ul-Fitr's near!

The biggest holiday of them all is Eid al Adha. Eid al Adha falls on the 10th day of the Islamic month Zul-Hijja. It will fall on October 16th this year.

Eid al Adha translates to Festival of the Sacrifice. It commemorates the Qur'anic and Biblical story of Abraham and his son. A cow, sheep or goat is usually sacrificed. Half of the meat is given in charity and donated to the poor.

Eid al Adha also marks the end of the annual pilgrimage to Mecca.  This pilgrimage is called Hajj. 

Once in a Lifetime

Once in a lifetime I will go,

I will be a pilgrim, my faith will grow,

Round and round the Kaaba I will run,

And I won't mind the shining sun,

Off to Mina and then Arafat,

This is a plain so wide and flat

The Kaaba is a square stone building in the center of the Grand Mosque is Mecca.

 

During Hajj pilgrims perform different rituals following the steps of Abraham and his wife Hajar. One of the rituals is to drink water from the spring of Zam Zam. Here is a short story about how the spring of Zam Zam was formed to help Hajar during this time.

 

One day a long time ago a man named Abraham brought his wife Hajar and their son Ishmael into the desert. He left his wife and son with a canteen of water before leaving. This water eventually ran out. Hajar became very thirsty, and so did her son who started to cry. Hajar hated seeing him cry. She set forth looking for water. As-Safa being the mountain closest to her, she climbed it and looked down at the valley to see if she could find anyone to help her. She found no one and so she descended from the mountain until she reached the valley. Then she climbed Al-Marwah Mountain in keeping her search for water but to no avail. She went back to As-Safa then back again to Al-Marwah for many times. On her last arrival to Al-Marwah, she heard a voice. She called out: “Help, if you can”. There was an Angel whose name was Gabriel. The Angel hit the ground with his wing until fresh and pure water emerged. That became known as Zam zam water. Hajar gathered the water with her hands and collected it in her container while it was springing out.

Eid Mubarak

Eid Mubarak to you and you,

Eid Kareem for you and you,

Everyone's happy to share in the fun,

Everyone's happy that Eid has begun.

Eid Mubarak- Happy Eid

Eid Kareem- Holy Eid

All Rhymes are from the book Eid Songs by: Fawzia Gillani.

Eid Mubarak!!!

Saturday was the last day of Ramadan so Sunday we got to Par-Tay!!!  I hope you all had a wonderful and blessed Eid and I hope that all of our fasts were accepted. Inshallah.  Luckily Eid fell on a Sunday this year so my husband didn't have to worry about taking off from work or anything.  My husband went to the masjid for eid prayer in the morning and then we spent the rest of the day home. 
I made a big dinner with roasted chicken and potatoes which came out delicious.  We had stuffed grape leaves, salad, soup, rice.  I honestly can't remember all that I made.  For dessert I made kemal pasha.  I usually make baklava for Eid but I have been extra tired since my wisdom teeth are coming in and just didn't have the energy. 
I got BB a cute little wooden train set that he absolutely loves.  He walks around with his train going ch ch ch ch.  It is so cute.  Since our trip he is now obsessed with trains, planes and automobiles lol.  But seriously if he hears an airplane fly over us he stops and points to the sky. 
Unfortunately I didn't take any pictures of this Eid but I never get sick of seeing old ones.



Eid 2011

Next year I plan on going into Jamaica, Queens for Eid.  Eid Salat (prayer) there is unbelievable.  If you don't already follow HONY a.k.a. Humans of New York go do that.  The pictures are ah-mazing! Here is one of the pictures HONY took from this years Eid Salat in Queens.

This almost brings tears to my eyes.  A beautiful sea of humanity all bowing to our creator the One and Only God. 



 

Ramadan

This is the last week of Ramadan. Ramadan is a month on the Islamic lunar calendar. It is the month when the Holy Qur'an was first reveled to Prophet Muhammad (saw). During this month Muslims fast from dawn till dusk. This month provides the opportunity for great reward. Each good deed done by a fasting person its reward is multiplied ten times. Allah (swt) says in the Qur'an , ‘All the deeds of Adam's sons (people) are for them, except fasting which is for Me, and I will give the reward for it.'" During this month the time that was spent eating can be used for prayer.  Allah's Messenger (saw) said, "When the first night of Ramadan comes, the devils and the rebellious jinn are chained, the gates of Hell are locked and not one of them is opened; the gates of Paradise are opened and not one of them is locked; and a crier calls, 'You who desire what is good, come forward, and you who desire evil, refrain.' Some are freed from Hell by Allah, and that happens every night." (Tirmidhi).

Ramadan is my favorite time of year. It is a time of self reflection. The sense of community and brotherhood is increased. A billion Muslims are all doing this one act for our creator. It really is an amazing time. We fast for Allah, we fast so we can feel how the hungry feel everyday, we fast so our hearts can be soften and we can regain some humility.