Education of Children in Ramadan

Reprinted from Ummah.com

Children (who have not reached puberty) are not commanded to fast. However, their parents or guardians are strongly recommended to encourage them to fast a few days so that they get used to it and they grow up knowing of the worship of fasting as they would know that of praying. In fact this was the practice of the first women of Islam who were living around the Prophet, salla Allahu alaihi wa sallam. An example of that is Ar-Rubayya' bint Mu'awiyyah who reported that:

"The Messenger of Allah sent a man on the morning of the day of 'Ashurah, to the residences of the Ansar, saying: 'Whoever has spent the morning fasting is to complete his fast. Whoever has not spent this morning fasting should voluntarily fast for the remainder of the day.' We fasted after that announcement, as did our young children. We would go to the mosque and make toys stuffed with cotton for them to play with. If one of them started crying due to hunger, we would give him a toy to play with until it was time to eat." [al-Bukhari and Muslim.]

Dear brothers and sisters, remember that among the seven that Allah will shade under His shade on the Day of Judgement is a young man who grew up in the worship of Allah. Therefore let your children be one of these.

There are many ways to educate your children about Ramadan. The best and most important way is to set the good example by fasting properly and behaving according to the Prophetic teachings. This is what your children will take from you first. When you are fulfilling this you can very easily teach them what you want, and they will accept it and practise it easilly as well. Here are few tips that you can use with your children. No doubt you can think of others as well:

• Depending on their age encourage them to fast a number of days upto every other day or more for those who are almost at the age of puberty. For those who are still young let them fast a day or two and praise them in front of friends and relatives for their achivement.
  
• Let your children go with their father to the Masjid for Maghrib prayer and break the fast with the larger Muslim community to make them feel the greatness of fasting and the unity of Muslims in worshipping Allah.
  
• If your children cannot fast let them eat with you at the time of Maghrib and teach them that you are breaking the fast even if they ate before.
  
• Teach your children the supplication of breaking the fast.
  
• Take your children to the Taraweeh prayer so that they get used to it and know about it from their early age. They may sit or stay in the back of the prayer room if they get tired.
  
• Teach them to give charity. Do it in front of them and tell them you are doing it because the reward increases in Ramadan.
  
• Teach them to recite Qur'an regularly and inform them that the Prophet (S) used to do that in Ramadan.
  
• Correct them if they behave wrongly or say unaccaptable words and remind them that they are fasting or they are in Ramadan and this may alter their reward.
  
• Wake them up for Suhoor (even if they don't fast) and Fajr prayer.
  
• Teach them to feed the fasting people for iftaar, and tell them about the reward for that.
  
• Dress them in the best clothes, give them baths and take them with you to the Eid Prayer. Teach them that this is our feast and celebration and that Christmas, Easter, Thanksgiving and other holidays are not ours. Stress the distinction.

And remember that the Prophet salla allahu alaihi wa sallam said:

"For one who is given the responsibility of the bringing up of daughters and treats them well, they will be a shield for him from Hell." (Bukhari and Muslim)

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