Seerah for Kids: Lesson 6. The Prophet's First Jobs!

So today we will learn about Prophet Mohamed's first jobs. The prophet took his first job when he was only 10!

Think about what you can do to help your family, even if it is simple chores!

THE PROPHET HERDS SHEEP

Prophet Mohammad SAWS was now ten years old.

During this time, he told his uncle, Abu Talib, whose custody he was under, that he wanted to herd his sheep. This was because Prophet Mohamad saw that Abu Talib was struggling to make enough money to feed them all and he really wanted to help. At first, his uncle, who loved him wholeheartedly, did not consent. However, he eventually accepted due to Prophet’s (PBUH) persistence. 

Our Holy Prophet (PBUH) began to take the sheep and goats to the valleys and hills where they would graze during the morning.

In this way, he was able to help his uncle, even if it was in a very small way, to save money since it was no longer necessary to hire a shepherd.

The Prophet SAWS was now working very hard, taking the sheep out to the countryside. Being a shepherd and spending time in the countryside helped the prophet spend time in nature and get a chance to deeply contemplate on the existence of the ground and skies.
In the fields, he would watch the fields and think of Allah's creation. At the same time, being busy with work kept him away from all the bad things that were happening in the city of Makkah.

Later on the prophet SAWS would tell the sahabah that “There is no prophet who has not herded sheep.” 

One day, the Prophet SAWS told his companions

“Prophet Moses (AS) was sent as a prophet; he herded sheep. Prophet David (AS) was sent as a prophet; he herded sheep. I too was sent as a prophet and would herd my family’s sheep in Jiyad (a place that is at the bottom part of Mecca).” 

Why do you think that Prophet Mohamad SAWS and all the other prophets were responsible for herding sheep?
One of the reasons is that being out in the open countryside teaches people to think deeply and do tafakur, which is to think about Allah's creation and to try and understand the greatness of Allah.


Some activities that you could do after this lesson:

1. Watch this video about sheep! Why not learn some fun facts about them.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vK3KsFd2YnQ

2. Print out some sheep facts for your book and learn about them!

https://www.pinterest.com/cassie_osborne/farm-theme-activities-for-kids/

3. Learn about Tafakur.
I will post some ideas about how to start kids on tafakur but for now why not take one of Allah's creation and really think about it deeply!

4. Do some chores to help your family!
Look at how the Prophet SAWS was trying to be helpful to his uncle and family. Think of how you can help at home. What kind of chores can you contribute with.

Why don't you print out this chore chart and set yourself some tasks at home!
http://templatelab.com/chore-charts/#Chore_Chart_Templates 

Work Smarter Not Harder!

We've all heard it before, people saying you need to work smarter not harder. What they are really saying is that you should use your time wisely and more effectively. Sometimes you can do something in 5 minutes that may be worth hours of work.

What if I told you that Prophet Muhammed SAWS explained this very concept to Juwairiyah bint Al Harith, one of the mothers of the believers and taught her that she could earn a lot more hasanat by doing a lot less! Basically working smarter not harder!

This is what we discussed with the girls yesterday. Some people are smart about their ibada. We all live extremely hectic and busy lives and sometimes even when do have the time we're too tired to do much. This is why this thikr which we learned is amazing! You get so many hasanat and it doesn't take much time at all!

Juwairiyah bint Al-Harith (May Allah be pleased with her), the Mother of the Believers, reported:

The Prophet (ﷺ) came out from my apartment in the morning as I was busy in performing the dawn prayer. He came back in the forenoon and found me sitting there. The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Are you still in the same position as I left you." I replied that yes, I was. Thereupon the Prophet said, "I recited four words three times after I had left you. If these are to be weighed against all you have recited since morning, these will be heavier. 

These are: Subhan-Allahi wa bihamdihi, `adada khalqihi, wa rida nafsihi, wa zinatah `arshihi, wa midada kalimatihi 

[Allah is free from imperfection and I begin with His praise, as many times as the number of His creatures, in accordance with His Good Pleasure, equal to the weight of His Throne and equal to the ink that may be used in recording the words (for His Praise)]."

Ramadan! How will you get your kids excited?!

Ramadan is almost a week away, and we are feeling very excited!

How have you prepared for it at home and are your kids helping around in decorating the house and preparing their duaa lists?

I have exciting news for you! This Ramadan, we will follow 'Ameena's Ramadan Diary' A practical guide to getting the best out of fasting and Ramadan. We look at the different tips and advice that will help us get the most out of Ramadan InshAllah!

In the 'How to use this book' section, the author actually recommends that you start well before Ramadan (6 weeks before actually!) to help you prepare yourself spiritually and get into the right mindset. We only have a few days but better late than never, right!

So what are some things that the authors recommend you do to get prepared:

1. Start by writing all the positive things that went well for you last ramadan and also the areas that you could have improved on.
Remember that knowing your strengths and weaknesses is half the battle!

2. Based on point 1, set some ambitious but also achievable goals for yourself. How many times do you want to read the whole Quran? How much will you try and do dawa and involve family and friends?

3. Don't forget to keep saying:
اَللّهُمَّ بَلِّغْنَا رَمَضَان Allahumma Ballighna Ramadan Oh Allah, let us reach the month of Ramadaan

So what goals have you set for yourself and have your kids set for themselves? Please post in the comments below, you could be helping to inspire other people.

Duaa for others

I was reading a book for a course the other day called, ‘For the Good of the Earth and Sun’ by Georgia Heard, and on the first pages as all authors do, she acknowledges her thanks to all the people who helped her.
What struck me though was the way she did it, and it got me thinking about how I don’t do that enough! What is it that she does?

She says that every night as a child before going to bed, she would kneel down and in her prayers, she ‘made sure not to leave anyone out, so no one’s feelings would be hurt.’

I was deeply moved by her feelings and her love for others. I thought to myself, she does this out of love...but what about us? What about Muslims who know of the hadith of the Prophet Mohammed SAWS which says:

In Saheeh Muslim and Sunan Ibn Majah, it is narrated that the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa-sallam) said, 'The Dua of a person for his Muslim brother in his absence will be answered. At his head there is an angel, and every time he prays for him for something good, the angel who has been appointed to be with him, says, 'Ameen, may you have likewise.' (62)

By praying for others, we learn to empathise with them, grow our love for them, and always have them in our minds AND we also get rewarded by being granted the ijaba of duaa for ourselves and them.

A friend once told me that she splits her Rakaas by who she does duaa for. Her first Rakaa is for herself (it is Sunnah to start with yourself in duaa), the second Rakaa is for her parents, the third for her husband and children and so on..

Now that is something I have to remind myself everytime I do duaa: to remember as many other people as I can. Now don't forget me in your duaas too :)

Teaching Children about the Day of Judgement: The Changes in the Universe

One of the first things that we need to realize about the Day of Judgement is that there will be HUGE changes in the universe.

Things as we know them now will change. Allah tells us about all these changes in many of the surahs in Juz' Amma.
One of the first things that will happen is that the angel will blow the trumpet and this will be the sign for everyone to rise from their graves. This is the time when Allah brings back everyone to life after death.

One of the greatest proofs that Allah uses in the Quran for bringing us back to life is our creation in the first place. Allah tells us that if He was able to create us in the first place, then it will be even easier to bring us back to life on the Day of Judgement. We need to remember that our existence is from Allah and that we will be brought back to Him.

Let's look at some of these huge changes that will take place.

1. There will be a Huge Earthquake that will flatten the earth. The mountains, rivers, and valleys will all disappear. Only a complete flat earth will be left, which will be the 'Mahshar', the Place of Gathering.

2. The sun, moon and stars also will lose their light.

3. The planets will be scattered.

4. The wild animals will be gathered.

5. The seas will turn into fire.

6. The mountains will be crushed.

7. The Earth will throw out everything that was inside it.


How will this all start and what will happen next? We will look at this in the next post inshAllah.

How to Strengthen and Build Your Iman: Iman First Series

A few years ago I came across a book that had a huge impact on me. It is a book that is published in Arabic called 'Iman First, and how we should apply it'. The book takes you through the practical steps of applying Iman and growing it in your heart. There is no English translation (believe it or not!) and so I decided to create a series of posts summarising the main chapters of the book. I hope that it will be useful to you and will guide you in increasing Iman in yourself and in your children through practical steps.

Here is the introduction:

There is not a single Muslim who believes in Allah and the Hereafter that does not come across moments of regret at his state and is left overcome with feelings of fear at meeting Allah in his current state of forgetfulness and poor level of actions.

Many people wonder how they can achieve a spiritual link and connection with Allah whilst living amongst their spouses and children, continuously working and without having to isolate themselves from people and devote their entire lives for worship.

Yet before you begin to assume that achieving this balance between the needs of the body and soul is an impossible equation, we must remember that the companions' generation, the best generation of Muslims were able to achieve this balance.

Remembering the companions' generation will also help us to see that the general state of Muslims will not improve without the steps of improvement that were applied in the companions' era. If we examine the history of this unique generation, we find ourselves faced with several important observations:

1.    They did not fast or pray that much more than the generations that succeeded them. One of the earlier followers remarked: Abu Bakr did not attain his higher position with lots of fasting and prayer; he did so through something that moved in his heart.

2.    Nor did they isolate themselves for worship and neglect their lives and responsibilities in this world; they continued their lives in a natural manner, eating all that was permissible, and not forbidding anything upon themselves that was not forbidden by Allah. They continued to laugh and enjoy themselves were playful and loving toward their spouses and children, they bought and sold and traded; in other words, they were in total harmony with their human nature.

 They were physically living amongst others, yet maintained their spiritual relationship with Allah…So how were they elevated to this level?

 The education of companions began by filling their hearts with a connection to Allah. We find that forbidding of intoxicants did not take place except in Madina, nor was fasting ordained before the second year of Hijra. Likewise, the five prayers did not become a duty before the journey of the Israa and Mi'raj. Night prayer however was ordained in the beginning of the call to Islam and this necessitates a stop since its early ordainment contained much hardship, as Allah states:

{O you enwrapped in your garments!- Stand in prayer at night, but not all the night- Half thereof or lessen a little- Or add to it a little, and recite the Qur'an with distinct recitation} [The Enwrapped: 1-4].

So why did night prayer come before the rest of the duties?

Allah says, {Truly the rising by night is the most potent for controlling the soul and most suitable for humbling in prayer and purifying the soul in remembrance of God} [The Enwrapped: 6].

 It is through the night prayer-whilst most people are asleep- reciting the Qur'an and observing its verses, the long stand, bowing and prostration that all barriers that surround the heart can be removed, and the blocked pathways between the person and Allah opened, thus establishing the needed link, closeness and association with Allah.

 If these hearts become close to Allah and the link created, then change can easily follow with the least effort.

Someone may remark that we all agree that an upbringing or education based on faith should precede others, yet we do not know the practical steps that we should take to help us establish that link with Allah.

 This book is therefore an attempt to show the outlines needed in such an upbringing and more specifically those factors essential for the awakening of the heart, and reviving its link with Allah.

InshAllah over the next few posts, I will summarise those practical steps one by one.

Teaching Children About the Day of Judgement

One of the most things that all parents would love to build in their kids is iman. And generally with kids, it is usually very important to focus on the building love/closeness to Allah part of building Iman (Targheeb).

But I also think, and even with kids there has to be an element of instilling 'fear' of doing something wrong and also fear of upsetting Allah (Tarheeb). This is why Allah says:

O Prophet, indeed We have sent you as a witness (Shahid) and a bringer of good tidings (Basheer) and a warner (Nazeer). [Al-Ahzab 33:45-46].

InshAllah, we will start the series on the book 'Iman first' which discusses the practical steps of building Iman where the author explains that one of the first steps in awakening the heart and reviving its link with Allah is to establish 'fear of Allah in the heart'. Have a quick peek at the series intro here:
https://themuslimchild.blogspot.com/2020/04/how-to-strengthen-and-build-your-iman.html

There are many things involved in doing this but one of the main aspects is building and strengthening the belief in the 'Day of Judgement'.

That is why many verses combine belief in Allah with belief in the Day of Judgement so that we can remember that there will be a day that we will be accountable for our actions.
That is why the 30th Juz' of the Quran where many surahs where revealed in the first years of Islam talks about the Day of Judgement and the scary things that will happen on that Day.

So inshAllah, my intention is to start teaching my kids about the main elements of the Day of Judgement as mentioned in the Quran and Sunnah. As we know belief in the Day of Judgement is a pillar of Iman and also means that you become one of those who believe in 'alghaib.'

So inshAllah the intention here is to increase your kids' Iman but you have to use your judgement about how much/little your kids can handle at each stage.

So what are the main topics to be covered in the belief of the Day of Judgement.

1. Death and the important things that people will be asked about.

2. The changes in the universe that will happen on the Day of Judgement.

3. The Prophet SAWS's role on the Day.

4. The Sirat

5. The Mizan

6. Descriptions of Al Jannah

7. Descriptions of al Nar.