Battles of the Prophet Seerah workbooks *REVISITED*

Assalamu alaykum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh.

It is by the mercy of Allah that – with just a handful of hours before the beginning of Ramadan 1439 – I give you the new and improved version of the workbook “Battles of the Prophet” in not one but 2 different formats. Alhamdulillah.

I put it together the first draft in 2015, specifically for my eldest son who hated writing (the past may not be the most appropriate tense choice but, yeah…). All I did was to tidy it up, correct those mistake that I found and consolidate it into one single PDF document. I also used the same material from the original workbook to make a workbook in a format suitable for children for whom writing is not like having their blood drained. So we have:

Battles of the Prophet SEERAH WORKBOOK – ORIGINAL: The end of the book consists of all the answer pages. Almost all answers – except those requiring 3 or fewer words – are to be cut from the answer sheets and glued into the relevant chapter of the workbook.

Battles of the Prophet SEERAH WORKBOOK – REVISITED: this would be my choice and I actually decided to change the original with my 7 year old in mind (he doesn’t mind writing tabarakallah). Each chapter starts off with a brief text narrating the event, from which the student is to gather the information required to complete the activities in the rest of the chapter, insha’Allah.

No time for inside pictures, sorry, there 5 hours left before Ramadan and I still have tons of prep ahead of me insha’Allah.

Please forgive me for any errors that might still be lurking there and may Allah allow this humble effort of mine to benefit myself and others. May Allah grant us to reach Ramadan and take full benefit from it and carry it through the rest of our lives. Ameen!

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Ramadan Family Journal: 30 days of prompts

Assalamo ‘alaykum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh.

Another Ramadan is fast approaching and I ask Allah to let us all live to see it through in His obedience and to let us benefit greatly from it.

The concept of a Ramadan family journal has been a rather shapeless idea of mine for a while. Ramadan is such a special time – despite the relative hardship that comes with it – that we cannot help having a special drawer of our memory full of “what we read that Ramadan” or “what we ate that Ramadan” and “… remember when you used to fast only until lunchtime?” All the memories related to our journey as slaves of Allah; the kids *and* the parents! All that Ramadan learning.

I mentioned the idea of a Ramadan scrapbook to some sisters, worrying it would be too open and slightly daunting; then my friend – and home educator extraordinaire (Allahumma baarik) – Umm Saphia suggested putting together a set of prompts that could help structure the activity. Some friends have helped with prompt suggestions, may Allah bless them.

Why is it called a “family” journal? because – I don’t know you – but this Ummi is totally taking part in sha’ Allah!

Below you will be able to download 30 journaling prompts for Ramadan, either as a list or in a chart (in case you want to make them in small cards, to be hidden in small envelopes, to surprise small people!). We will work on loose papers and then collect everything in a clear display book, which will accommodate (and in sha’ Allah keep in one place!) all the bits and bobs that my younger ones may want to include (dandelion heads from the garden anyone? I expect about 75 of them).

So… get your gel pens out! dig out your secret sticker stash! let the washi tape roll! And – in sha’ Allah – let us capture the benefits and the memories this Ramadan.

DOWNLOAD 30 Days of Prompts – Ramadan Family journal as a LIST

DOWNLOAD 30 Days of Prompts – Ramadan Family journal as a CHART

WORKBOOK COVER & INTRO – 30Days with the Names of Allah

Assalamo ‘alaykum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh.

PLEASE NOTE, I removed all links to the old version of this notebook.

See www.salamhomeschooling.com for the new FREE version of the workbook and a SECOND one about the Names of Allah (both COMING SOON insha’Allah)

I perfect Umm Yusef’s style, the cover and introduction to the workbook come at the end!

Alhamdulillah.

Please, do NOT skip the introduction: the correct understanding of the Names and Attributes of Allah is vital to sound belief and so many in have gone astray because of deviant understandings of this topic…(may Allah protect us fro that). The following is a super simplified 1 page version of the guidelines on the correct way to understand the Names and Attributes of Allah according to the methodology of the salaf, alhamdulillah. I couldn’t make it any simpler. Alhamdulillah.

 

I ask Allah to keep my intentions pure and for this little effort of mine to benefit my family and yours.

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PART 4 – Ramadaan: 30 days with the Names of Allah

Assalamo ‘alaykum.

PLEASE NOTE, I removed all links to the old version of this notebook.

See www.salamhomeschooling.com for the new FREE version of the workbook and a SECOND one about the Names of Allah (both COMING SOON insha’Allah)

Please find below the last instalment of the Names of Allah workbook I will be doing this coming Ramadaan with my children, insha’Allah.

May Allah purify my intention and help my family and yours benefit from this little effort. Ameen.

PART 3 – Ramadaan: 30 days with the Names of Allah

Assalamo ‘alaykum.

PLEASE NOTE, I removed all links to the old version of this notebook.

See www.salamhomeschooling.com for the new FREE version of the workbook and a SECOND one about the Names of Allah (both COMING SOON insha’Allah)

 

Following my recent posts on the Names of Allah Workbook I am putting together for my kids for the upcoming Ramadaan insha’Allah, here is the pages for week 3.

May Allah purify my intention and help my family and yours benefit from this little effort. Ameen.

 

PART 2 – Ramadaan: 30 days with the Names of Allah

Assalamo ‘alaykum

PLEASE NOTE, I removed all links to the old version of this notebook.

See www.salamhomeschooling.com for the new FREE version of the workbook and a SECOND one about the Names of Allah (both COMING SOON insha’Allah)

 

Following my previous post on the Names of Allah Workbook I am putting together for my kids for the upcoming Ramadaan insha’Allah, here is the pages for week 2. Alhamdulillah.

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Ramadaan: 30 days with the Names of Allah

Assalamo ‘alaykum.

Please note that the links to the old version of this notebook have been taken down. I have re-written it with new material and in a better format.

I also added a SECOND WORKBOOK on the Names of Allah.

Both of them will be FREE to download SOON (insha’Allah!) from my new blog www.salamhomeschooling.com 

 

In an attempt not to let it creep up on us, I started thinking about Ramadaan. As usual, I plan for it to be our yearly break from formal homeschooling insha’Allah, but with some sort of Islamic activity for the boys.

Masha’Allah, I have a 9 year old who loves learning (but hates writing) and a 5 year old who cannot sit down for more than 3 minutes at a time but would be terribly offended if I didn’t plan something for him to do too…. so I thought: meaningful & simple.

I am working on a little workbook on the Names of Allah, something that both boys can do to their level, insha’Allah. They will be given a page each day (in the usual Ramadaan mailbox, they don’t want to let go of it!).

My sources are:

• The Beautiful Names of Allah (derived from the explanation of al-Qawaid al-Muthla by Shaykh Uthaymeen raheemahullah) – this is a children’s book taken from this one below:
• Exemplary Principle concerning the beautiful Names and Attributes of Allah (Shaykh Uthaymeen – raheemahullah – everybody should read this masha’Allah)
• The Knowing Allah website, endorsed by shaykh Hasan al-Banna hafeedhahullah.

Each page focuses on one of the Names of Allah (I chose 30 of those I found easier to understand and explain) and will include:

• The Name of Allah in Arabic with some Arabic writing practice
• The short translation of the meaning of the Name
• An absolutely minimal explanation of the Name.
• An exercise to find the shaahid (proof) of it being a Name of Allah in the relative ayah of the Qur’an (which they will be required to copy out in English translation too).
• A small space for reflection on how to implement belief in that Name of Allah in their life.
• Title, banner, and little things that can be coloured if the child is in the mood to do colouring (but not so much that it looks incomplete if left in black & white!)

No frills, as usual. Because I can’t and I don’t have time to learn right now .

Here is what it will look like:

Alhamdulillah, I am posting a week’s worth of pages to stop myself making further changes or additions and spending more time than needed in putting this together (insha’Allah!). Click on the links for the PDF files insha’Allah. Don’t forget me in your du’a.

 

 

Fasting is a shield – a Ramadan chart

Assalamo ‘alaykum.

There wasn’t a pressing need for a Ramadan chart. There is lots of them around. However, my boys are into a bit of a castles/knights/medieval weaponry kind of phase. We are planning to design our own coats of arms tomorrow insha’Allah. I thought I could take advantage of this interest of theirs to tie in this very important and beautiful concept regarding the fast; I made a little chart with shield shapes for the child to colour one in (or fill it with a pattern) everytime he/she completes a fast, insha’Allah.

Fasting is a shield CHART

May Allah grant us all a beneficial, peaceful and thankful month of fasting. May our fasting shield us from sin and from the Fire. Ameen.

Tafseer notebook – Juz’1

Assalamo ‘alaykum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh.

When I thought of the Bitesize Tafseer of Surah al-Baqarah activity, I thought I would print out pages of the mushaf and stick them on a A4 notebook. Then I realised it would be a lot of sticking and a very fat notebook. It would be better to have the mushaf page printed in the corner of the notebook page.

I very simply put together these pages. It’s not very neat and crisp I’m afraid, but it will do the job insha’Allah. I did not find a ready made notebook online or a hard copy I could buy from somewhere for this part of the Qur’an (for other sections, like juz’ ‘Amma, you can download a Juz’ ‘Amma workbook from A Muslim Homeschool or buy a hard copy here for juz’ 30 and 29, masha’Allah). If someone out there knows where I can buy one for Juz’1, please let me know insha’Allah! So here it is:

Tafseer notebook – Juz’1

I ask Allah He makes it of benefit for my children and myself and whoever else uses it. Ameen.

 

…and what is Ummi going to do this Ramadan?

Assalamo ‘alaykum.

Us mothers, we tend to be very concerned with our children’s education and development into strong and sincere Muslims – and rightfully so. But do we give at least the same amount of thought and care to our own growth, strenght and sincerity?

This post is NOT about me. I am not going to sit there and expose my shortcomings. It is about people in a situation similar to mine: Muslim women that are at a stage in their life in which they are (intensively and extensively) caring for others.

Let’s take a hypothetical sister which we will call Umm ‘Abdullah. She is feeling somewhat apprehensive  at the thought of Ramadan approaching. That could be due to a low point in her Imaan, to the fact that she knows one should do so much more in Ramadan but the reality is that she doesn’t do much even outside of it.  Not much there to build on.  She might also feel overwhelmed by her committments and poorly equipped to make her Islamic education a priority in her life.

Wouldn’t it be great if we also had someone staying up late in the evening to prepare us a Ramadan calendar with daily treats? Maybe some Ramadan themed party games and a treasure hunt? or a month long “craft-athon”???? … maybe. But Allah has put us in charge of ourselves (among all the other people we care for). Each of us will not have to respond to Allah about little ‘Abdullah as much as she will have to respond about herself.

So, basically – and by Allah’s leave – it is down to us to take action to benefit ourselves.

Let’s ask for guidance: Allah is All Able to sort out the universe and everything in it so He can most certainly help us up on our feet and beyond. We must remember to ask.

Let’s take a look at ourselves: Right now. Not the way we used to be and do things before having kids, nor the way we envisage life when they will have all grown and moved out. Now. What do we need to learn about the most? In which area are we most deficient?

Let’s consider our individual skills and inclinations: What comes easy and what do we enjoy learning that can bring us closer to our Creator? What is the most efficient way for us to increase our knowledge of Him, ou love for His Prophet (salla Allahu ‘alayhi wa sallam), our connection to His Qur’an…

Let’s take into account committments and time constraints: We must be realistic and flexible and don’t set goals that are to high and/or strictly connected to Ramadan. Leaving our husbands and kids to have to find their own dinner on a regular basis while we study all day is not a good idea. At the same time,  thinking that the children/babies/husband/work/mum/dad/chores/you name it make it impossible to take a little time to study something beneficial is simply not true.

I think a small and steady start is a beautiful thing. For example:

• Choose a book to study or a set of lectures to listen to (plenty of very beneficial lessons on salafisounds, masha’Allah). Take notes. Draw mind-maps. Even better: pair up with a friend! you don’t have to meet up  necessarily (which could be difficult to keep up) but you can quiz each other, exchange notes and just share the benefits that each has found, as well as ideas to apply them to our life. Do what it takes for you to actually learn what is in the book/lecture.
• Pick 4 ahadeeth (40 Nawawee is a great place to start) and memorise one each week of Ramadan, as well as studying the explanation. List benefits. List ways in which the hadeeth does (or should) impact on your life.
• Attend Umm Mujaahid’s FREE daily class for sisters on WizIQ (to be notified about the course, create a Wiz IQ account and add Taalib Al-Ilm in your contacts); it is based on the book Fasting from Alif to Yaa, or just go through the book on your own or with your friends.
• Dust off your Arabic books for the sake of Allah. Maybe conjugate a verb a day. Make flashcards. Use Memrise! It is such a wonderful tool for learning vocabulary and you get to use your competitive side to the advantage of learning (there is a score chart)! By the mercy of Allah, the Memrise course Arabic Through The Quran (based on the Alan Jones book) changed my relationship with the Qur’an because all of th Qur’anic vocabulary I learned. Alhamdulillah.
• Try to speak Arabic. Maybe read a children’s book in Arabic everyday to your kids. Even the same one. Everyday.
• Pick up your copy of Thalaathatul Usool or another core classical work. One of those things you never read enough, masha’Allah. Read the Arabic text and colour every word you understand. Try to memorise it. Learn the explanation. Teach it to your kids.

In fact, share any of the above things with your kids. Delivering what we have learned to others is one of the steps in consolidating that knowledge. Tell your husband/parents/siblings/friends what you have learned.

This is of course NOT meant to be an exhaustive list. Just a few ideas off the top of my head. Things that appeal to me personally.

Insha’Allah, let’s do something. Let’s take a step and may Allah grant us to please Him.

Of course, if anyone also wants to prepare a Ramadan calendar with a daily treat for me…. I like my chocolate dark. Barak Allahu feekum.