New Year’s Day is the most universal time of the year to turn a new chapter, which is likely why many people make new goals and establish new routines. The New Year is an excellent time for Muslim families to ponder their spiritual journey and set goals to improve their relationship with Allah. Parents can teach younger and older children Islamic values and habits that will be implemented daily.
Here are five areas Muslim families can set goals to increase their faith in the New Year.
1. Gain more knowledge about Islam.
Muslim children need to gain more knowledge about Islam because it builds their faith. It helps them understand the reasons for their daily Islamic practices like praying, fasting, and charity, deepening their connection to Allah, and having trust in His guidance. When younger children understand the reasons for their Islamic beliefs and practices, they will be more motivated to practice their Islamic faith daily.
Abu Huraira reported that the Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, said:
“Whoever takes a path upon which to obtain knowledge, Allah makes the path to Paradise easy for him.”
(Jami` at-Tirmidhi, 2646)
Parents can teach younger children the fundamentals of Islam. For example, younger children learn about Allah, the five pillars of Islam, the six pillars of iman, the basic topics of halal and haraam, and duas. When younger children learn about the Islamic fundamentals, they will gain a better understanding of the more complex topics within Islam when they get older.
Sound Vision has developed top-notch resources for Muslim children that can assist in this area:
Adam's World Academy - featuring Adam’s World Club and Colors of Islam Club online children’s classes (next session starts in January), numerous single course offerings on topics that explore Islamic guidance and values in a creative and fun way. Popular titles include Knowing Allah through His Creation, Muslim Inventions that Changed the World, Celebrating Diverse Cultures, and more.
Adam's World - Sound Vision’s legacy project featuring the infamous Adam and Aneesah puppets is still going strong. Hundreds of classic and new videos and beautiful nasheed are available on a convenient app that kids can safely access 24/7. Sign up today for a FREE subscription.
Parents can assign more Islamic work to their older children. First, they can assign older children weekly research topics and the older children will write a summarized paragraph to tell their parents what they learned at the end of the week. Second, parents and older children can study the tafsir of shorter surahs together. Parents can teach their older children the importance of wudu (ablution), salat, fasting, and maintaining modesty. They will bond as a family and gain a deeper understanding of the interpretation of their faith.
Parents can also encourage them to attend weekly halaqas, a religious gathering to study Islam or the Quran. They will meet other Muslims and learn more about Islam through different teachers.
2. Enhance a relationship with the Quran
Parents who want to protect their children and succeed in this world and the Hereafter are encouraged to read the Quran as a family. It will help motivate each family member while remembering Allah’s words within the Quran. Also, reading the Quran together is a beautiful opportunity to connect with family members.
Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, said:
“Whoever recites a letter from the book of Allah, will have a (Hasana) and a (Hasana) is rewarded tenfold like it. I don’t say Alif-Lam-Meem a letter, but Alif is a letter, Lam is a letter and Meem is a letter.”
(Hasan Al-Tirmidhi)
It’s important for Muslims to memorize surahs because it strengthens their connection to the Quran and helps them remember Allah’s teachings. In addition, memorizing surahs instills discipline, enhances spiritual growth, and enables them to be recited in the five daily prayers, bringing them closer to Allah.
Narrated Aisha, may Allah be pleased with her, reported that the Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, said:
“Such a person as recites the Quran and masters it by heart will be with the noble righteous scribes (in Heaven). And such a person exerts himself to learn the Quran by heart, and recites it with great difficulty, will have a double reward.”
Muslim families can plan realistic goals for every family member to learn new surahs weekly. Parents are encouraged to spend time reading the Quran with their younger and older children. For example, a Muslim family can assign a particular surah for each family member, and by the end of the week, the younger and older children can recite in front of the family members and get feedback on the recitation.
Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, said:
“The best amongst you is the one who learns the Quran and teaches it”
(Sahih Al Bukhari)
In addition, if parents notice that their older or younger children are struggling to read the Quran, then they can remind this hadith to their children:
“He who reads the Quran while it’s hard on him will have double the reward.”
(Sahih Muslim)
This is a positive message to share with their children to encourage them to read the rest of the Quran. It’s viewed as a path to gain closeness to Allah and obtain salvation in the afterlife.
3. Establish prayers as a family priority.
The Quran states:
"Observe the ˹five obligatory˺ prayers—especially the middle prayer—and stand in true devotion to Allah."
(Surah Al-Baqarah, 2:238)
Indeed, establishing the five daily prayers is an important pillar of our faith. In a family, praying salat together has many benefits. Family members can encourage one another to pray on time. It would be helpful to have a reminder like a digital athan clock or to download an adthan app on a computer. Children of all ages should be encouraged to join and respect the time for prayer. Remind them that our Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, was asked:
“‘Which deed is the best?' So he said: 'Salat in the beginning of its time.'"
(Jami` at-Tirmidhi 170)
It’s important for young and older children to track daily prayers because it helps them develop consistency and discipline in their worship. By tracking their prayers, children can reflect on their spiritual growth and stay motivated to maintain their relationship with Allah.
The first strategy that parents can use is a tracking system to record completed salah for young and older children. Keeping track of these details motivates children to stay consistent with a visual record of their progress.
When a younger child regularly prays the five daily prayers, parents can apply extrinsic motivation. Some examples are giving prizes such as toys, sweets, or purchasing a new outfit to stimulate the habit of performing salat regularly. Other examples include spending more time watching TV, playing video games, visiting the mall, or giving some money. When an older child receives a reward, one will feel content about the prize. However, they will develop an understanding that performing the five daily prayers isn’t for winning a prize, rather it is to help them learn that Allah is the ultimate reward for good deeds.
It is beneficial for children to join their parents in praying at the local masjid because it exposes them to an Islamic environment and fosters the significance of congregational prayer. Parents and older children attending the masjid regularly instills discipline, increases their comprehension of Islamic practices, and develops spiritual growth and guidance.
4. Connect to the local masjid.
Muslim children should be encouraged to attend a local masjid because it helps strengthen their connection to Allah and develop a sense of Islamic community. Attending a masjid will teach the significance of prayer and worship to Allah while encouraging discipline and good habits. Moreover, the local masjid provides opportunities for children to make Muslim friends and learn from different scholars, enhancing their spiritual growth and understanding.
Abu Hurairah, may Allah be pleased with him, reported that Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, said,
"He who goes to the mosque in the morning or in the evening, Allah prepares for him a place in Jannah whenever he goes to the mosque in the morning and returns from it in the evening.”
(Sahih Al-Bukhari and Muslim)
The Muslim family can set a goal to attend Jummah together or participate in masjid events. When older children notice that their parents are attending jummah, they will be encouraged to join jummah with them.
Also, Muslim parents are encouraged to bring younger and older children to participate in masjid events. Last, Muslim parents can discuss and record reflections on the khutbahs (lectures) or lessons learned at the masjid with their older children to increase clarity.
Visiting different masjids locally and while on vacation as a unique strategy to experience unity and variety within the Islamic community. Each masjid has different settings, cultural influences, and programs that provide chances to learn and connect with other Muslims. The exploration can expand their comprehension of how Islam is practiced in various environments and helps older children admire the universal nature of their Islamic faith. Also, it can be spiritually uplifting to pray in different masjids and engage in classes or events. While on vacation, Muslim parents searching for local masjids can assist in maintaining prayer schedules, creating memorable experiences, and developing connections with Muslims in new environments.
5. Focus on good deeds.
Muslim parents can emphasize the importance of teaching their children to reflect and record their good deeds in their daily lives. It helps children to ponder their actions and motivates them to actively seek out chances to do good to others. In addition, it can build incentive programs to establish good deeds on their own and connects their actions to Islamic values, emphasizing that every small good deed matters to Allah.
“The most beloved of deeds to Allah is the most regular and constant, even if it is little.”
(Sahih Al-Bukhari)
The parents can provide their children with a section in their agenda or planner. Then, the parents can encourage the older children to record one specific good deed they performed daily like, volunteering at a local Islamic organization, mentoring younger siblings, or sharing Islamic knowledge with friends. On the other hand, younger children can draw their daily good deeds on their agendas. Some instances in which younger children can perform good deeds are helping their classmates, being respectful to their teachers, and regularly cleaning up their areas. Parents can create a reward system by celebrating their efforts, no matter how small the deed, to maintain their commitment. They can either use intrinsic (for younger children) or extrinsic motivation (for older children).
Parents may also want to consider hosting a “Family Reflection Circle” at the dinner table. They can assign a specific time each week, like Sunday evening, to sit together and list the good deeds each family member wrote in their planners. In addition, parents can discuss their good deeds with their children. Some examples that parents can tell are telling their good deeds are work, helping other customers at the store, participating in Neighbourhood clean-ups, and designing cards for people who might be feeling unwell. Parents can lead by example by showing their children the importance of doing good deeds.
The new year is a perfect time to set new aspirations and new routines. It is a opportune time for Muslims to evaluate their spirituality and have a closer relationship with Allah than the year before. Muslim parents can lead by example and teach their children to be closer to Allah to save themselves in this life and the afterlife.
Amanda Hasan is a graduate of the University of Toronto (Bachelor of Arts) and Humber College (Law Clerk). She is the author of Joyless, an Amazon novella that tells the story of a lonely teenage girl working at an amusement park. More recently, Amanda copyedited several children's stories for Compass Books. She also worked with Muslim Network TV writing scripts, securing guest speakers, and prepping for interviews. Amanda is currently residing in the Greater Toronto Area with her family.
Add new comment