Nurturing the Next Generation
Sound Vision

Silat Al-Rahm: Importance of Maintaining Family Ties

By Umm Ahmed

Preserving the bonds of kinship is deemed an essential part of the Islamic faith. It is an obligation to be fulfilled without an eye for reciprocity. We are reminded to carry out this righteous duty with authentic references that can be found in the Quran and Sunnah. Here are eight ways to strengthen these family ties.

1. Express love and respect for everyone. 
2. Honor your parents.
3. Spend quality time as a family.
4. Use technology to bridge the distance.
5. Learn about your ancestry. 
6. Support and assist those who need help.
7. Seek help from Allah when there are challenges.
8. Convey rewards to the deceased.

Read the full article for more details.

 Parenting Tip

Desmond Tutu had a wise saying: “You don’t chose your family. They are God’s gift to you, as you are to them.” Ask yourself this question: How might your life and our world be different if we truly treated our family members as blessed gifts?

From the Midwife’s Desk: COVID and Pregnancy

By Melissa Fleming

The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted every aspect of our lives, those who are living, those who have died, and those yet to be born. Midwife Melissa Fleming discusses the challenges of pregnancy in the age of COVID. It is important to sift through the facts in a number of areas if you are pregnant or may be considering starting a family soon.

Inspiration

“In every conceivable manner, the family is a link to our past, bridge to our future.”

Alex Haley

Providing Support and Care for our Elders

By Sumayya Khan

Elderly parents and relatives are a huge blessing in our lives. As they age, it is likely that they will need additional assistance with everyday activities such as providing more direct physical, emotional and mental support. At that time, families need to work together to make decisions about living arrangements and expenses, medical care and treatment, caregiving, and more. Learn more about the details and about caregiving in general by reading the full article.

Words Heal Individuals and Potentially our World

By Zahirah Lynn Eppard

Words Heal is a not-for-profit organization that has been providing support and assistance to a wide variety of individuals since 2015. Its mission to “bridge knowledge gaps in cultures that prevent access to needed social, medical and mental health assistance for people of color, people of faith, the elderly and individuals with disabilities” is evidenced by a number of programs that utilize bibliotherapy and healing stories to make an impact.

Hadith

Ibn 'Umar narrated, the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

 "Nothing that a man spends on himself and his family, anticipating a reward from Allah, will fail to be rewarded by Allah Almighty. He should begin with those whose support is his responsibility. If there is something left over, he should spend it on his next nearest relative and then the next nearest. 

(Al-Adab Al-Mufrad)

How to Make a Family Heritage Book

By Melissa Barreto

A Family Heritage Book is a simple, homemade book that houses a collection of items relating to your family’s members, history, culture, values, languages, and customs. This type of project is a wonderful way to start young children thinking about concepts of history and geography while also building their own sense of connection and identity within the family structure. Writer Melissa Barret provides beautiful photos from her son’s own cherished family heirloom and a lesson on how to start and complete the project.

Some Interesting Facts

According to the World Health Organization, people worldwide are living longer.

• By 2030, 1 in 6 people in the world will be aged 60 years or over. At this time the share of the population aged 60 years and over will increase from 1 billion in 2020 to 1.4 billion. 
• By 2050, the world’s population of people aged 60 years and older will double (2.1 billion). 
• In 2050, 80% of older people will be living in low- and middle-income countries.
• The number of persons aged 80 years or older is expected to triple between 2020 and 2050 to reach 426 million.

Encanto, a Celebration of Family: A Review from a Muslim Latina Perspective

By Wendy Díaz

Disney Animation Studios’ latest release, Encanto, is a story with valuable lessons that explores intergenerational trauma and how it shapes our families. As a Latina, writer Wendy Díaz appreciated the authenticity of the colorful characters and the thought-provoking, original soundtrack. As a Muslim, she welcomed the lessons about upholding family ties and celebrating each member’s unique role and talents. Check out more details and consider watching it with some popcorn as a family.

Online Resources

Caregiving: An Act of Worship Often Overlooked - This is a nice article about the benefits of caregiving for a child, someone who is sick, an eldery parent or relative, and more.

The Importance of Family Ties - This article provides evidence from the Quran and Sunnah that supports making efforts to maintain strong ties, particularly when the relationships with family members are challenging.

The Senior Citizens of our Ummah - In this article there is a look at how the Muslim community handles its responsibilities to our senior citizens. The article is dated but the points are still relevant today.

4 Lessons of Love and Mercy from Prophet Muhammad - This collection focuses attention on practical ways we can engage with the world we live in with love and mercy, including our relationships with family.

Let Your Dead Loved Ones Live Through You - This video by Sh. Omar Suleiman provides lots of details about performing good deeds that will be of benefit to family members who are deceased. (11:33)

Adam’s World Video: Aneesah and the Funny Haircut

Adam tells of the time that his little sister Aneesah accompanied him on a trip to the barber. Later in the afternoon, she used her scissors to cut the hair of her dolls and then herself! The Storytime with Adam series provides a glimpse into instances in family life that create happy memories. (7:54)

Sound Vision’s online children’s classes begin this weekend!

Register NOW so your children can learn about their deen in a loving and creative space!

The Sound Vision Foundation has been a trusted source of Islamic knowledge for more than 30 years. Our work with the world-renowned puppets Adam and Aneesah pioneered creative programming for Muslim children, encouraging them to learn about and love their religion. We continue to bring sound content and engaging programs that stimulate minds, touch hearts, and strive to fulfill our mission of raising better Muslims, better neighbors, and better citizens. This latest effort is designed to support and empower Muslim parents to do the same.