Zahirah Lynn Eppard

There was once a time when it was difficult to find children’s book that featured Muslim characters and Islamic guidance.

Families across the globe are heading into summer and the heat is on - that is the heat for parents to find ways to ensure their children are busy and productive! 

As parents, we are constantly seeking ways to teach our children about the world we live in. As Muslim parents, added to that responsibility is ensuring that they also see the world and their purpose in it from an Islamic lens.

There are all different ways that parents teach their children about religious principles and concepts. Books are one of those go-to resources. And when it comes to teaching fundamentals of Islam with both detail and creativity, prize-winning author Zanib Mian is a favorite.

First a disclosure. We are a huge soccer family. We have all played, coached, refereed, and even run a local Muslim youth soccer league. So, it will surprise no one that this homeschooling family used the biggest soccer tournament on the world stage for a teachable moment.

Just about every Muslim girl or woman who has worn a hijab or head scarf, has encountered  someone who either curiosly or condescendingly asks “what is underneath”? Author Hena Khan has a beautiful response in her book Under My Hijab.

In our Islamic guidance there is a foundational principle to enjoin good and forbid evil. It is based in the Quran:

“Let there arise from you a nation inviting to good, enjoining what is right and forbidding what is wrong, and those will be the successful.”