Whether you are home schooling or simply looking for an Islamic supplement to your existing education, you should consider using “The Islamic Year: Surahs, Stories, and Celebrations”, by Noorah Al-Gailani and Chris Smith.
This book takes a very hands-on approach to an Islamic education. It takes readers on a year-long tour of Islamic history, told through happenings in Muhammad’s (PBUH) life. Each chapter is packed with fun and engaging activities: crafts, recipes, songs, projects, and more. Some activities include: making a bookmark decorated with an attribute of Allah, making a model of the Kabah, making a “stained glass” design of the angel Gabriel, practicing Arabic calligraphy, and making a book cover. Recipes include rice pudding, flour halva, honey pancakes, and sweet chicken.
The book is very popular in Waldorf circles, due to its focus on holidays and festivals. The writers of this book also realize that, for many people, culture and tradition are tightly entwined with Islam. Each chapter includes stories about how holidays are celebrated in various parts of the world. They include crafts, recipes, songs, and projects from a variety of “Muslim” countries, including Iraq, Pakistan, Iran, Morocco, and Turkey.
“The Islamic Year” was actually written for a non-Muslim audience, but it provides a delightful introduction to Islam for young Muslim children. Young kids learn best when their entire being is engaged, and this entertaining book does that.
Since it is written with non-Muslims in mind, the book is more spiritual in nature than strictly Islamic. Many of the values taught, such as honesty, compassion, and charity, are common to all major religions. Still, it does include a vast amount of Islamic information, including Surahs and stories of the beloved Prophet.
If you are searching for a rigid Islamic education, one that will drill Surahs, prayer, and Fiqh, then this is not the book for you. However, if you are searching for a way to bring Islam to life in your children’s life, this book is a perfect choice. This book makes Islam a fun and lively part of your everyday life.
To buy the book from Amazon, or just to learn more about it, visit “The Islamic Year: Surahs, Stories, and Celebrations”, by Noorah Al-Gailani and Chris Smith.
Related Blogs:
- Toys for Muslim Children
- Why This Muslim Family Homeschools
- Make Islam Fun!
- Curriculum Options– Traditional Religious Instruction
External Link:
Islamic Waldorf Home Schooling