Muslim Children's Day Report

Family Day, Monday, 21, 2011 was truly historic as AWIS celebrated Muslim Children's Day in Al-Huda Institute Canada. Even midst snowy weather conditions the day before and long weekend, children's and mothers' turnout was outstanding and the love of Allah, the Prophet (s.a.w) and the Qur'an was manifest in every activity.

For the first time in Al Huda, AWIS students, filled with fresh and vibrant spirit, took the stage to educate, empower and inspire, Muslim Children of GTA with what they learned from Qur'an and Hadith since 2009 at school. On Monday at 10:30 am, four AWIS student hosts, Areeb and Farheen (Grade 3), Maha (Grade 5) and Zainab (Grade 4), greeted the 500 women and children spectators with warm welcome and introductory remarks.  The event opened with eloquent recitation of the Qur'an and its translation by Zainiab and Fatima (Grade 5), followed by student theatrical performances, nasheed carols and speeches.

Hifdh 3 students resonated the crowd with a play on the importance of reciting and memorizing the Qur'an. Apart from being a moral guide for humanity in this world, the Qur'an is also a means of salvation from Hellfire in the next world.

AWIS students, Hafsa J (Grade 5), Amna (Grade 3) and Nabiha (Grade 2) moved the audience with an ostentatious show of the story of Suleiman (a.s) from the Qur'an. The story centerpieced two young children hearing the account of the powers Allah bestowed to Suleiman (a.s,) and his encounter with the Hoopoe and the ants, from their grandmother. Manal (Grade 4) dressed in Hoopoe costume fluttered through the stage whilst Ayesha and Nabeeha (Grade 3), Javaria, Madiha, Aisha, Rabia and Mariam (Grade 2) posted as ants, with black antenna hairbands, marched into the audience, each discussing the Greatness of Allah for creating the sky and the earth, the animals and the births with tremendous artistry and fineness. Allah feeds all of His creation kindness  and compassion. Allah is the Loving and the Merciful.

Grade 5 and 4 AWIS Nasheed vocalists crooned "Animals love to hear Qur'an" and "Read Qur'an, children of the world" melodiously whilst Taha (Grade 3), Nafe (Grade 2), Amina (Grade 3) and Manal (Grade 4) acted the chorus on the stage. Dressed as squirrel, bird and kitten, students demonstrated the natural disposition of animals towards Qur'an recitation. Ergo children can make friends with animals by reciting the Qur'an to them. Even so the children should study Qur'an with meaning  and understanding because the Qur'an is Allah's loving and helpful instructions all people.  Nasheed vocalists also performed other Nasheeds like "Allah is my Creator" and "My mother" etc throughout the event.

A fun-filled Qur'an quiz competition reverberated galvanized the children. The children were requested to recite Surahs from 30th Juzz on the microphone and answer general-knowledge questions about the Qur'an for prizes.  Over 20 children received gifts.

Children played basketball hoops. Over 15 guests between the ages of seven to eleven years old were invited from the audience to shoot hoops. The crowd watched with great fervour and anticipation as each child aimed at the basket. Gifts were distributed amongst the children who scored.

AWIS's Hafsa (Grade 3), Hadia and Manal (Grade 4) and Hafsa K (Grade 5) orated the pivotal relationship with Allah every Muslim child and adult must have through Salah. The scene unfolded in a public school cafeteria as the four actors suggested ideas for their lunch break. While everyone decided to eat or play, one actor championed the cause of Salah; she reminded her friends that Salah is obligatory on its fixed times and Allah is deserving that we worship Him in the best of ways wherever we are, even if at school. Encouraging each other to make wudu the actors exchanged the health/medicinal and spiritual benefits of wudu which includes, but is not limited to, overall physical cleanliness, good hygiene, expiation of sins and luminesce of the body on the Day of Judgment.

Shaz, Imtisaal, Iqra, Shafa and Zaina (Grade 4) enacted a family scene of sibling rivalry and argumentation, receding the family when finally the eldest daughter realized that disturbing the peace at home, disrespecting her parents and troubling her younger siblings is a sin which wounds her soul, hardens her heart and displeases Allah and wounds. By learning the Qur'an and following its teachings, the eldest daughter restores peace to her family and comes close to Allah.

Dr. Idrees Zubair honoured Muslim Children with his talk. He reiterate the  power of Qur'an, it connects us to our Creator and teaches us good manners to live a decorous life. It connects to our family and the community and inculcates in us kindness and impartiality. The Qur'an connects us with our inner-self, it gives strength when we feel emotionally weak and solutions, in times of difficulties. The Qur'an is a friend and a confidant. Every child must learn the gift of Qur'an from Allah.

We were fortune to have Dr. Idrees led the children and mothers in Dhuhar Salah which followed a beautiful trill, "Tala al Badru alyina" by Mashal (Grade 3) of AWIS

Sister Aasiya Amir, Academic Incharge of Al Huda took the stage to congratulate the student performers of AWIS and welcome the guest children and their mothers in Al-Huda to learn the Qur'an.

Three rounds of Nasheed chair, an imitation of musical chair, without music but nasheed, was also delightfully adored after Salah break. Children rushed around the chairs whist loud proclamation of Tasbeeh and Dikr . The first-place participants won prizes.

The highlight of Muslim Children's Day was the reenactment of renowned "Deen Show" by Arsalan of AWIS as Eddie who invited Summaiyah (Grade 5) masquerading as Dr. Farhat Hashmi, Usman (Grade 5) as Dr. Zakir Naik and Huzaifa (Grade 3) as Shaykh Yasir Qadhi. The three actors recommend children to avoid anger, leave music and focus more on their education.

A tasty luncheon was served free of cost to all mothers and children which followed a heartfelt performance by Usamah (Grade 5), Talha (Grade 1), Ali (Grade 3) and Hazim (Grade 5). In a funeral scene of their deceased friend, they reminisced over spending time wisely and taking life seriously as death is an imminent reality for grown-ups and children. In this play, the actors advised the audience to believe in Allah with conviction, obey the sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w) in all matters of life and retain an Islamic attitude to answer correctly, the questions of munkar nakeer in the grave.

Fatima's (Grade 5) powerful words to Muslim Children, urged everyone to make the goal of their life, the attainment of Paradise. Her call, to return to the teachings of the Qur'an and take their friends and role models from the companions of the Prophet (s.a.w), thrilled everyone.

Muslim Children's Day concluded at 3:10 pm with, a earnest supplication to Allah to revive the Muslim parents and Children with Islam and favour them with the correct understanding and practice of Qur'an, free pop corn and cotton candy.