Al-Fawz Academy: September 2014

Thursday, September 25, 2014

Tell me About Hajj - for Kids

Everything in the universe has a centre or gravitational point. The planets orbit around the sun, unable to resist its magnetic force. The birds have no choice but to go to and fro from their nests to the their feeding grounds to survive. It may seem that our day-today lives also pivot around the things that we love and cannot love without: our jobs, our kids, coffee and sales, etc. But the real attraction point for a believer is the Ka'bah, the absorption point for Allah's love and blessing.

Allah pours His mercy upon His Guests whom He invites to His House to perform the Hajj. As they set their first gaze upon the Ka'ba, they realize that there is nothing and nobody there to disturb their thoughts about Allah. This is something which they were unable to achieve in their world of fragmentation, greed, and relativity. They were only philosophical about Tawhid (monotheism) but when they see the Ka'ba, the presence of the Absolute and Eternal Majesty of Allah is the roof of their feelings. The blackness of the kiswa penetrates into their souls with coolness and sweetness of faith.They recreate Hajar's path between Safa and Marwa as exhaustion and complete surrender follow the physical struggle and yearning to belong with Allah.

To visualize the blessings of Hajj and to feel solidarity with the millions invited to join Allah's family, watch

videos of the Ka'ba and make lots of dhikr. See image on the right for supplications made out loud by the Prophet (s.a.w) in the Masjid, home and streets during Dhil Hijjah.

Each time when you look at the Ka'bah and you make dhikr, remind yourself that:

(a) Laa ilaha ilAllah: Allah in His Glorious Divinity is all Alone by Himself. He needs nobody and nothing yet everything turns to Him and cannot exist without Him. Although the Ka'ba has no direction (because of its cubic shape), by facing Ka'ba when performing the prayers, you choose Allah's direction and face Him.

(b) Allau Akabr: You are so little and Allah is so Great and Grandiose.

(c) SubhanAllah: Your life is frivolous unless you aim is to approach Allah and see the Almighty. Hajj represents you return to Allah.

(d) Alhamdulillah: for the knowledge and resources on Islam

Saturday, September 20, 2014

Helping Kids with Homework

As adults, some of us have really embarrassing memories of asking our parents for help with homework. With a little kindness, homework will no longer be a nightmare (equivalent to a kidney operation).

Here are some tips for parents on how to approach kids with homework:

1. Encourage curiosity and questions. Help kids learn by making them interested in knowledge: Who invented numbers? What ecological service do trees provide? When did Canada become a country? Develop a relationship of discovery with your children. When kids feel they can talk to their parents about anything, they become more comfortable in asking them for help with homework.

2. Turn everyday activities into homework. Teachers give homework and so can you. Include children in everyday tasks and assign activities such as searching newspapers, reading recipes, creating shopping lists, plotting out routes on a map, etc. Small activities can often teach big lessons.

3. Make kids proud of their effort. Getting the answers right is important, but it's only part of what homework is all about. Feeling confident and having fun is important too. At the end of every homework session, try letting your son or daughter know that you appreciate and admire the effort.