From Sound Vision
1. 7 Tips for a Healthier Ramadan 2. 10 great goals to set for this Ramadan 3. 15 ways to make Ramadan special for your kids this year 4. 8 Ramadan ideas for your campus 5. 10 ideas for Ramadan at your workplace 6. 17 tips for presenting Ramadan to your child 7 Tips for a Healthier Ramadan
SoundVision Staff Writer
1. Eat Suhur
The Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, highly recommend eating this pre-dawn meal before a day of fasting. While you may want to pass to catch some more sleep, remember that you can always take a catnap while you're fasting, but you won't be able to eat or drink. To make it easier, set out utensils and dry food on the table before going to bed so you can quickly eat and go back to sleep after Suhur.
2. Limit fat intake
That's right, limit it, don't cut it out. Otherwise, you'll have to get rid of what's considered "traditional" Iftar food in most Muslim cultures. If you're not sure what kind of food is being referred to, think fried, greasy and/or super sweet.
3. Follow the Prophet's golden rule of one-third
This especially needs to be said in Ramadan. We should strive to have no more than one-third food, one-third liquid and one-third air in our stomachs when eating.
4. Encourage dip-dunking
Fruits and vegetables get left to the wayside during regular days, let alone at Iftar time. But you can whip out those carrot sticks if you've got some tasty dips to eat them with. Check out some healthy recipes.
5. Walk after Iftar
Before you fall over from exhaustion after Iftar and dinner, take a short walk around the block or just around your building. The change of environment and exposure to fresh air may just wake you up in time to go for the next activity listed below.
6. Pray Tarawih
More great exercise, not to mention a wonderful way to build concentration, stamina and brotherhood/sisterhood.
7. Take a short afternoon nap
Experts say you don't need more than a 15-minute siesta to really refresh you. During lunch hour, find a quiet spot, set the alarm on your watch/cell phone and nap. This 17 tips for presenting Ramadan to your child's class
Parents talking to their children’s principals, teachers and classmates in public schools about Ramadan is of immense importance, especially this year, in the aftermath of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. Not only are more people curious about Islam, many are now willing to clarify their previous misinformation and misunderstandings.
By sharing Ramadan with their school administrators and friends, Muslim children feel less awkward identifying themselves as Muslims, since someone in an authority position has discussed their beliefs. As a result, the children often feel more confident and secure.
As well, Muslim children need to feel the importance of their own celebrations and holidays, especially since we are living in a non-Muslim environment where kids don’t see fancy lights and decorations, commercial hoopla or consistent reminders of the "holiday season" during Ramadan.
And of course, talking to your child’s class about Ramadan is a great way to make Dawa to non-Muslim kids and Muslim kids as well, in particular those who may come from non-practicing Muslim families.
There are a couple of tips to keep in mind when approaching the school or your child’s teachers about presenting, as well as for how you present the information to the child’s class.
Tip #1: Start early
Calling your child’s teacher in the middle of Ramadan asking to do a presentation on the topic is too late.Before Ramadan is the best time to bring up the issue, especially considering Christmas is coming up and holidays are on the minds of most people, teachers and students included. Starting early also helps you think about and gather the right materials to make a good presentation.
Tip #2: Get permission from your child’s teacher
While parents do have a lot of clout in the school system, this does not allow them to show up unexpectedly one day at their son or daughter’s class to do a presentation on Ramadan. Send a letter explaining Ramadan and giving a general indication that you want something done about Ramadan. Then wait for the teacher to call. If he or she does not do so within a week, call them and tell them you are following up on the letter you sent earlier.
Tip #3: Select the right period in which to do the presentation Does your child study Social Studies? Or does he or she have a period once a week for Moral and Religious education? If so, suggest to the teacher that you would like to do the presentation during these periods. Or, you can of course ask the teacher if he or she has ideas about which time would be best to come in and do the presentation.
Tip #4: Be polite but firm
Speaking nicely to people is part of our Deen, including non-Muslims. We should remember that the purpose of this exercise is to not just educate the students, but the teachers as well. Being polite and courteous will not detract from your desire to present. It will serve to build bridges and communication, and could lead to further opportunities to present on other Islam-related topics and more teacher-parent cooperation in the future, Insha Allah.
Tip #5: Ask the teacher what areas to cover and how long it should be
This helps to adjust your presentation to the age-level of the students, as well as connect it to what they are already learning. This doesn’t mean you can’t bring in other information, but knowing what to cover from the teacher helps you include what information needs to be included. From that point, you can develop more material on these or related topics. Asking how long the presentation should be can also help you decide how much information to include in your presentation.
Tip #6: Read, prepare, read, prepare
Now that you’ve gotten the permission, don’t just sit back and wait for the night before the presentation to put it together.
Remember, if you want to appeal to the students, especially younger ones, you are going to need more than just a talk. Visuals are a great help. You can get a Ramadan banner, balloons, children's books which feature pictures of Muslims fasting, play a song in English about Ramdan (like Dawud Wharnsby Ali's We've Scanned The Sky on the recording Colors of Islam) or show part of a video aimed at children about Ramadan (like Adam’s World’s Ramadan Mubarak video). To get the right material, you will have to find out where to get it from, and ordering it might take a couple of weeks.
Preparing is important, even though you may have fasted all of your life and think you know all about Ramadan. Get a children’s Islamic book and read what it says about Ramadan. Or an article written by a teenager about Ramadan. This will also help you understand what points to emphasize in your presentation.
Reading and researching will also clarify any incorrect cultural norms that may have seeped into the practice of Ramadan which you may not have been aware of. Talk to a knowledgeable Muslim for advice as well. Tip #7: Talk to your son or daughter about the presentation
Who would know what amuses, entertains and educates the kids in the class better than your son or daughter? Consult them about what to include, what the kids like, what kind of things they are interested in. Not only will this improve your presentation, Insha Allah, but it will also make Ameena or Saeed feel important and more confident as individuals, and as Muslims.
Tip #8: A few days before the presentation
Call the teacher to check the date and time of the schedule. This will serve to remind him or her about your visit and prepare the class accordingly.
Tip #9: Write presentation points on note cards
Reading off papers about Ramadan will not hold the interest of many people, young or old. Instead, writing brief notes on note cards that you can look at so you don’t miss any topic will help you avoid straying from the subject while allowing you to make eye contact with your audience and maintain a conversational style of presentation.
Tip #10: Practice your presentation in front of your son/daughter
Practicing helps you identify what can be improved, changed or omitted. Practicing in front of Ameena will give you the opportunity to present before one of the kids in the class who can really give you the best advice.It will also help you time your presentation, so you can make it shorter or longer.
Tip #11: Dress for success
This does not mean pulling out the Armani suit or the most expensive dress you have. It just means looking as a Muslim should-clean, respectable, professional and Islamically covered. Clothes don’t always "make the man" but they do affect others’ perception of you.
Tip #12: Be early
Teachers and students are busy people. They have a certain curriculum to cover. The fact that they’ve squeezed in your presentation is somewhat of a privilege. Don’t take advantage of this by wasting their time by coming late. And anyways, Muslims should be on time as a principle. Coming early can also help you set up audio visual material, if you have any.
Tip #13: Make Dua...
Before your presentation, ask Allah to help you convey this message sincerely, properly and clearly. And say Bismillah. Tip #14: Speak calmly and clearly
It’s important not to race through the presentation, nor to talk too slowly. A clear, conversational style, but emphasis on the major points or terms you want the students to understand can help convey the message properly.
Tip #15: When answering questions
If you don’t know something, say so. Then check up on it and get back to the teacher. Ask him or her to convey the response.
Tip #16: Thank Allah... for this opportunity He blessed you with and your ability to go through with it.
Tip #17: Send a thank you note to the teacher and class... thanking them for their time and attention, as well as their cooperation.
15 ways to make Ramadan special for your kids this year by Sound Vision Staff writer
With barely a few weeks left, there's little time for us to prepare kids for Ramadan. Here are a couple of ideas to help make it special this year.
1. Hold a family meeting about Ramadan
A week before Ramadan, hold a family meeting to explain what Ramadan is, that the sighting of the moon indicates its beginning, what Muslims do and how the family's schedule will change. Also ask for suggestions of what everyone would like to do during the month. For instance, would they like to take a trip somewhere, eat a specific type of food, etc.
2. Welcome the month with balloons, banners and more
Say "Ramadan Mubarak" with the standard party fare: balloons, a great banner and decorations galore. Get the kids to help decorate the place and ask for their ideas and suggestions so they feel included.
3. Tell a Ramadan story during bedtime every night
Don't just rely on children's books about Ramadan to share stories. Describe what Ramadan was like when you were a kid. You can also make some tales up with your child as the main character in a Ramadan adventure!
4. Let them fast even a quarter of the day and celebrate
Kids often want to fast as they see their parents and older siblings do. This year, let them fast for a couple of hours. Prepare a special "Iftar" for them when they break fast with a couple of their favorite foods.
5. Make Ramadan loot bags for their class
Get their teacher's permission to make loot bags with Ramadan Mubarak written on them for the class. Fill it with candy, small toys and a little card explaining in two or three short sentences what Ramadan is. Have your child distribute the bags to their classmates.
6. Make a presentation about Ramadan in their class
See this article about how to do this. 7. Make Ramadan arts and crafts at home
Art is a great way to learn more about Ramadan. Have the kids make the different shapes of the moon and show which one indicates the beginning of the month, which one the middle and which one the end; make a collage of some of their favorite foods for Iftar; have them make special Ramadan placemats for the dinner table.
8. Make a family trip out of sighting the moon
Once the kids are dressed in their pajamas, herd them into the car and take them to where other Muslims in the city are gathering to sight the Ramadan moon. Do the same at the end of the month. Bring a telescope or binoculars.
9. Invite their friends over for a kids-only Iftar
Let your kids come up with the guest list and menu. Also, have them make some of the food. You can pick some kid-friendly recipes or they can help with preparing the parts of Iftar that don't require using a stove or cutting with knives.
10. Invite grandparents or elder community members over for Iftar
After everyone's eaten, hold a storytelling session where the guests describe what Ramadan was like when they were growing up. Ask them to be descriptive. How was Iftar time announced? In some countries, they use a drum. In other places a verbal announcement on a loudspeaker is made. What kind of food did they eat? What games did they play during Ramadan?
11. Make a Ramadan 2005 scrapbook
Take plenty of photos of everyone during Suhur (now that's entertaining!) and Iftar time, as well as while they are fasting and pieces of decorations used, interesting stickers, etc. to make a scrapbook about this Ramadan. Each child should bring three mementos he or she would like to include.
12. Remember the poor
Arrange with the kids to volunteer at a soup kitchen for a few hours on a Saturday or Sunday. If possible, try to find one that has children as its clients so they see that not only adults, but kids like themselves also suffer from hunger.
13. Make and send homemade Ramadan cards
Before the month starts, have an arts and crafts session to make Ramadan Mubarak cards for siblings, grandparents, aunts and uncles. Send the cards soon though, time's running out! 14. Play Ramadan songs
When the kids are playing or involved in some leisure activity, turn off the usual fare and put on some beautiful Ramadan songs in English and your own language if available. Maybe you can ask the kids to memorize one song by the end of Ramadan or compose one of their own.
15. Take them to Tarawih prayer so they feel they're part of a community
Nothing teaches community spirit like congregational prayer. Take the kids with you to the mosque for Tarawih prayer on Friday and Saturday nights when homework isn't an issue. Also, ask them to bring some of their allowance to give in charity while they're there.
10 ideas for Ramadan at your workplace
If work is simply the place you earn your bread and punch in your hours, why not redefine it this Ramadan? Make your workplace the scenario for Dawa, especially in the current tension-filled atmosphere of misunderstandings about Islam and Muslims.
Here are some ideas that can help you share Ramadan with your boss and coworkers this year.
1. Begin informing people about it as soon as possible
Start telling bosses, supervisors and coworkers about Ramadan now. Bring it up in the course of conversation casually.
In terms of when Ramadan starts and ends, just give the projected date (i.e. for Ramadan this year, it's November 6th). Don't get non-Muslims involved in the technicalities of finding out the correct date. Do the same for Eid. You can decide for yourself which date to start and stop fasting on.
2. Post it up
On your office or department bulletin board, put up a factsheet on Ramadan, with a short introduction of yourself and which department you are from. Don't just give the facts, but also include a few sentences about what this blessed month means to you (i.e. spiritual growth, closeness to God, being more generous, etc.).
3. Get an article printed in your local newspaper and circulate copies
This will not only be good Dawa - it may even promote department/company pride (i.e. one of our employees is a writer too!). Post it up with the masthead of the newspaper on top.
4. Negotiate your lunch hour with the boss
This is another task that needs to be done as soon as possible. Explain that you will need a short break for prayer and then you will take lunch break at Iftar time.
5. Talk to the office cafeteria people about your Iftar needs
If you normally buy lunch at the cafeteria, explain to the cafeteria staff that you would like to arrange to have your lunch saved for Iftar time. Ask them to keep one serving of lunch in the fridge so you can pick it up at Iftar time.
6. Create a "Ramadan corner" at your desk If you have your own desk at work, dedicate a corner of it that is accessible to passersby the "Ramadan corner". Put a basket of dates, sweets, written information on Ramadan and maybe a small frame of eye-catching Islamic calligraphy on it. Post a note inviting coworkers to the free sweets and information.
7. Have a small Iftar gathering at your desk
Invite coworkers to a snack of dates and fresh fruits during Iftar time. At least once, have a more formal meal ready for everyone (check with your boss before you do this).
8. Distribute written material on Ramadan
If you've got a central location in your workplace where people can pick up free newspapers, get permission to stack a factsheet and pamphlets on Ramadan.
You can also leave the sheets on the Ramadan corner of your desk.
9. Get a Ramadan greeting from your boss
Have your boss, commanding officer or head of the department issue a public notification that Ramadan is coming up or is here and they and the company congratulates all Muslim employees on this occasion.
10. Put an article about Ramadan in the office newsletter
If you have a company or department newsletter, write up a personal article about why you are looking forward to Ramadan and what Ramadan is. Then arrange for them to publish it.
10 great goals to set for this Ramadan by Sound Vision Staff writer
1. Eat, drink and be moderate
Almost all of us do it - once Iftar time hits, we just keep plowing food and drink into our mouths till it's hard to move afterwards. And those of us who do it know this is totally contrary to the spirit of Ramadan, through which we're supposed to learn self- control not self-indulgence. Let's try to stick to the Prophetic rule on eating: fill our stomachs with one-third food, one-third water and one-third breathing space, even in Ramadan.
2. Give a dollar a day in charity...or five or ten
The Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, was always generous but even more so in Ramadan. Let's open our hearts and dig a little deeper in our wallets this year. Even less than a dollar a day adds up. Whatever you can give, it's the intention that counts.
3. Memorize 4 new Surahs
Memorizing the Quran often seems like a daunting task. But the key is doing it in small bites. Since there are four weeks in Ramadan, try to memorize one new Surah a week. Start off with a short, easy one. Once you've started, you'll build momentum and may even want to memorize a longer one the following week.
4. Go to Tarawih prayers
Post-Iftar, the first urge is to sleep after an exhausting day. But try your best to head out to the mosque for Tarawih prayers. Praying alone is wonderful, but doing it in congregation is fantastic. The community spirit is part of Ramadan's blessings. Don't miss it this year. If going every day is not possible, try going at least one week.
5. Attend the Tarawih prayer in which the recitation of the Quran will be finished
Call the local mosque and find out which day the Imam will be finishing the recitation of the Quran in prayer. Attend to not only hear part of the Quran's recitation in prayer, but also participate in the heart-rending Duas that follow it.
6. Stop swearing and/or backbiting – with a special box
It's hard not to shoot our mouths off when someone's upset us. Whether we utter those four-letter words or backbite about someone to our family and friends, we know this isn't the God-approved way of letting off steam. In Ramadan, when we want to build our spirituality, we've got to wage Jihad against our bad habits.
Try this: get a box and every time you catch yourself swearing or backbiting put some money in it. It could be a buck or less. The point is to choose an amount that makes it feel like punishment.
At the end of the month send the money to a charity or buy a gift for the person whom you've backbitten the most against.
7. Call/email your relatives
You'd think that given the easy access to email, competitive long-distance calling rates, phone cards, etc. these days, we'd keep in touch with family and friends more often. But the opposite seems to be the case, as we get caught up in life's "busyness."
Strengthening ties with family members and keeping in touch with friends is part of our way of life and an act Allah is very pleased with. This Ramadan, call family and friends or at least email them a Ramadan card and ask them how their fasting is going.
8. Go on a technology diet
Even if you work in the IT industry, you can do this. Avoid checking personal email and surfing the web during your fast. After Iftar, instead of plopping yourself in front of the screen, go to Tarawih. The same goes for the television. The point is to try to give our full attention to spiritual elevation this month.
9. Read 5 minutes of Quran a day...just five, not more, not less
Even if you feel you've got absolutely no time, set a timer or the alarm on your cell phone and find a relatively quiet place. You can read the first page of the Quran you open or follow a sequence. The choice is yours. The point is simply to connect with God through His revelation in the month of the Quran.
10. Forgive everyone who has hurt you
Still got a festering wound from the fight with your friend last year? Still upset about something your spouse said during a heated argument? Or are you still bitter about the way your parents sometimes treated you as a kid? Let go of the anger and pain this Ramadan and forgive those who have hurt you. Forgiving someone is not only good for the body, but it's also great for the soul. And in Ramadan, ten days of which are devoted to Allah's forgiveness, shouldn't we lesser beings forgive too?
If you find it very difficult to forgive everyone, forgive at least three people. 8 Ramadan ideas for your campus
Short on ideas for what to do on campus about Ramadan? Or are you not sure what things to prepare for at your college during Ramadan?
Here are some things to remember and ideas you can use to bring Muslims closer together and do Dawa. None of them require a big budget.
1. Make sure to inform the mess hall about your food times
If you live on campus and pay for the meals, you need to inform the cafeteria people about the change in your lunch schedule. Some universities in the US already have such arrangements. If yours doesn't make a point to speak to the person in charge so you can eat Iftar and Suhoor at your designated times without missing out on your food, which you've paid for.
2. Have your MSA organize "Ramadan awareness week"
This does not have to be on the large scale that Islam Awareness Week usually is every year. A simple, attractive and colorful display of photographs and art, along with free pamphlets and written information about Ramadan should do the trick. A Ramadan Mubarak banner would also add a nice touch.
3. Write an opinion column in your campus newspaper
Contact the school newspaper as soon as possible and explain that you would like to do a personal opinion piece on Ramadan and why it is important. If you can tie it in to something going on on campus or to world events (i.e. what's happening in Jerusalem and Palestine). Get the guidelines and the deadlines and submit it quickly. Try to get it proofread by at least one Islamically knowledgeable person before you send it off.
4. Every weekend or Friday evening, hold an open Iftar and invite non-Muslims to it
Arrange to book an open space on campus to do this. You can simply have an Iftar and leave it at that, or even better, arrange to have a SHORT talk on some spiritual aspect of Ramadan after the Iftar. Choose speakers who are knowledgeable, wise and who can speak well.
5. Have an Iftar gathering in your dorm room
If space allows it, invite friends and a couple of acquaintances to an Iftar gathering in your dorm room or your apartment on campus. This will give the occasion a more warm and personal touch, in addition to the outreach different organizations on campus may already be doing. 6. Have the library put up a display about Ramadan and Islam
This should not only provide free brochures and written information to those interested. There should also be attractive photographs and Islamic art to attract the attention of passersby. And if make a point of booking a space for this kind of display next year.
7. Talk about Ramadan in your classes
Bring up the topic especially in sociology, anthropology and religion classes. Even better, talk to the teacher about doing a presentation on Ramadan to show the personal side of the occasion.
8. Do a commentary on campus radio about Ramadan
Find a radio show that gets a big audience and ask them about doing a short commentary about Ramadan. You can make it informational, but even better, mix some humor into it. Find out when you can do this and what the guidelines are. can help your body adjust to the daily Ramadan schedule that requires early waking for Suhur.