The Multicultural Inter-Agency Group of Peel (MIAG), Peel Community Connections (PCC) and project partners have been working with the Muslim community to develop this resource book. Funding for this book has come from the Ontario Early Years Challenge Fund. As part of our “Diverse-city: A Strategy for Change” project, songs and stories from the Muslim community have been collected, translated and compiled into this book. BOOK FORMAT Keeping the Muslim Culture Alive has been designed to reinforce the importance of culture and tradition in the lives of our children. It has been designed to include songs and stories from various countries as well as to include some child rearing information for parents/caregivers. Countries have been sectioned off by continent to appear in the following order: North America, South America, Europe, Africa, and Asia. General parenting tips are found after the songs. A SPECIAL NOTE Although there is a great diversity in infant care practices in the different societies, babies are considered precious in every one. Appreciate Multiculturalism: Children are usually open to different cultures. Most of them have gone to fully integrated schools from the beginning. They have been provided a wealth of life experiences that are just not available to children living and studying in predominantly mono-cultural societies. Multicultural Inter-Agency Peel Community Connections (PCC) We recognize the Group of Peel (MIAG) 3034 Palstan Rd. Suite M3 Government of Ontario 3034 Palstan Rd. Suite 201 Mississauga, ON L4Y2Z6 for its financial support of Mississauga, ON L4Y2Z6 Tel: 905-270-2295 Fax: 905-270-6263 “Diverse-city: A Strategy Tel: 905-270-6252 Fax: 905-270-6263 [email protected] for Change”. [email protected] www.miag.ca www.peelcommunityconnections.com Page Title Parenting Tip 1 The Prophet Muhammad & Muslim Celebrations 2 Gifts of Parenthood 3 North America: Sing, Children of the World Link the Child to Allah 5 North America: The Things We Want To Say (The AGE: 0-1 Year Arabic Alphabet Song for Children) 6 South America: Trinidad – Allah’s Unfolding Rose AGE: 1-3 Months 7 South America: Trinidad – Allah Knows Best AGE: 4-7 Months 8 Europe: I Look, I See AGE: 8-12 Months 9 Europe: Bosnian Lullaby AGE: 1-2 Years 10 Europe: Bosnian Lullaby - Uspavanka The Shy Child 11 Africa: Egypt - Hajji, Hajji The Aggressive Child Mama Will Be Home Soon 12 Africa: Months in Islam Self-care 13 Africa: Somalia – Prior Life Affects Later Truth 15 Africa: Swahili – This My Day AGE: 2-3 Years Palm Branch of Coconut Leaves 16 Africa: A Letter to My Father AGE: 2-3 Years 17 Asia: Turkey – Hope of Tomorrow When Your Child Lies Story of Nasrettin Hoca 18 Asia: To My Mother Nutrition 19 Asia: Palestine (Middle East) – Muhammad’s Family AGE: 3-4 Years Saudi Arabia –In Praise of the Prophet 20 Asia: Urdu – Riddles Preparing for Kindergarten AGE: 4-5 Years 21 Asia: The Prayer of a Child AGE: 5-6 Years The Importance of Dad 22 More Parenting Tips 24 Bibliography (Parenting Tips) 25 Acknowledgements 1 -Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) appreciated motherhood and childhood; he treated his children -and grandchildren with extraordinary compassion. He said “Heaven is at mother’s feet”. -Once Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) extended his prostration while praying. When he completed his prayer someone asked him why he did that. The Prophet replied that his grandson was playing on his shoulder and he did not want to upset the child’s enjoyment EID is a special holiday because it is not about getting but about GIVING Everyone Inspiration Delicious On Eid, Muslims have their Eid is a celebration that Eid is a time for sharing blessings with everyone no inspires us to be a better delicious foods and treats matter what their colour or person: kind, caring, from all over the world as religion. We are all children of generous and helpful to Muslims celebrate Eid all Adam and Eve and God loves everyone. God is most kind over the world. us all. and He wants us to be kind to everyone. RAMADAN Ramadan is a holy month for Muslims. In Ramadan, Muslims do not eat or drink during the daylight hours. Staying hungry enables one to feel the hunger of the poor. By staying hungry we realize what a great blessing food and drink is. While Muslims are fasting they cannot lie, speak ill of others or use bad language. Fasting teaches Muslims to be humble and patient, to thank God for all they have, to feel for and share with the poor and the needy. EID UL FITR Eid Ul Fitr is a festival that lasts for 3 days and comes and the end of Ramadan. On the Eid, children receive presents and gifts. Everyone dresses in their best clothes and goes to the mosque to pray to God. Prayers are made for world peace and happiness and for the poor and underprivileged. Families and friends gather together for delicious food and desserts. It is a great day of happiness and joy. EID UL ADHA Eid Ul Adha is the second feast celebrated by all Muslims after the seasons of pilgrimage to the holy city of Mecca. It is a four day celebration. In the morning of the first day, Muslim families meet each other and go to pray in the mosque. Children receive gifts and treats, and families get together for special holiday meals inviting friends and families. 2 Your child is the greatest gift you will ever receive. From the moment you first hold this miracle of life in your arms; your world will be broader and richer. You will experience a flood of feelings, some of wonder and joy and others of confusion and of being overwhelmed and wondering whether you can ever measure up to the needs of your new baby THE GIFTS YOU GIVE YOUR CHILD Unconditional Love Love lays out the core of your relationship with your child. It needs to flow freely in both directions. Just as she/he loves you without question, you must give her your love and acceptance absolutely. Your love shouldn’t depend on the way she looks or behaves. It shouldn’t be used as a reward or withheld as a threat. Your love for your child is constant and indisputable, and it’s up to you to convey that, especially when she misbehaves and needs to have limits set or behavior corrected. Self Esteem One of your most important gifts as a parent is to help your child develop self-esteem. It is not an easy or quick process. Self-confidence, and belief in oneself, which are the building blocks of self-esteem, takes years to become firmly established. Your child needs your steady support and encouragement to discover his strengths. He needs you to believe in him as he learns to believe in himself. Loving him, spending time with him, listening to him and praising his accomplishments are all part of this process. If he is confident of your love, admiration, and respect, it will be easier for him to develop the solid self-esteem he needs to grow up happy and emotionally healthy. Values and Traditions Regardless of whether you actively try to pass on your values and beliefs to your child, she is bound to absorb some of them just by living with you. She’ll notice how disciplined you are in your work, how deeply you hold your beliefs, and whether you practice what you preach. She’ll participate in family rituals and traditions and think about their significance. You can’t expect or demand that your child subscribe to all your opinions, but you can present you beliefs honestly, clearly, and thoughtfully, in keeping with the child’s age and maturity level. Values and Spirituality Values like loyalty, honesty, truthfulness and love are the foundation for healthy child development. Alcoholism, drug-addiction, obesity or compulsive shopping are sometimes due to a lack of spirituality. The intention is to fill an emptiness with the non-essential while creating instead an unhealthy dependency. Teach your child to make decisions based on analysis and reason, considering the positive and negative impact of their act and ponder the value of their decisions. The belief on a superior power, defined as you decide, will allow the child to trust in that infinite power of Love and Gratitude. 3 Sing, Children of the World Words and melody: D. Wharnsby © 1998 Enter Into Peace Walking through the crowded streets, of a market in Morocco Sitting on a smiling camel, in the desert of Arabia Chasing ’round the bamboo trees of Bandung, Indonesia Gathering brightly coloured leaves, in a forest of Canada Napping beneath the date palm shade, under blue skies of Tunisia Freeing kites into the night from a roof-top in Pakistan. Planting rows of beans and maize, on a small farm in Uganda Laying back to count the stars, from somewhere in Afghanistan Sing, Children of the World! Come together and hear the call. Sing, Children of the World! Our youth will unite us all. Sing, Children of the World! Come together and hear the call. Sing, Children of the World! The truth will unite us all. Subhanallah, walhamdulillah, wallahu Akbar Subhanallah, walhamdulillah, wallahu Akbar Splashing through the pouring rain, in a village of Guyana Nibbling cakes from picnic plates, on a mountaintop in Switzerland Tending to a flock of sheep, down under in Australia Greeting morning with a prayer, on the golden Egyptian sand Sing, Children of the World! Come together and hear the call. Sing, Children of the World! Our youth will unite us all.