FOSTER CARERS CARING FOR MUSLIM CHILDREN A Mercy Mission Guide MERCY MISSION UK ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Mercy Mission UK is a faith inspired community We would like to thank you for helping the We would like to acknowledge the development organisation. We have a vision community manage its responsibility in unprecedented support and investment to see a Great Britain, ‘where every Muslim raising its children, and hope to help and from the Better Communities Business can live faithfully to their belief building an support you in your efforts. Network for believing in the work of Mercy exemplary Muslim community that benefits Mission UK and supporting this effort from society’. We are driven by creating safe spaces the very start of its relaunch. for people of all faith traditions and none, to better understand one another and create We would also like to support from Islamic opportunities for challenging inequalities and Relief UK in helping shape the project and empowering the most vulnerable in society. its community engagement with a specific interest in unaccompanied minors. A key priority in this regard is children in care, and recognising the different needs of Muslim Last but not least, our deepest thanks to children, we are seeking to support those carers Kay Mirza and Sharma Jung who helped who would like more knowledge on how best make this guide become a reality, and our to meet the needs of these children. This guide utmost gratitude to Savita de Sousa and is a key component of our support offering, John Simmonds for their continued support and along with our new website and forum, and advice. we hope to be able to support you take a wonderful journey in fostering a Muslim child. Thankyou A Mercy Mission Guide: Foster Carers caring for Muslim children mercymission.org.uk mercymission.org.uk CONTENTS FORWARD The UK offers some of the highest living standards cultural dimensions from those they have or make a new life here, is priceless. We are in the world. For the parents amongst us, this known in their homeland. These children grateful to every foster carer who undertakes INTRODUCTION 6 LOOKING AFTER MUSLIM CHILDREN 20 Disability wonderful country is full of potential for our are traumatised by their experiences, and to offer this gift. Pets children. We take for granted that they will enjoy desperately in need of support as they enter our ISLAM & FOSTERARE 7 WHY HELP CHILDREN MAINTAIN 21 Family Composition THEIR RELIGION? full access to world class education, sports facilities, foster care system. I hope this guide will help you make the best INTRODUCTION TO ISLAM AND MUSLIMS 8-9 REFUGEES IN FOCUS 40 arts and culture. We assume that they will feel possible home for children from the Muslim What is Islam? HOW TO HELP A MUSLIM CHILD TO BE 22-23 safe, understood and accepted in our society. As foster carers, you can create a sanctuary community, as you have done for children Who are Muslims? PROCTIVE IN HIS/HER FAITH BUILDING FUTURE FOR NEW ARRIVALS 41 for these vulnerable children to help them from other traditions. Who is Muhammad? However, we all know that there are other find stability in difficult times. We know how What is the Qur’an (Koran)? SUMMARY OF BASIC REQUIREMENTS 24-39 MOVING FORWARD 42 parents and children who experience a starkly vital your contribution is and how much of a Food different reality. There are families which, for difference you make to young lives. WHAT DO MUSLIMS BELIEVE? 10-11 Eating Habits RESOURCES 43 I. Six Essential Muslim Beliefs Cigarettes, Alcohol and Substance Misuse a variety of reasons, have become broken. Thankyou II. Five Actions Muslims Must Practise: Dress Children have become separated from their We have worked with Muslim children to put Tariq Usmani Five Pillars Of Islam Gender Relations parents, have been displaced by war, famine together this guide. They themselves have BCBN Chair Personal Care and natural disaster, and have made their way identified the essential information that WHAT IS SHARI’AH LAW? 11 Prayer (Salah) to the UK, often by perilous routes. they would want their own foster carers to Facilitating Prayer have. They have told us that they want to ISLAM & MUSLIMS 12 Fasting (Sawm) Facilitating Fasting In recent times, the majority of these children feel understood, accepted and connected to a THE IMPORTANCE OF FAMILY IN ISLAM 13-19 Case Study Two have emerged from mainly Muslim communities familiar community. The gift of a placement Birth EID in the Middle East and Asia. They arrive here as which ensures a degree of cultural continuity, Male And Female Circumcision Facilitating Eid unaccompanied minors to find very different whether they return to their own homeland Marriage In Islam Case Study Three Rights & Responsibilities in the Muslim Family Gambling Domestic Violence Physical Divorce in Islam Illness Case Study One Mental Illness A Mercy Mission Guide: Foster Carers caring for Muslim children mercymission.org.uk mercymission.org.uk Page No. 6 - Introduction Click to go back to Contents Page No. 7 - Islam & Fostercare Click to go back to Contents INTRODUCTION ISLAM & FOSTERCARE This guide seeks to provide a better Muslim children in Britain are from the most This guide has been drawn up after much Islam is one of the largest religions in the world, that is now changing in the United Kingdom understanding of the needs and dispositions of diverse of backgrounds, ranging from those that consultation with children, professional affirmed by over 20% of the global population. It and as the community matures, and socio- Muslim children. The focus being to ensure an have ancestry in the Scottish Highlands to those staff, parents and foster carers across is founded on recognising there is only one god economic circumstances improve, participating optimal foster care placement through reducing from ethnic backgrounds spanning right across Muslim and Non-Muslim circles. We hope worthy of worship, and the Prophet Muhammad, is increasing. as much disruption as possible to the norms the the globe, from Pakistan to the Philippines. In that you find it beneficial in finding the (Upon whom be peace) is his final messenger. It child may have from a psycho-social perspective. recent years’ conflict across the Middle East and best possible outcomes for the children comes as the final installment of the Abrahamic Unlike some religious traditions, the Islamic Many Muslim children have a cultural and faith parts of Africa have led to an increase in children you care for. traditions, as such has many shared and faith has a single source for its religious tradition which has a major impact on their from these countries. However, their diversity common values with traditional Christianity and doctrine, with the single and same edition of understanding of the world, and we are focused in ethnicity is offset in a unity in faith tradition. Judaism. In the UK context it is the largest of the Quran, being in use globally. However, over on ensuring that carers understand this, so as Like all children, they deserve to be cared for in a all minority religions and is a major stakeholder time certain small but recognisable differences to be as sensitive to many of their perspectives culturally and religiously sensitive manner. This in the religious demography of the country’s have emerged in the community, which as a as possible. Through the guide we simplify guide seeks to support you in doing just that. largest cities and metropolitan centres. carer should be easy to accommodate due to explanations of Muslim rituals and practices their only very slight variances. Nevertheless, and explain their context, and allow you to Islam considers the family unit as being a the guide will help you navigate any such better understand the ‘why’ behind many very noble structure, at the heart of which issues too, so worry not. nuances that come with a successful placement are children. Islam praises individuals of a Muslim child. who seek to support those in distress, so the concept of fostering is beloved to this Together with this guide, we have created a faith, and his precedence as being an act of website (www.muslimfosternetwork.org.uk) faith. Unfortunately over the years various and forum, where you can learn more and cultural norms have negatively impacted the raise any specific questions about caring for participation of the Muslim community in the Muslim children. fostering space. However, this is something A Mercy Mission Guide: Foster Carers caring for Muslim children mercymission.org.uk mercymission.org.uk Page No. 8 - Introduction to Islam and Muslims Click to go back to Contents Page No. 9 - Introduction to Islam and Muslims Click to go back to Contents INTRODUCTION TO ISLAM AND MUSLIMS WHAT IS ISLAM? WHO ARE MUSLIMS? WHO IS MUHAMMAD? WHAT IS THE QUR’AN (KORAN)? 1. The Qur’an (Divine Revelation from God) Islam is a monotheistic religious tradition based on a firm Muslims are people who ascribe to the Islamic faith Muhammad is the final Prophet sent to mankind, The Qur’an is the speech of God 2. The Sunnah (Prophetic Guidance of Muhammad which belief, that there is only one god worthy of worship, and and as such affirm five pillars of the tradition. The to call people to the worship and obedience to God Almighty and is the primary source of includes his statements, actions and tacit approval.) Muhammad, (Upon whom be peace) is his final messenger. first being the statement of faith, the second being (Allah) alone. Muslims do not worship Muhammad Islamic teachings and law. The Qur’an It affirms the traditions of Christianity and Judaism and their to pray five times a day, the third to pay Zakat, a nor do they pray to him.