Alhamdulillah, all my kids are fasting. My kids enjoy fasting during summer time when the day time is longer than the night. They also learn about the benefits of fasting for their body and their soul.
My youngest one, who is 7, is fasting the whole day now. On the first day she broke her fast at 5 pm. The next day she added up one hour. The sunset (Maghrib) time was around 8pm in our place. She likes the idea of adding up one hour per day.
Now she doesn't want to break her fast until the sunset.
And at night, she prays Isha, 8 raka'at of Taraweeh and the Witr in masjid. She thinks the prayers are not that long.
Alhamdulillah.
One kid, I know, always finishes (khattam) reading al Qur'an every 3 days during Ramadan. Most kids finish reading al Qur'an in 12 days or 1 month. We like to see our kids reading al Qur'an throughout their life. What a beautiful blessing to see our kids reading al Qur'an. Alhamdulillah.
I think all children like to learn, especially, how to fast. They like to say "I am fasting, today" or "Mom, I am hungry". Sometime, they accidentally eat something because they forget that they are fasting. The kids love the feeling about forgetting not to eat during the day, but they do not want to break their fasting.
The kids learn that fasting is good for their soul because it's a way to get close to Allah. They fear Allah who is always watching us every time.
Alhamdulillah.
When they are begging to eat, we should try to tell them that there are so many kids out there not having the food for several days, weeks, and so on.
They learn that they should always thank Allah (Alhamdulillah). Our kids are blessed every day with plenty of food. If the kids still want to break their fast, you should let them break their fast. If you offer them to break their fast, most of time they will refuse. They don't want to break their fast because all their family and friends are fasting, too.
Alhamdulillah.
At night, they want to go to masjid for ifthar (breaking the fast). They feel that eating together in masjid is fun. It is also a blessing from Allah. They feel that they belong to the big Muslim community. They see that others Muslim are fasting together and helping each other in the masjid to serve the community.
Alhamdulillah.
The kids also learn the benefits of the Taraweeh prayer in masjid or at home.
Imagine that, if there is no Taraweeh praying. We would be so lazy after eating. Our activities would be sitting and sleeping during the night. By praying the Taraweeh prayer, the kids learn that it is not good for our body if we are lazy. The prayer helps our body move so our blood also keeps flowing.
Alhamdulillah.
In the masjid, th
e kids also help adults by serving the food and cleaning up the masjid.
The conclusion is that in Ramadan, the kids learn the benefits of Ramadan. It is good for the body and the soul.
I think when Ramadan ends, I always hear the kids say:
- "I miss Ramadan."
- "I still think about fasting during the day."
- "I miss eating together at masjid."
- "I miss the Taraweeh prayer."
- "I want Ramadan every day."
- "I love Ramadan."
- "I feel like party in masjid everyday when it's in Ramadan."
I hope that the spirit of Ramadan is always with the kids until the next Ramadan, such as:
- love reading Al Qur'an,
- praying (salah),
- helping others,
- coming to masjid.
May Allah help and guide our kids to be good Muslims, Aameen ya Rabb al Aameen.
Praise is belong to Allah.
Wa al hamdulillahi Rabb al Aameen.
