Valentine's Day and Muslim Kids

" ...and whoever transgresses the bounds of Allaah, he has wronged his own self,"
[Al Quran Soorah at-Talaaq, Aayah 1]

"... and co-operate with one another in righteousness and piety, and do not co-operate in sin and transgression. And fear Allaah! Verily Allaah is severe in punishment,"
[Al Quran Soorah al-Maa.idah, Aayah 2]

Prophet (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam) that he said: "Whoever imitates a people is one of them."

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What is Valentine's Day?

Valentine's Day, or St Valentine's Day, is celebrated every year on 14 February.
It's the day when people show their affection for another person (or people!) by sending anonymous cards, flowers or chocolates with messages of love.

In public school, they celebrate this Valentine's day.

We, as Muslim, are not to imitate this non Muslim celebration.
Please read more about History and Islamic perspective about Valentine's Day.

For Homeschool kids, they also need to understand why we are not celebrating this day.

My kids and their friends are talking about this Valentine's day.
The kids love to imitate their friends.

Celebrating the Valentine's day is not permissible in Muslim. It is an innovated holiday that has no basis in the Sharee`ah.

The Islamic scholars have to give lecture about how people should understand and relate to these events that surround all of us.

This is an important for Muslims residing in the Western, predominantly Christian, countries, who want to convey Islam to their children and to many non-Muslims who are unaware of the background of their celebrations.

Holiday Myths is also important for those living in Muslim countries, where globalization has brought Western customs and traditions to homes. Muslims now know what Valentine's Day is and a number of newspapers in Muslim countries even encourage readers to send in a Valentine's Message to a loved one.

We, as parent, have to be involved in all our kids' activities with their friends.

Here are some of advices that you can teach to your kids are:

- Explaining why we can not celebrate this day.
Let them read the article or hear the lecture about the history of this celebrations.
Please see the articles and video below.

- Explaining the two Muslim's celebrations are Eid Fitr and Eid Adha.

- Explaining them that all celebrations need alot of money to spend.
I told my kids from economy point of view.
The businessman have to sell their products. They create the business to make money from this celebration. How much money can they make by selling the cards, selling the flowers, and selling candies or chocolate?

From here, they will surprise that alot of money to spend only to celebrate this days.
Now with the same money, How many poor people can you help their life who do not have the foods to eat everyday?

My kids learn and help other people in the same time.

- Explaining about how Muslim should show their love to other, such as be generous, be nice, be kind and helpful, be the first to greet, etc.
Please read more in article How to Win Hearts.

Insha Allah, Our kids will understand why we do not celebrate non Muslim holidays.

Sources:
1. Valentine's Day - History and Islamic Perspective
2. Another good article How to Win Hearts

To watch video:
1. Who invented Valentines Day? -Sheikh Hakim Quick (Video)

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For Hadith this week:

Abu Hurairah (radiAllahu anhu) who quotes the Prophet as saying: 'A Muslim has a right against his fellow Muslim in six ways.' Asked what were these, the Prophet said:
'(1)When you meet him, greet him;
(2) if he invites you, accept his invitation;
(3) if he seeks your advice, give him an honest and sincere advice;
(4) if he sneezes and praises God, bless him;
(5) if he falls ill, visit him; and
(6) if he dies, attend his funeral.'
[Sahih al-Bukhari and Muslim]

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And I want to review with the kids about "What should we say?" in our daily use.

Assalaamu Alaykum (Peace be upon you) - by way of greetings

Wa alaykumus salaam (peace be upon you) - in reply to the greetings

Bismillah (in the name of Allah) - before making a beginning

Jazakallah (may Allah reward you) - for expression of thanks

Fi Amanullah (may Allah protect you) - by way of saying good-bye

Subhaanallah (glory be to Allah) - for praising something

Insha Allah (if Allah wishes) - for expressing a desire to do something

Astaghfirullah (I beg Allah for forgiveness) - repenting for sins before Allah

Maa shaa Allah (as Allah has willed) - for expressing appreciation of something good

Alhamdulillah (praise be to Allah) - for showing gratitude to Allah after success or even after completing anything

Yaa Allah (Oh Allah) - when in pain or distress, calling upon Allah and none else

Aameen (may it be so) - the end of a Dua or prayer

Innaa lillaahi wa innaa ilayhi raaji'oon (to Allah we belong and to Him is our return) - this is uttered as an expression of sympathy of the news of some loss or some one's death.


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For Quran:

Let memorize surah At Takathur and Surah At Taghabun.

Surah Al Takathur
1. At Takathur (Al Quran 102
2. At Takathur and Translation
3. AbdurRahman Al Sudais: At Takathur
4. At takathur and Translation
5. Surah At Takathur (102)
6. At Takathur Recitation

Surah At Taghabun:
1. AbdulRahman As-Sudais, Surat At-Taghabun
2. Surah 064 - Al Taghabun Saood Shuraim
3. Surah At Taghabun (Al Quran 64)
4. Surah At Taghabun - Barakatullah
5. Surah At Tagabun - Sheik AbdurRahman
6. Surat At- Taghabun Shiekh Mishary Al- Afasy


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For Islamic Studies:

1. Salaam Greeting

Umar (radiAllahu anhu) reports that he was riding with Abu Bakr (radiAllahu anhu) on one mount. When they passed by people, Abu Bakr (radiAllahu anhu) greeted them saying: 'Assalamu alaikum' and they replied: 'Wa alaikum assalam wa rahmatu Allah.'

2. Our story sahabah for the week is:
Story of Umayr Ibn Saad Al-Ansari.
My youngest son is reading it now.
I hope you are going to read it with your kids, too.

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For Maths:
In the last two weeks, we were busy on Test prep on Math, Language Arts, Reading Comprehension, Science, and preparing for Mathcounts.

1. Math Links
The test Prep is from the above links, Ikhlas Homeschool Website.
I made the Prep Test about Number Concepts, Computation, and Math with Application (including Geomerty, Graphs, Measurement, Word Problems, Data Analysis, etc.)
2. My youngest daughter starts counting the Number from this link,
Math for Kindergarten
and from here, Math counting
There is a game that she wants to do the Basic Counting.
She wants to do counting all the time.

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For Language Arts:
1. To learn Blends Sound
Blend Sounds Together
2. The test prep that we did took from the language arts link,
Language Arts Links
For age 7-18
The test prep on language Arts is covering the parts of speech, punctuation, word study, and other language skills, etc.)
2. My youngest daughter love to write, especially her name, from this link, Writing Practice
For Kindergaten
She learns how to write her name and how to spell her name.

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For Science:
1. Science Links
For age 7 - 18
Our test prep for Science is about Biology, such as Respiratory System, Excretory System, Reproductive System, Circulatory System, Nervous System, Skeletal System, Muscular System, Digestive System, etc.
2. Science & Technology : The Nature of Science
For age 8 - 18
3. Science & Technology: Earth Science
For age 8 - 18
4. My kids love to see this video about Science & Technology: Maglev
For age 8 - 18.
It is about Maglev that is gliding on a wave of electromagnetic force, a maglev train could travel at 300 miles per hour or faster. Designer-engineers describe the mechanics and future benefits of such superconductor trains.
This is Our future transportation.

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For Geography:
1. Capitals of Countries Worksheets
For age 7-14

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For Virtual Field Trip:
1. Space Tour
Reguire Flash 4.
For age 7-18
2. 4-H Virtual Farm
Kids can visit a horse farm, a beef or dairy farm, a poultry farm, and a wheat farm. There's even a fish farm!


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