It is important to teach our kids that the right hand is used for clean practices like eating and shaking hands. The left hand is used by a person to clean up filth, wash himself after going to the bathroom, and other similar activities.
This tradition reflects the unseen wisdom behind eating and drinking with the right hand, as we see that Satan, who seeks to lead us away from Allah, eats and drinks with the left. Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) has taught us a complete system to release ourselves from Satan’s control, and thereby earn the Pleasure of Allah.
The implementation of the sunna is a form of remembrance of Allah. We as Muslims believe that Allah has put blessing and good in every action of the Prophet. Through His Mercy, He has enabled us to get close to Him through every act we do, even those that are considered routine.
In Hadiths Regarding Eating With Our Right Hand.
- Once a man was eating in the company of the Prophet (peace be upon him) and was using his left hand. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "Eat with your right hand."
The man responded: "I am not able to do so." He only said this out of obstinacy.
So the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "Then be unable to do so."
The narrator of this hadîth then adds: "He was not able after that to raise his right hand to his mouth."
[Sahîh Muslim (2021)]
- The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "If one of you eats, he should eat with his right hand. And if he drinks something, he should drink with his right hand. For indeed, Satan eats and drinks with his left hand."
[Sahîh Muslim (2020)]
- The Companion Jabir (God be pleased with him) said:
"I heard the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) saying: ‘Do not eat with your left hand, because Satan eats and drinks with his left hand.’"
[Reported by Muslim.]
- Ibn 'Umar (Radi Allah Anhu) reported Allah's Messenger (sal-allahu- alleihi-wasallam) as saying:
"When any one of you intends to eat (meal), he should eat with his right hand. and when he (intends) to drink he should drink with his right hand, for the Satan eats with his left hand and drinks with his left hand."
[Sahih Muslim: Volume 3, Book 23, Number 5007]
- Salim (Radi Allah Anhu), on the authority of his father, reported Allah's Messenger (sal-allahu- alleihi-wasallam) as saying:
"None of you should eat with his left hand and drink with that (left hand), for the Satan eats with left hand and drinks with that (hand). Nafi' has made this addition in that:" Do not take up anything with that (left hand) and do not give anything with that."
[Sahih Muslim: Volume 3, Book 23, Number 5010]
- Umar Ibn Abee Salamah reported, "The Messenger of Allaah, sall-Allaahu `alayhi wasallam, said to me, "Mention Allaah's Name, eat with your right hand, and eat from what is near you.""
[Al-Bukhaaree and Muslim]
Let's teach our kids to eat and drink with his/her right hand.
May Allah help us in teaching our kids in Islamic ways. Ameen.
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Insha Allah, for other useful links please go to Ikhlas Homeschool
On Thursday, June 19, we had Homeschool Families Gathering in one of sisters from the group. The families were from different cities, different backgrounds, different ethnics, different languages, different point of views, different way of teaching kids, different ages, differents taste, etc. We came together because we were all Muslim and were homeschooling our kids.
Alhamdulillah, we were having fun. The kids were busy:
- played together,
- talked about their homeschool,
- got to know each other,
- played ball,
- played jungle gym,
- and at the end, the kids got wet because of playing water.
(They love to play water in this summer.)
The kids got along each other even some of them were never meet each other.
Insha Allah, We will have next gathering in other place.
These were some of the discussions that we talked about:
- A sister will plan to have field trip a fruit picking soon.
- Some sisters were organizing Al Mustaqbal Islamic Homeschool Cooperative. This is very good idea. The families, who have kids in eight grade in Islamic School, have problem to find out the place for continuing their school after eight grade. Insha Allah, this is the answer of their problem now, the Islamic Homeschool Coop.
- Other sister would like to have small halaqah once a week.
- Other wants to have meet once a month.
- Other wants to stay home most of the time to teach the kids at home.
- etc.
Thank you for the sister who was hosting this gathering for us in her house. The foods were so delicious. I think we should have cooking class with her next time. Insha Allah...What do you think?
May Allah give you alot of rewards. Ameen.
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On Thursday, June 12th, we helped to prepare the food for the homeless shelter, Columbus House, in New Haven.
The kids were so exciting. They never saw or been in the homeless shelter. When we got there, first we helped to prepare the food in the kitchen. Everyone got to wear gloves. We met the person who was in charge in the kitchen. We started to get very busy.
- Cutting the meatloaf.
- Spread the bread on trays.
- Put together all the vegetables.
- Make sure everything is warmed up.
- Put the salad dressing on salad.
Now we had to put the foods on plates. There were more than 75 people. We had to make foods for them all. We got their plates ready to be served. Sister Jamilah said, "Don't forget to give the big smile to them." When preparing the plates :
- First the kids put one scoop of groundbeef or one meatloaf.
- Then they put rice, vegetables, salad, and bread.
- Last, the boys helped by giving them the cookies to everyone in the room where the people were eating together.
The kids said that helping as volunteer made them happy to see other people very happy eating their foods. The people were so hungry at that time. The kids also said that they love doing this and they want to do it again. Insha Allah.
The other thing that the kids also said to me, was that most of that people are healthy and strong. Why do they have to stay in homeless shelter? That was what the kids were wondering why? why? and why?
I said to them that it could be because maybe:
- No job or hardship.
- No place to live.
- Economy is going down.
- Don't have anything to live.
- Laziness.
It's very different when you see the homeless in third world countries.
The kids said that the homeless people in America should help themselves to find the job so they can help themselves to survive. There are so many things that they can try to do. They can work as long as they want to work hard. The kids also knew that there are so many place to get the free training before finding the job. Jobs that are granted from government.
I think the kids are right. We have to work hard and think.
Then I remember and share the hadiths that talked about it to the kids. The hadiths are as following:
- It is related from Abu Sa'id al-Khudri, "Some of the people of the Ansar asked something from the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, and he gave it to them. Then they asked him again and he gave to them until he had used up everything he had. He said, 'If I had anything more, I would not withhold it from you. If someone refrains, Allah will spare him from needing to ask. If someone wants to be independent, Allah will make him so. If someone shows fortitude, Allah will increase him in it. No one can be given any better and greater gift than fortitude.'"
- It is related from Abu Hurayra that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "By the One in whose hand my self is, it is better for one of you to take a rope and carry firewood on his back than for him to go to a man to beg from him who then gives to him or refuses to."
- It is related from az-Zubayr ibn al-'Awwam that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "It is better for one of you to take a rope and bring a faggot of firewood on his back and sell it so that Allah gives him what he needs than for him to ask people who then give to him or refuse."
- It is related that Hakim ibn Hizam said, "I asked the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, and he gave to me and then I asked him and he gave to me and then I asked him again and he gave to me. Then he said, 'Hakim, this wealth is verdant and sweet. Anyone who takes it in a generous spirit will be blessed in it but anyone who takes it in an avaricious way will not be blessed in it, like someone who eats and is not satisfied. The upper hand is better than the lower hand.'" Hakim said, "I said, 'Messenger of Allah, by the One who sent you with the Truth, I will never again ask anyone for anything until I leave this world.'" Abu Bakr called Hakim to take his share and he refused to take it from him. Then 'Umar called him to give to him and he refused to accept anything from him either. 'Umar said, "I call on you to testify, company of Muslims, that I offered Hakim his share of this booty and he refused to take it!" Hakim did not take anything from any person after the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, until he died.
- It is related from Abu Hurayra that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "It is better for one of you to take a rope and go in the morning (I think he said "to the mountains") and get firewood and sell it and eat and give sadaqa than for him to go to a man to beg from him."
In conclusion that we, as Muslim, should learn that:
- We have think smart and work hard in this worldly life.
- Do not be lazy because laziness is part of shayateen's job to get the Muslim go to hell.
- Upper hand (giving charity) is better than lower hand (begging).
- We have to educate ourselves to be good Muslim.
- We always have to pray and ask to Allah, Al-Kareem - The Generous.
I said to my kids that this activity was just for da'wah. Give Big Smile......(Smile is also charity).
May Allah guide us to be good Muslim all the time. Ameen.
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Geometry
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On Saturday, May 31st, We went to New Jersey for Annual Islamic Quiz Competition.
The kids had written test from 10:30-11:30am in North Brunswick High School, New Jersey. They were 7 level for different ages.
While the kids were in classroom having written test, the parents had the program in auditorium. Some of the programs were presentation from some of Sheikhs about the deen, the video, the quiz for parents with small gifts, etc.,
After that, we had lunch time at 12:30pm.
The kids were still with their friends.
At 1 pm we were ready for praying Zuhur together with others Muslim in that school.
Then we were back in auditorium for the 5 finalist winners in each level.
Alhamdulillah, there were homeschooling kids were winners in five finalist kids, there were:
- Yusuf Khan for level 1.
- Saliha Ahmed for level 3.
- Zainab Khan for level 5.
Congratulations to all of you.
Insha Allah, more Muslim kids will join the competition.
The written test and the games were very good for kids to learn Islamic Studies, to have new friends, and to have fun.
We were back again to Connecticut at 7:30 pm after driving for almost 2 and half hours. It was very nice field trip passsing by Hudson River in Manhattan."
This is what people always said, "I Love New York."
My kids love to go to New York just to see the beautiful view from Hudson River side.
You can see the webcam of Hudson River live in here.
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