Home Education Resources II- May 2008

Islamic Studies
Let's listen and hear about the Treaty of Hudaibiyah.

• Story of Abu Jandal(RA) by Yasir Qadhi (8 minutes)
  
• The Treaty of Hudaibiyyah (Part 1)
  by Yasir Qadhi (11 minutes)
  
• The Treaty of Hudaibiyyah (Part 2) by Yasir Qadhi (11 minutes)
  
• The Treaty of Hudaibiyyah (Part 3) by Yasir Qadhi (11 minutes)
  
• The Treaty of Hudaibiyyah (Part 4) by Yasir Qadhi (11 minutes)
  
• The Treaty of Hudaibiyyah (Part 5) by Yasir Qadhi (11 minutes)
  
• The Treaty of Hudaibiyyah (Part 6) by Yasir Qadhi (9 minutes)
  
• The Treaty of Hudaibiyyah (Part 7) by Yasir Qadhi (8 minutes)
  
• Let's hear about The Treaty of Hudaibiyah (please click on Seerah #29 and #30
  
• Let's read about The Treaty of Hudaibiyah
  
• Pledge of Ridwan
  

Qur'an

• Learn to read and recite Arabic Qur'an
  

Arabic

• Learn to say in Arabic
  

Math

• Math Balloons
  For age 9 and Up.
  
• Math Night Modules
  For age 5 and Up.
  

Languange Arts

• Agreement errors using each: Practice on Sentence and Paragraph
  For age 10 and Up.
  

Science

• Living on Earth: Chaparral
  For age 10 and Up.
  
• Social Science
  

History

• History of Australia
  For age 8 and Up.
  

Other

• American Muslim Mom: Freebies for Homeschooling
  
• Another Freebies for Homeschooling
  

Thank you very much for a sister who was sharing the links in the group.


Virtual Field Trip

• Open Road TV: Field Trip in the West of US
  The videos based on geographic region in the western U.S. such as:
  Alaska, Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada, Utah, Wyoming.
  

The Angel of Death

Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi rajiun.
To Allah we belong and truly to Him we shall return.
(Surah Al Baqarah, 2: 155-156)
===================

Encounters with the Angel of Death

• The King and the Angel of Death
  
  Wahb Bin Munabbah Rahmatullah alaihe has narrated the following story: 'A king once decided to tour his dominions and survey his kingdom. He ordered out his stately robes and was presented a suit, but it did not please his fancy. He called for another, and still another and, after rejecting so many, found one that was to his liking. He wore this most elegant suit, and ordered his horse. A fine horse was brought, but he did not like it and sent it back. Then two more horses were presented to him, one after the other, but he did not like them either. At last, the whole stable of riding-horses was brought before him and he selected the best steed. The king then mounted the horse. The accursed Shaitan infused pride and vanity into his mind and he rode off proudly, followed by his courtiers, attendants and armed-men, in a mighty cavalcade. But the king was too full of disdain to take notice of them. As he rode on, he came upon a decrepit old man, dressed in rags, who greeted him, but the king paid no attention. At this, the ragged man took hold of the horse's bridle. The king flew into a rage and said to him threateningly, Off with you! How dare you catch hold of my horse's reins?' The man said, 'I have some business with you'. The king said, 'Be patient and wait till I come back and dismount; for, then I shall have time to listen to what you have to say'. The man said, 'I must say it just now' and saying this, he gave a violent tug to the bridle and snatched it away. The king said, "Well, what do you want to say.?" The man said, 'It is a secret;- I must whisper it in your ears'. The king bowed his head and the man whispered into his ear 'I am lzraeel (the Angel of Death), come to take your soul'. And then, of course, the king turned pale and his voice quavered, and he said in a faltering voice, 'Could you give me a brief respite, to go home, meet my people and arrange my affairs? The angel said, 'No, you shall have no respite. Never again shall you meet your kinsmen or we your possessions'. Saying this, the angel pulled out the soul from his body and he fell down from the horse like a log of drywood.
  
  
• The Pious man
  
  "After this, the Angel of Death went to a pious Mu'min (Believer) who was also going on a journey. He greeted the man saying, 'Assalaam-o-Alaikum' (peace be upon you!) and the man returned, 'Wa'Alaikum-us-Salaam' (And upon you be peace!). The angel then said to him, 'I want to say something into your ear'. The Angel whispered into his ears, 'I am lzraeel the Angel of Death'. The man said, 'Most welcome! Blessed is your visit.? For, you have come after I have waited so long. Of all the persons who are far away from me, you are the one I was most anxious to see'. The angel said,"' Go and hasten to do the task for which you have undertaken the journey. The man said,'l would dearly love to meet my Allah, more than anything else in the world'. The angel said, 'Choose for yourself any state in which you would like to meet death and I shall draw out your soul when you are in that state.' The man said, "I leave it to your choice' The angel said, 'I have been commanded to do as you please'. The man said, 'If so, let me take Wudhu (ablution) and stand in Salaat; when I lie prostrate (in Sajdah) before my Lord, you can pull out the spirit from my body'. So, the pious man was engaged in Salaat, lying in Sajdah, when his soul was taken out of the body. (Ihyaa).
  
  
• Ibrahim(Alaihis sallaam) and the Angel of Death (Izraeel Alaihis sallaam)
  
  So horrible is the appearance of lzraeel Alaihis sallaam when he comes to take the souls of the sinners, that the strongest of men cannot bear the sight. It is said that once Prophet Ibrahim Alaihis salaam asked lzraeel(A.S.) to show him the aspect that he were while taking the souls of the wicked. The angel told him that he would not be able to bear the sight, but Ibrahim Alaihis salaam said that he could stand it. The Angel then asked him to turn aside and he did so. After a short while the Angel said, 'Now, look here" and Ibrahim Alaihis salaam turned round to him. What he met his gaze, there was a most horrible giant- like figure dressed in black, dark-complexioned and long-haired, with each hair standing stiffly on end, giving off a most disgusting smell, with flames of fire leaping up from his mouth and nostrils! Ibrahim Alaihis salaam could not bear to look at the sight and swooned. When he regained consciousness, Izraeel Alaihis salaam had resumed his normal form. Ibrahim Alaihis salaam then said, 'Even if there were no other affliction for the wicked, the terrible ordeal of facing Izraeel, in such a horrible form, should suffice for their punishment" This is the form in which the Angel of Death appears when he visits the wicked people. But when he comes to take the souls of the pious and the devout servants of Allah Ta'ala, he appears in the most handsome form, wearing a very pleasant look. When Ibrahim Alaihissalam asked Izraeel Alaihis salaam to appear before him in the form that he adopts while visiting the pious people, he saw, standing before him, a handsome young man elegantly dressed, with perfumes all round his body. Ibrahim Alaihis salaam said, "Even if there were no other joy for the believer than the bliss of seeing the handsome face of Izraeel Alaihis salaam at the hour of death, it should suffice for his pleasures.'
  
  
• Angel of Death's visit during mourning
  
  Hasan Basri Rahmatullah alaihe says, " When a person dies and members of his household begin to weep and cry, the Angel of Death stands at the doorway and, addresses them, "I did not deprive him of his livelihood(he has already exhausted his decreed portion), I did not cut short his life time. I have been commanded to visit this house again and again, until none of its inmates is left alive." Hasan Rahmatullah alaihe says, "By Allah ! If the mourners could see the Angel at that time and listen to his talk, they would forget about the deceased and start worrying about themselves."
  

Source: Virtues of Sadaqaat(English Translation Pg. 581;589)

Courtesy: www.everymuslim.com
===========================

Let's learn about Death

• Poetry: Angel of Death
  
• Life After Death
  
  
• Preparation of the Deceased and Janazah Prayers
  
  
  
• Sheikh Feiz Mohammad - True Stories of Death Part 1 (10 min)
  
  
• Sheikh Feiz Mohammad - True Stories of Death Part 2 (10 min)
  
  
• Sheikh Feiz Mohammad - True Stories of Death Part 3 (10 min)
  
  
• Sheikh Feiz Mohammad - True Stories of Death Part 4 (10 min)
  
  
• Your Last Day on Earth - Sheikh Feiz (46 min)
  
  
• Death
  
  
• Lecture relating to death
  

===============

Activities and Worksheet for kids:

• Teaching the kids about Death that we are going back to Allah where we belong. Death is natural. Every soul will taste death.
  Soon or later, we have to be ready.
  Let's kids learn how to take care of the deceased.
  
  This is very good way to teach the kids about death:
  Washing and Shrounding the Deceased
  
  Insha Allah, the kids will learn and get more close to Allah.
  
  
• Writing poetry, paragrah, and story that relating to the death in Islam, such as:
  
  
  
  • "Islam guides Muslims from birth to grave"
    
  • and "Islam is a complete way of life."
    
  
  
  
• Reading articles or books about
  
  
  
  • What To Do When A Muslim Dies
    
  • Death
    
  • Life After Death .
    
  
  
  
• Listening to lectures above about death.
  
  
• Writing in Arabic and memorizing:
  
  
  
  • Last Words Before Dying : La ilaha illallahu
    Meaning: There is no deity but Allah.
    
  • For Calamity: Inna lillahi wa inna ilaihi raji'un
    Meaning: We belong to Allah and to Him we shall return.
    
  
  Please see in Death Du'as to know how the du'as are written in Arabic.
  
  
• Learn how to do The Funeral Prayer.
  
  

Please share with us in the group, if you know something how to teach the kids about death.

May Allah accept all our ibadaahs in this world life. Ameen.

Home Education Resources I - May 2008

• Islamic Studies
  
  Let's read the Story of Companions of Prophet: An-Nuayman Ibn Amr and his humor
  
  
  
  • The Companions of Prophet: An-Nuayman Ibn Amr
    
    
  • The Sahaba: An-Nuayman Ibn Amr
    
    
  
  
  
• Math
  
  
  
  All for middle and high school.
  
  
  • Learn Algebra, Geometry, Trigonometry, etc.
    
  
  
  
• Language Arts
  
  
  
  
  • Interactive game: Part of speech
    For elementary school.
    
  
  
  
• Science
  
  
  
  
  • Take me to TJ's Science Page
    
    
  • Science Games
    For all grades
    
  
  
  
• Others
  
  
  
  • Loving Allah: Review of Oakmeadow
    
    
  • College Bound Reading List
    
    
  • Preparing for College
    
    
  
  
  

25th year of Connecticut Invention Convention - May 3rd, 2008

Creativity In Imagination

Gampel Pavilion, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT

On Saturday, May 3rd, 2008, we attended the 25th year of Connecticut Invention Convention in Gampel Pavilion - University of Connecticut, in Storrs, CT.

The Connecticut Invention Convention (CIC) is a non profit organization dedicated to the goals of promoting critical and creative thinking. The CIC has also helps prepare our children for future productivity and success.

A total of almost 500 student finalists from different schools (including homeschools) in Connecticut gathered to compete for Recognition Awards and celebrate their achievement in problem solving and critical thinking.

The students were asked to identify a problem or need and then to invent something to solve the problem. They also had to make sure that their invention had not already been created and then, with a budget of no more than $25, build their invention.
They had also to make a display boards explaining the problem and the steps taken to solve it, how they made their inventions and what they did.

Many students who had participated in the CIC credited their later interest in science, math and engineering to their early experience with "inventing."

Many young CT inventors had appeared on the Martha Stewart, Jay Leno and Ellen DeGeneres and Cyberchase shows, and even been recognized by a US Secretary of Energy for their inventiveness and creativity.

Homeschooling Kids in CIC 2008

You can see the list of winners in the 25th year of Connecticut Invention Convention website.

This competition was very good for kids. The kids learned and invented something that didn't exist before. All young inventors will become brain of tomorrow. Their problem solving ability will help drive a more robust economy and develop new products. The kids will always discover new ways to solve any problem they might encounter.

Insha Allah, next year more Muslim kids will join in the CIC.

A Short Story About Going To Convention of The Invention

That Saturday morning, we were ready to go to I-95 highway, but we forgot to bring the invented stuff in our car. We had to go back home again to take the invented stuff for the display in University of Connecticut. It was almost 9am. It took about an hour to go the University of Connecticut.

At 9:50am, we arrived in there. The opening ceremony already started.
We had to do the admission first to find out the number of table for displaying the invention. Alhamdulillah, we were right on time.

My daughter was so distressed about going down the stairs to put her display in table 48. Alhamdulillah, a staff helped her to go to the table and to put her invention's board.

After the opening ceremony, the judge started to go down to see the display and to interview the students about their inventions.
The parents and the teachers were busy, such as having the science teachers forum, looking around on the booths, taking care the siblings, tour on campus, etc....

When the judge finished interviewing her. She heard that one of the judges said "sockingly true" about her inventions. She thought that he looked socking about the inventions.

At 12:30pm, we were having lunch and went to Islamic Center of the University of Connecticut to pray Zuhur at 1pm.
My husband did sholat ba'da Zuhur such a long time.
We were waiting in the car.....waiting, waiting, and waiting. The time was 1:50pm.
We had to be back to the Gampel Pavilion at 1:30pm for annoucement of the winners.

At 2pm, we were back again in the Gampel Pavilion. It was right on time, my daughter was announced that she won for special award. What a relieve that we were on time again in there. Alhamdulillah, we didn't miss anything.

Alhamdulillah, alhamdulillah, and alhamdulillah.
This is only the beginning of our journey in homeschooling.

May Allah always increase our knowledge. Ameen.

Sources:

• Children Put Inventions On Display At UConn Convention
  
  
• Connecticut Inventions Convention
  
  

Surah At-Tariq /The Night

Surah Tariq = The Night
Number of Surah (chapter) = 86
Number of Ayah (verses)= 17
Place of revelation = Macca

The Surah taken its name from the word at-tariq in its first verse.

This surah was sent down at a stage when the disbelievers of Makkah were employing all sorts of devices and plans to defeat and frustrate the message of the Qur'an and Muhammad (upon whom be Allah's peace and blessings).


The meaning of the Surah are:

• Verses 1-4: Swearing by the Existence of Humanity surrounded by the Organized System of Allah
  
  وَالسَّمَاءِ وَالطَّارِقِ وَمَا أَدْرَاكَ مَا الطَّارِقُ النَّجْمُ الثَّاقِبُ إِنْ كُلُّ نَفْسٍ لَمَّا عَلَيْهَا حَافِظٌ
  
  
  
  
  • 1. I swear by the heaven and the comer by night;
    
  • 2. And what will make you know what the comer by night is?
    
  • 3. The star of piercing brightness;
    
  • 4. There is not a soul but over it is a keeper.
    
  
  
  The sky and those which appear in the night—and what do you understand what those which appear in the night are? Shinning stars—bear witness that indeed there is no soul over which there is no guardian. (verses 1-4)
  
  In the first four verses, Allah Almighty Himself, Who is looking after and watching over every creature, big or small, in the earth and heavens. He it is Who has brought everything into existence, Who is maintaining and sustaining everything in its place and position, and Who has taken the responsibility to provide for every creature and to protect it from calamities till an appointed tune.
  
  
  
• Verses 5-8: How Man is created is a Proof of Allah's Ability to Return Him to Him
  
  فَلْيَنظُرْ الْإِنسَانُ مِمَّ خُلِقَ خُلِقَ مِنْ مَاءٍ دَافِقٍ يَخْرُجُ مِنْ بَيْنِ الصُّلْبِ وَالتَّرَائِبِ إِنَّهُ عَلَى رَجْعِهِ لَقَادِرٌ
  
  
  
  
  
  • 5. So let man consider of what he is created:
    
  • 6. He is created of water pouring forth,
    
  • 7. Coming from between the back and the ribs.
    
  • 8. Most surely He is able to return him (to life).
    
  
  
  So, let man ponder on what he has been created from. He has been created from a spurting fluid that comes from between the bones of the back and the chest. Indeed He [– the Almighty –] is able to resurrect him. (verses 5-8)
  
  In the next four verses, an invitation has been extended to all disbelievers to meditate over the mysteries of creation. Man has not been created by some rare material which is beyond the reach of Allah but by a drop of water which gushes forth from within himself. Thus, when Allah is able to make a whole person from just a drop of water, He can surely resurrect the whole mankind on the Last Day and take account from everyone.
  
  
• Verses 9-10: On the Day of Judgement, Man will have no Power or Assistance
  
  يَوْمَ تُبْلَى السَّرَائِرُ فَمَا لَهُ مِنْ قُوَّةٍ وَلَا نَاصِرٍ
  
  
  
  
  • 9. On the day when hidden things shall be made manifest,
    
  • 10. He shall have neither strength nor helper.
    
  
  
  On that day, when all secrets will be probed, then, neither will he have any might nor will he find any helper. (verses 9-10)
  
  The next two verses allude to the fact that Allah has full knowledge of what is in the hearts. All acts, however secretly conducted, shall be judged openly on the Last Day and no might or a helper will a person find at his disposal to escape the judgment pronounced.
  
  
• Verses 11-17: Swearing to the Truthfulness of the Qur'an and the Failure of Those Who oppose it
  
  وَالسَّمَاءِ ذَاتِ الرَّجْعِ وَالْأَرْضِ ذَاتِ الصَّدْعِ إِنَّهُ لَقَوْلٌ فَصْلٌ وَمَا هُوَ بِالْهَزْلِ
  
  
  إِنَّهُمْ يَكِيدُونَ كَيْدًا وَأَكِيدُ كَيْدًا فَمَهِّلْ الْكَافِرِينَ أَمْهِلْهُمْ رُوَيْدًا
  
  
  
  
  • 11. I swear by the raingiving heavens,
    
  • 12. And the earth splitting (with plants);
    
  • 13. Most surely it is a decisive word,
    
  • 14. And it is no joke.
    
  • 15. Surely they will make a scheme,
    
  • 16. And I (too) will make a scheme.
    
  • 17. So grant the unbelievers a respite: let them alone for a
    
  
  
  This sky brimful of rain and the earth with splits bear witness that this is a decisive word and it is no jest. (verses 11-14)
  
  In verses eleven to fourteen, a combination of the celestial and the terrestrial phenomena is again mentioned to reinforce the warning of the Qur’an regarding the Day of Resurrection lest man should take it a pleasantry when it is inevitably going to take place.
  
  They are devising a plan and I am also scheming a plan. So, leave the disbelievers; leave them for a while. (verses 15-17)
  
  In the last three verses, the Prophet Muhammad (sws) is consoled that whatever the disbelievers are planning will be turned against them. The Almighty has laid down a firm plan which shall soon be executed to seize them and to bring them to justice.
  

===================

Activities and worksheets for kids:

• Memorize the surah.
  
• Write surah At-Tariq in Arabic.
  
• Write the meaning.
  
• Write the paragraph and draw the system reproductive.
  

=====================

Let's hear surah At-Tariq and memorize it:

• Surah At-Tariq (The Night-Comer) Please click on MP3 to listen.
  
• Surah At-Tariq with translation
  
• Sa'ud Shuraim-Surah At-Tariq
  
• Qur'an (Koran) Recitation by Sheik Abdul Baset - Surah Tariq
  
• Surah At-Tariq (The Night-Comer)
  
• Surah At-Tariq by Syeikh Saad Said Al-Ghamidi
  
• Surah At-Tariq
  

Listen to tafsir Surah At-Tariq:

• Ayah 1
  
• Ayah 2
  
• Ayah 3
  
• Ayah 4
  
• Ayah 5
  
• Ayah 6
  
• Ayah 7
  
• Ayah 8
  
• Ayah 9
  
• Ayah 10
  
• Ayah 11
  
• Ayah 12
  
• Ayah 13
  
• Ayah 14
  
• Ayah 15
  
• Ayah 16
  
• Ayah 17
  

Here are other links:

• MP3 Qur'an
  
• Transliteration Qur'an
  
• Tafsir Ibn Kathir
  

Sources:

• Tafsir Ibn Kathir
  
• At Tariq
  

Home Education Resources - April 2008

Islamic Studies

• Sultan: Islamic Links
  The Sultan website has alot of good islamic links.
  
• Watch and listen Islam, Slavery, and the African: Did Columbus Really Discover America? by Abdullah Hakim Quick (2 minutes only)
  
• Watch and listen The History of Islam in America: Columbus to Slavery by Sulayman Nyang (14 minutes)
  
  

Arabic

• Arabic Textbook in PDF file
  A sister share this website in the group. Thank you for sharing it.

Math

• Ask Dr Math Forum
  

Language Arts

• Language Arts Worksheet
  

Science

• Let's read Latest Science News
  

Other

• Cybersmart Curriculum
  Free to educators highly acclaimed curriculum empowering students to use the Internet safely, responsibly and effectively.
  
  
• Young Muslim in America by Abdullah Hakim Quick
  
  

CPTV Family Science Expo 2008

We went to 2008 CPTV Family Science Expo in Hartford, on Thursday, April 24, 2008.

The Expo consisted of an Exhibit Hall with more than 40 booths of hands-on scientific activity, demonstrations, products an information, as well as a Science Theatre featuring dramatic, live science-oriented entertainment on stage.

Children learned that science is just plain fun!

Alhamdulillah, the children learned and had fun learning science in there.

There were so many science activities, such as

• learning the Three Laws of Newton.
  
• Activities 4-H learning environment science programs
  
• Taking a trip through the night sky in the Starlab's planetarium from The Astronomical Society of New Haven, Inc
  
• Learn about the science of "cross polymers" through the creation of play putty.
  You can make your own Play Putty Experiment
  
• Learn about principles of physic.
  
• Learn the Bernoulli's Principle. or here or watch this
  
• Experience the wonder and excitement of "Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Recover."
  The kids create theirs own recycled or reused craft that the kids can take home.
  
• Learn about energy from eesmarts
  
• Learn about DNA, see DNA EpiCenter
  
• First Robotics-oriented educational program
  
• Learn how to make coolege a reality, Know How 2 GO Connecticut
  
• Make cup of Mad Science super-stretchy putty.
  
• The Science of Sailing.
  
• Radio
  
• New England Air Museum
  
• Planstastic Science: Going Buggy!
  
• and more.
  

My youngest one only wanted to meet Curious George, her favorite games and The Garbage Man.

On the way, we didn't forget to pray Zuhur in the rest area, exit 14 off I-91.
We should teach our kids to pray in time whereever we go.


We got home at 5pm. My youngest played with the play putty, and the play putty got sticky in her long hair. She cried, I tried to take out the play putty slowly by putting some olive oil to her hair. It took an hour to do that. At the end, I washed her hair with warm water, then the play putty melted away.
Now, the hair's clear from play putty. Next time, please take care of play putty from the hair.


I was happy to meet other muslim families there. I hope that this field trip gave the knowledge and fun to all the kids.

Insha Allah, we are going again next year.