Ramadan Lapbook

This year, I wanted to utilize Ramadan to teach my boys (9 yrs & 6 yrs old) more about the rituals and teachings of Ramadan, our religion and prophet Muhammad (pbuh).   So, as always, the internet provided a perfect place for inspiration!  I searched "Ramadan crafts" and came across the lapbook.  What a fantastic FANTASTIC creation!  Lapbooks can be created with any subject matter.....the possibilities are endless and I am sure that we'll make many more of them!  I found one particular example to be perfect, and 90% of our lapbooks are based off of this one:  

http://imanbendjedidi.wordpress.com/2010/08/22/ramadhan-lapbook-14312010/

Thank you for the inspiration!

***lapbooks are made from traditional file folders.... for a tutorial on how to make them, check out this you tube video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t1inXbba3cg 

So, we started our Ramadan projects with the creation of our very own lapbook.  This took a lot of prep time on my part, for which I did most of it after Sahoor every morning for 3 mornings.  My boys chose their color scheme and I set the book up for them to complete (i.e. did all of the cutting, pasting and creating of the foldouts, mini-books etc...)  We worked on a page a day. 

Below is our lapbook-still a work in progress.  

This is the cover of my 9 year old's lap book.  He still wants to add the crescent and star (symbol of Islam).  

 First view....when you open the flaps of the cover, this is the beginning of the lapbook fun.  I am an American Muslim Convert, my husband is 1st generation Egyptian...and I am teaching my boys and him some Arabic!!!!  My husband can speak a little but understand a lot in Arabic, however, he doesn't know how to write it and doesn't know much of it-like the Islamic Months, alphabet etc... the little blue square flaps have the Arabic numbers 1-12  (representing the 12 months of the Islamic Calendar) written on the outside.  When you flip them open, the English equivalent is written as well as the name of the # in Arabic).  My boys can now count 1-12 in Arabic.  :)

The white book opens to reveal the names of the Islamic months and their meanings on one side and special facts about the month of Ramadan on the other side.

The left flap:  Top square pic labeled with the letter "R" is a pull out that spells "RAMADAN" which my boys colored as shown below.  The "why do we fast" and "what is the proof" tabs lift up.  My sons wrote in their answers.  And the "Perform Good Deeds" is a 4 page booklet that my boys wrote about examples of good deeds they can do during Ramadan and every day, such as "help each other" "clean up with mommy" "help our neighbor with her garbage cans bc she's very old!" :)

The RIGHT FLAP (see below for close up) shows the Command to Fast, Surah 2:184-185.  Also, shows the phases of the moon, which is a pocket with cards inserted.  The Islamic Calendar is based on the lunar cycle and therefore knowing the phases of the moon is how one determines when each month begins.

 


Next, lifting up the middle flap, and we learned about the "Pillars of Islam" (top) and "Fasting Basics" (middle).  Pillars of Islam page is still a work in progress.

Fasting Basics Page:

1. Sahoor & Iftar tabs open to reveal a picture of us at Sahoor and in my son's own handwriting the definition of Sahoor.
2. The circle is a "Fasting Cycle" for which I modified from the following template (using only the idea, my son hand drew and wrote all the phases):  http://raisingmuslims.files.wordpress.com/2008/08/fasting-cycle-activity.pdf
3. Final Tab asks "who doesn't fast" and "what breaks a fast".  Lift the arrow to find the answers.

 Unfolding the Fasting Basics tab reveals the final 2 sections of the lapbook, which are both still works in progress.  The middle tab contains and envelope titled "Fun Stuff" which is a standard envelope, taped on the Left side (with the opening facing down toward the page) as to create a hinge.  flip it up, and inside the envelope I have a Word Search, a prayer coloring page and a little fill in the blank "I love Ramadan because" page.  Above this is a Ramadan Quiz, which I modified from the following link:  http://raisingmuslims.files.wordpress.com/2008/08/ramadhan-quiz.pdf

The lined paper is where my sons are writing a story about Ramadan, drawing pictures and writing their own personal journal about Ramadan this year:  what they learned, what the love about the month etc....

 

Below is the lapbook completely unfolded.... EID page is still a work in progress... but will include a definition of EID, the special food that is prepared and of course, their gift wish list!  :)

 

For anyone looking for a FUN & EDUCATION project to do with your children (of any age) I suggest creating a lap book of  your own!  They can be simple or more elaborate like this one, are easy to do and the kids LOVE IT.  They learn so much more by creating and writing their own books than from any book they sit and read (or are read to).

Enjoy and Happy Ramadan!
**as the book is updated, I'll re-post new pics**

Mary & Jesus in the Koran

****All excerpts below are taken from the Penguin Classics English translation of the Koran****

Many non-Muslims are surprised to know that Jesus is mentioned in the Koran and that we honor him as a great prophet of God.  Jesus is mentioned in the Koran over 25 times and in at least 11 chapters.  Below are some of the mentions of him, beginning with the story of his birth.

The Story of the Birth of Jesus
     "And you shall recount in the book the story of Mary:  how she left her people and betook herself to a solitary place to the east.
     We sent to her our spirit in the semblance of a full-grown man.  And when she saw him she said: 'May the Merciful defend me from you! If you fear the Lord, [leave me and go your way].'
     'I am but your Lord's emissary,' he replied, 'and have come to give you a holy son.'
     'How shall I bear a child,' she answered, 'when I have neither been touched by any man nor ever been unchaste?'
     ''Thus did your Lord speak,' he replied. ' "That is easy enough for Me.  He shall be a sign to mankind and a blessing from Ourself.  Our decree shall come to pass."'
     Thereupon she conceived him, and retired to a far-off place.  And when she felt the throes of childbirth she lay down by the trunk of a palm-tree, crying: 'Oh, would that I had died before this and passed into oblivion!'
     But a voice from below cried out to her: 'Do not despair.  Your Lord has provided a brook that runs at your feet, and ripe dates in your lap.  Therefore eat and drink and rejoice; and should you meet any mortal say to him: "I have vowed a fast to the Merciful and will not speak with any man today."'
     Carrying the child, she came to her people, who said her: 'Mary, this is indeed a strange thing!  Sister of Aaron*, to your father was never a whore-monger, nor was your mother a harlot.'
     She made a sign to them, pointing to the child.  But they replied: 'How can we speak with a babe in the cradle?'
     Whereupon he spoke and said: 'I am the servant of God.  He has given me the Book and ordained me a prophet.  His blessing is upon me wherever I go, and He has exhorted me to be steadfast in prayer and to give alms as long as I shall live.  He has exhorted me to honor my mother and has purged me of vanity and wickedness.  Blessed was I on the day I was born, and blessed I shall be on the day of my death and on the day I shall be raised to life.'
     Such was Jesus son of Mary.  That is the whole truth, which they still doubt.  God forbid that He Himself should beget a son!  When He decrees a thing He need only say: 'Be,' and it is."  19:13-36
                                                         

     "And remember the angel's words to Mary.  They said: 'God has chosen you.  He has made you pure and exalted you above womankind.  Mary, be obedient to you Lord; bow down and worship with the worshippers.'" 3:44

     "The angels said to Mary: 'God bids you rejoice in a word from Him.  His name is the Messiah, Jesus son of Mary.  He shall be noble in this world and in the world to come, and shall be one of those who are favored.  He shall preach to men in his cradle and in the prime of manhood, and shall lead a righteous life.'
     'Lord,' she said, 'how can I bear a child when no man has touched me?'
     He replied: 'Even thus.  God creates whom He will.  When He decrees a thing He need only say "Be," and it is.  He will instruct him in the Scriptures and in wisdom, in the Torah and in the gospel, and send him forth as an apostle to the Israelites.  He will say: "I bring you a sign from your Lord.  From clay I will make for you the likeness of a bird.  I shall breath into it and , by God's leave, it shall become a living bird.  By God's leave I shall heal the blind man and the leper, and raise the dead to life.  I shall tell you what to eat and what to store up in your houses.  Surely that will be a sign for you, if you are true believers.  I come to confirm the Torah which proceeded me and to make lawful for you some of the things you are forbidden.  I bring you a sign from you Lord: therefore fear God and obey me.  God is my Lord and  your Lord:  therefore serve Him.  That is the straight path."'
     When Jesus observed that they had no faith, he said: 'Who will help me in the cause of God?'
     The disciples replied: 'We are God's helpers.  We believe in Your revelations and follow the apostle.  Count us among your witnesses.'
     They contrived and God contrived.  God is the supreme Contriver.  God said: 'Jesus, I am about to claim you back and lift you up to Me.  I shall take you away from them till the Day of Resurrection.  Then to Me you shall all return and I shall judge your disputes.  The unbelievers shall be sternly punished in this world and in the world to come: there shall be none to help them.  As for those that have faith and do good works, they shall be given their reward in full.  God does not love the evil doers.'
     This revelation, and this wise admonition, we recite to you.  Jesus is like Adam in the sight of God.  He created him from dust and then said to him: 'Be,' and he was.

The Story of the birth of Mary:
     "Remember the words of 'Imran's wife.  'Lord,' she said, 'I dedicate to Your service that which is in my womb.  Accept it from me.  You alone hear all and know all.'
     And when she was delivered of the child, she said: 'Lord, I have given birth to a daughter'- God well knew of what she was delivered: the male is not like the female- 'and have called her Mary.  Protect her and all her descendants from Satan, the Accursed One.'
     Her Lord graciously accepted her.  He made her grow a goodly child and entrusted her to the care of Zacharias.
     Whenever Zacharias visited her in the Shrine he found that she had food with her.  'Mary,' he said, 'where is this food from?'
     'It is from God,' she answered.  'God gives without measure to whom He will.'  3:35-38






*Muslim commentators deny the charge that there is confusion here between Miriam, Aaron's sister, and Maryam (Mary), mother of Jesus.  'Sister of Aaron,' they argue, simply means 'virtuous woman' in this context.

*Favorite Koran Quotes in English

"Believers, Jews, Christians and Sabaeans-whoever believes in God and the last day and does what is right-shall be rewarded by their Lord; they have nothing to fear or to regret."  2:62

 "To God belongs all that the heavens and earth contain.  Whether you reveal your thoughts or hide them, God will bring you to account for them.  He will forgive whom He pleases and punish whom He pleases; God has power over all things."  2:285

"A kind word with forgiveness is better than charity followed by insult.  God is self-sufficient and gracious."  2:263

"He is God, besides whom there is no other deity.  He is the Sovereign Lord, the Holy One, the Giver of Peace, the Keeper of Faith; the Guardian, the Mighty One, the All-Powerful, the Most High!  Exalted be God above their idols!  He is God, the Creator, the Originator, the Modeller.  his are the most gracious names. All that is in the heavens and the earth gives glory to Him.  He is the Mighty, the Wise One." 59:22-24

         "Do not say of anything: 'I will do it tomorrow,' without adding: 'If God wills.' When you forget,       remember your Lord and say: 'May God guide me and bring me nearer to the Truth."  18:25 

"God has sovereignty over the heavens and the earth.  He creates what He will.  He gives daughters to whom He will and sons to whom He pleases.  To some He gives both sons and daughters, and He makes sterile whom He will.  Omniscient is God, and mighty." 42:49

"Those who submit to God and accept the true Faith; who are devout, sincere, patient, humble, charitable, and chaste; who fast and are ever mindful of God-on these both men and women, God will bestow forgiveness and a rich recompense." 33:35 

"True believers , both men and women, are friends to one another.  They enjoin what is just and forbid what is evil; the attend to their prayers, and render the alms levy, and obey God and His apostle.  On these God will have mercy.  God is mighty and wise."9:71 

"Each one has a goal towards which he turns.  But, wherever you are, emulate one another in good works.  God will bring you all before him.  He has power over all things."  2:148

"In the creation of the heavens and the earth; in the alternation of night and day; in the ships that sail the ocean with cargoes beneficial to man; in the water which God sends down from the sky and with which He revives the earth after its death, dispersing over it all manner of beasts; in the disposal of the winds, and in the clouds that are driven between sky and earth:  surely in these there are signs for rational men." 2:164 

"God will not call you to account for that which is inadvertent in your oaths.  But He will take you to task for that which is intended in your hearts.  God is forgiving and lenient."  2:225

"A KIND WORD WITH FORGIVENESS IS BETTER THAN CHARITY FOLLOWED BY INSULT.  God is self sufficient and gracious." 2:263 

"God will wrong none by as much as the weight of an atom.  A good deed he will repay twofold.  Of His own bounty He will bestow a rich recompense."  4:41

 

***All quotes are taken from the Penguin Classics English translation by N.J. Dawood****

Ramadan

 Ramadan

Day 12

     In the name of God, the most gracious, the most merciful.  Please guide my writings here to be accurate and clear.

"In the month of Ramadan the Koran was revealed, a book of guidance for mankind with proofs of guidance distinguishing right from wrong.  Therefore, whoever of you is present in that month let him fast.  But he who is ill or on a journey shall fast a similar number of days later on.   God desires your well being, not your discomfort.  He desires you to fast the whole month so that you may magnify God and render thanks to him for giving you His guidance."  Koran 2:184 & 2:185

     Ramadan-the blessed month with all it's gifts is upon us once again.  This year I am able to fast and feel very blessed about that.  Some ask "You feel blessed that you 'have to' not eat or drink for over 16 hours a day for 30 days....really?"  My answer is "ABSOLUTELY!"  Being "able to" fast is a blessing indeed!  It means that I am healthy and strong!  Last year, due to my ITP and the high doses of Prednisone, I wasn't healthy or strong and therefore excused from Fasting.  God does not wish us discomfort and He provides many stipulations to fasting to relieve the burden of those who are unable:  i.e.  pregnant/nursing women; the traveler; those that are sick; menstruating women etc. 

 "Believers, fasting is decreed for you as it was decreed for those before you; perchance you will guard yourselves against evil.  Fast a certain number of days, but if any one among you is ill or on a journey, let him fast a similar number of days later; and for those that cannot endure it there is a penance ordained: the feeding of a poor man.  He that does good of his own accord shall be well rewarded, but to fast is better for you, if you but knew it."  Koran 2:183

     To fast, is not only abstaining from food and drink, it also entails avoiding the things that are negative in your life and focusing on the positive; it means to give thanks to God; to avoid things like smoking and drinking alcohol (bc they destroy your body); and to give charity-be it as simple as a smile to a stranger, an extra dollar tip to your waiter to bigger acts of charity such as donating time and money to the poor, the helpless and to those in great need.

_________________________________________________________________ 

     Prayer is a big focus during Ramadan.  Muslims are prescribed to pray 5 times a day, spaced delicately throughout the day to assist us to remember God.  In regular life, those prayers get pushed aside as we convince ourselves that we are "too busy" and will "pray later."  During Ramadan, the prayer is given priority.  And it dawns on us that we are never truly "too busy" to pray and that even though we say we will "make it up later," when "later" comes around, we find ourselves "too busy" again.  Prayer can take as little as 2-3 minutes to complete...are we ever really "too busy" to devote 2-3 mins, five times a day to thank God?  No!

     The act of praying regularly, fives times a day, automatically causes shifts in our perception....in our outlook on life.  Becoming aware of God those five times a day makes it easier to stay on a path that we are happy and proud to be on; to avoid thoughts and actions that are unhealthy for us; and to feel gratitude.  Do you think a husband would commit adultery if there were a picture of his wife on their wedding day in front of him at the moment he is about to cheat?   Do you think a woman could sit and complain about her child doing (or not doing) this or that, if there were a picture of her newborn baby in front of her?  It would certainly make it more difficult, as that picture would bring an unavoidable awareness to the mind; an awareness of the humanity, the joy and the love that we have for these people in our lives.  I think performing the prescribed 5 prayers a day is like carrying a photograph of all the goodness in our lives around with us.  Having this beautiful picture in front of our faces so many times a day, it automatically becomes more difficult to fill our thoughts, words & actions with negatives.  And as we all know, we are what we think we are.

     Ramadan is a time to destroy negative habits and replace them with positive ones.  So, yes, we get very hungry and thirsty, but we also get filled with the gift of awareness.  Awareness that we are blessed and that we are loved.  We know that at sunset every day we will have food and drink a plenty (unlike too many in the world who don't know where or when their next meal will come to them).  We know that we are loved by God and will meet Him again one day and we know when that day comes, we will want to stay with Him where all is beautiful and kind.

"We have spread out the Earth and set upon it immovable mountains.  We have planted it with every seasonable fruit, providing sustenance for yourselves and for those whom you do not provide for.  We hold the store of every blessing and send it down in appropriate measure.  We let loose the fertilizing winds and bring down water from the sky for you to drink; its scores are beyond your reach."  Koran-15:19

    God does and will provide for all of us.  He may not always give us what we "want," but he certainly always will give us what we "need."  

Have a blessed Ramadan!