Amal Al-Sibai

Saudi Gazette

JEDDAH — Ramadan Kareem! Happy Ramadan! Smiles and happy greetings are exchanged everywhere on the streets, in the mosque, at the mall, supermarket, between friends and relatives, to celebrate the first few days of Ramadan; the month of blessings, forgiveness, and mercy.

It is as if even nature itself has rejoiced over the arrival of the holy month.



An unusual and sudden breeze was felt by Jeddah residents as soon as Ramadan commenced and the crescent in the black sky appeared brighter and shinier than the previous nights.



In neighborhoods, many homes and balconies from apartment buildings are beautifully decorated with yellow, red, and green lights, lanterns, and other attractive ornaments to spread the joy of Ramadan.



The door bell is ringing just fifteen minutes before the call for Maghreb as neighbors send each other sweets and treats.



Although some children are too young to fast they are also excited about Ramadan. Families can try out some fun ideas to get children more involved in Ramadan and encourage them to learn something new about Islam.



Since days are longer, it is the perfect time to keep kids busy with some creative and playful activities that will help the love of Ramadan grow and flourish.



• Buy a small, colorful cardboard box or you can make your own by covering a shoe box in wrapping paper and decorating it.Together with your children, cut out 30 strips of paper and write one supplication or short prayer on each paper. Fold the papers up and each day right before breaking the fast, one child gets to pick out a paper and read the supplication because it is believed that supplications or wishes made at this unique time will be granted by Allah.



• Make signs and banners with inspirational messages written on them about Ramadan. Bring out the creativity in your children; they can color, draw, paint or design posters on the computer and print them out. Hang the posters on a wall in every room in the house. Nice ideas include: “Whoever fasts Ramadan out of Iman and seeking Allah’s reward then his past and future sins are forgiven. — Hadith.” or “Ramadan is a launch to a happier life.” or “Fast for better health.” or “Ramadan is like a rare flower that blossoms once a year.” or “May Ramadan bring you peace and prosperity, good health and wealth, and brighten your life forever.”



• Ramadan is the perfect time for children to memorize and understand the 99 names of Allah. This sound Hadith is very motivating. Allah has 99 names and whoever knows them will enter Paradise. Take some time to explain the meanings of Allah’s 99 names. Search for melodious songs that recite the 99 names of Allah which can help little children remember them all.



• Children love listening to stories, especially stories of their parents’ past as most kids think that their parents lived in the dinosaur age when telephones weren’t invented yet. With that said gather your family around you and tell them how Ramadan was for you when you were a kid. Describe how Ramadan was celebrated in your country of origin since many kids of expats grew up here in the Kingdom and may have only rarely visited their home country.



My children delightedly and with wide eyes listen to their grandfather telling them about Ramadan in Syria years ago. One man in each neighborhood had the duty of beating on a drum late at night and calling out at every home to wake people up to eat Suhoor.



Kids used to walk the streets during Ramadan to look for wagons of food vendors and buy sweet bread filled with dates, candy-coated almonds, and coconut cookies to eat after Iftar.



• Remind kids to follow the Sunna of the Prophet and first eat a couple dates and drink some water or laban. Then they can go on to enjoy the rest of the meal. Dates are sweet and delicious as they are but you can encourage your children to eat dates by allowing them to prepare some simple date treats.



Slit open a date, remove the seed, and in its place put an almond, drizzle some honey over the dates and sprinkle sesame seeds. Instead of almonds, try filling the date with broken pieces of corn flakes or tea biscuits and then drizzle tahini sauce on top or better yet, dip the date in melted chocolate and place the dates in the fridge for the chocolate to set. You can also buy date paste, shape them into small serving pieces and roll them in chocolate sprinkles, coconut, or crushed pistachio. Kids take pleasure in getting their hands sticky, helping mom, and serving the family from the treats they made on their own.



• Announce a contest for reading the entire Qur’an in Ramadan. Show your kids that it is not difficult and actually very feasible by breaking it down to one section or about 20 pages per day. That way they will complete reading the Holy Book by the end of the month. An attractive cash prize can be promised for the one who finishes first as motivation, while emphasizing of course that their main goal should be to seek the rewards from Allah.



• Islam stresses the importance of charity all year long, but more so during Ramadan. Give generously in Ramadan and let your children see you giving. Prepare a basic Iftar meal of dates, laban, rice and chicken, and a piece of fruit and send it with your child to the doorman of your building, your driver (if you have one), and cleaning workers in your neighborhood.



• A special gift should be reserved for the children who show restraint when they are upset and who keep quiet when someone else bothers them. Reinforce the concept that fasting means not only giving up food and drink but also staying away from bad language, hitting other kids, and shouting. Praise the child who is able to avoid bickering, arguing, and talking back to siblings or friends, even if it is the other child who started it (as always is the case with our kids). Teach them to use the phrase “I am fasting so I will not talk back at you or fight with you.”