Corona Ramadan 20 Tips for Parents

Corona Ramadan 20 Tips for Parents

*Adapted from the Islamic Schools League of America for Maarif School

This last month has been something many generations have never seen or even imagined, My father, who -- Alhamdulllah  -- is 84-years-old, doesn’t remember ever having the masajid closed or businesses shut down for this long. This is a great time for us to reflect on our lives and take advantage of the blessed month of Ramadan to reconnect with Allah ﷻ, both for our families and ourselves. As our local Imam reminded me, people are asking, “When will it go back to normal?”  He replied “God is not happy with what normal was. We need to become better people after this.”  One way to jump-start the new normal is doing `ibaadah as a family. Here are a few ideas for us to maximize the blessings of Ramadan as a family:

1. Try to eat suhoor as a family, for the Prophet said, "There is blessing in eating suhoor." Remind the kids you get good deeds for eating!
2. If this is your child's first time fasting, make sure to recognize and praise your child. Kids should be praised and encouraged for righteous acts. Your young children can even try to fast for half the day. Remember, fasting is not required for children until they have reached puberty. If they are showing signs of weakness or not feeling well, praise their effort and allow them to break their fast without feeling guilty. One idea for smaller children who want to participate in the family fast is to have the fast from candy or juice. When it’s time for iftar, they can “break their fast” with the rest of the family
3. Before iftar, take some time to read Quran together as a family. If the children see parents enjoy and love reading the Quran, this will reinforce their love for the Quran. Try to put a timer for minimum of fifteen (15) minutes and have everyone read at the same time.  You can also try to read the whole Quran as a family. Assign specific juz to each child. In the month of Ramadan every act is multiplied 70 to 700 times.
4. Before breaking fast, make du`a as a family. Have each child make a personal du`a for the family to hear and go around. The Prophet ﷺ said that the du`as of a fasting person are accepted.
5. Before eating iftar make certain to recite the du`a for breaking the fast together. Start with dates and water! That was the sunnah of our Prophet ﷺ.
6. After eating dinner, be sure to remind your child to thank the parent who cooked the food. The person who feeds a fasting person gets the reward also of the person who fasted.
7. Try to pray salah together as a family. This will demonstrate to the children the importance of salah. Many of us are locked in our houses with the kids.  There is no excuse. Fajr, Maghrib and Isha is a good start. Remember, praying in jama`ah is twenty-seven (27) times more in reward, and in Ramadan it is multiplied 70 to700 times more.
8. This year many of us will be having taraweeh at home. Make goals of praying eight (8) to twenty (20) raka`ah. You can have your sons, if old enough, to help lead a few of the raka`ah.  
9. You can have your children read a small summary of the Surah or a Hadith before taraweeh.  You may also find a short video online.  One who prays Isha in jama`ah (congregation) receives the reward of praying half the night.
10. Help your children realize the blessing of charity. If your child has an allowance or savings, encourage them to give a small amount of charity. A quarter, fifty cents, or even one dollar for charity can earn great rewards. If they are generous at an early age, this quality will stay with them throughout life.
11. Talk to your child about the importance of Laylat ul-Qadr. If they are old enough, encourage them to stay up part of the night in `ibaadah. Ask them to keep their family, relatives, friends, teachers, community, and the world in their du`as. Remember, one of the seven people who will be shaded in the shade of Allah when there will be no shade on the Day of Judgment is a young child who practiced Islam.
12. Balance the amount of television your children watch and video games they  play, and use the extra time to read Quran, do dhikr, or just talk as a family. After all, children do need to play.
13. Try to sponsor an iftar or food with a charity group or a family you know who might need help. This year will be no iftar parties so we can use that money to help others. Allah will reward you for every morsel a person eats.
14. Drop off food or sweets to  your non-Muslim neighbors. This is a great way to inform them about our holy month. This also reminds our children of our duty to be good to our neighbors.
15. Discuss with your children where we should give some of your zakat or donations. They can look up relief agencies or local Muslim organizations.
16. When children wake up for suhoor have them pray two raka`ah nafl. Having them experience praying tahajjud can be very beneficial. Remind kids during the last one-third of the night Allah ﷻ descends and asks which servants is asking for something so He may grant it. Du`as are accepted at this time.
17. Decorate the house. Have a calendar or board where you can count down to `Eid.
18. Send salawat on our Prophet Muhammed ﷺ. All these actions we have learned are through his example.  Remember, one who recites salah on him once, the angels send ten (10) back to us in return.
19. Lastly, this time of being with family twenty-four (24) hours a day for the past five weeks might have had its difficult moments. Frustration can seep in.  Remember, being patient and not getting angry, playing with family, and helping out the family is also worship.
20. You can be greedy with your Du`a – health, wealth, knowledge, faith, worship, work, house, family, friends, community, country, peace, etc.  Just be sure to ask Allah ﷻ.

There are many things you can do in this month of Ramadan. We pray these reminders are of benefit.

Lastly, please think of our Maarif community. Please forgive us for our shortcomings and keep all Maarif School students, staff, and families in your du`as. We pray you have a blessed Ramadan and reap the many rewards of this holy month.

Allah hafiz.