Since the month of Ramadan is about to come, it’s necessary to guide your little champ about the same. It’s really difficult to explain about Ramadan and its importance to a young child especially when he is from another faith.
Introduction
Foster parents find it difficult to explain about the significances of Ramadan to their children. But it’s not impossible to guide young children about the benefits of Ramadan, its religious importance and its social impact.
Here, you are going to unveil a guide on how to explain Ramadan to a child.
How to Explain Ramadan to a Kid – Explain Basics of Islam
If you want to guide a kid about the importance of Ramadan, you first need to guide him about the basics of Islam. You need to explain how Islam helps humans to lead a peaceful life. How Muslims learn to fast during the month of Ramadan. How this sacred month of Ramadan depicts the importance of sacrifice, self control, determination, and caring about other people.
Ramadan is not only about fasting during daytime, but it has various religious, spiritual, social, and individuals benefits. So, let’s learn how to explain Ramadan to kids.
1 – What Is Ramadan In Islam?
Ramadan is about to come on 11th March 2024. So, Muslims all around the world are preparing for this holy month. Being foster parent, you would like to learn how to teach your foster child about the month of Ramadan. For this, you need to explain the importance of Ramadan in Islam.
Ramadan starts with sighting of the moon. It depends on the Islamic lunar calendar. It could be 29 or 30 days as per the lunar cycle of the month. According to Islamic calendar, Ramadan is the ninth month of the same. Once, Ramadan is over, Muslim communities all around the world celebrate Eid-Al-Fitr. It is among the top festivals for Muslim around the globe.
But why do Ramadan observed? Actually, Ramadan is a month that let Muslims know the fact that sacred Quran was revealed to our Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). If you want to observe Ramadan, you should be ready to fast throughout the month.
Muslim individuals fast from dawn to dusk every day. So, if you want to teach your little child about Ramadan, you need to keep above mentioned points in mind.
2 – What Are the Five Pillars of Islamic Faith?
If you want to learn how to explain Ramadan to your little child, you need to first guide him about the five pillars of Islamic faith. Without explaining about the five most important elements of Islam, you won’t be able to guide your child about Ramadan.
So, let’s check out the 5 pillars in Islam.
- Shahada – It is the first pillar of Islam. When you accept Islam, you first need to declare your faith for this religion. You need to recite the Quranic versus to accept the Islam. Teach your child about the importance of Shahada i.e. declaring of Islamic faith.
- Salat – The second but the most important pillar of Islam is Salat i.e. prayer. Muslims love to offer Salat or Namaz five times in a day.
- Zakat – It’s another important element of Islamic faith. Being a Muslim, you should always be willing to give charity to needy people. During the month of Ramadan, Muslims give Zakat (almsgiving) to needy people in and around their neighboring area.
- Sawam – Now, come to the main pillar of Islamic faith that we have been discussing above i.e. Ramadan. Muslims keep fast during the sacred month of Ramadan.
- Hajj – The fifth pillar of Islam is Hajj. It’s pilgrimage to sacred Mecca. Muslims need to pilgrimage to Mecca for performing hajj at least once in their lifetime.
Who Can Fast During Ramadan?
If you want to learn how to explain Ramadan to young children, you need to teach them about who can fast during the month of Ramadan. Fasting during the Ramadan is believed to get the individual closer to almighty Allah.
Adults are supposed to fast during the month of Ramadan i.e. they need to fast for 30 days or 29 days as per the lunar calendar. If adults couldn’t fast during Ramadan, they can fast the remaining days during another month of the year. Or adults can also choose to pay Fidyah. Here, you should know that Fidyah is a donation or food for needy people. If adults couldn’t fast during Ramadan due to various issues, they need to pay Fidyah.
Now, come to your little child whether he can fast during Ramadan or not. If your kid is above the age of 14, he can fast during Ramadan. But if your kid is under 14, you need to encourage him for performing other Islamic duties such as praying five times in a day, following Islamic rules and reciting Quran, and giving foods to needy people.
Who Can’t Fast During Ramadan?
However, all Muslims are supposed to fast during Ramadan, but there are conditions when people with specific conditions are not allow fasting during Ramadan.
Who are exempted from fasting during sacred month of Ramadan? This is the question that may hit the mind of your young child. So, it’s important to explain about who can’t fast during Ramadan to your kid.
Let’s check out who are exempted from fasting especially during Ramadan.
- Kids who are under the age of 14. If your kid or kids are below the age of 14, you should not allow them to fast during Ramadan.
- Seriously ill individuals are exempted from fasting during Ramadan.
- Pregnant or breastfeeding mothers aren’t supposed to fast during Ramadan.
- Elderly people don’t need to fast during the sacred month.
What If Your Kid Under 14 Insists You On Fasting During Ramadan?
There could be a situation when your child below the age of 14 may insist you on fasting during Ramadan. Since little kids learn the behavior from their elder siblings, they may insist you on fasting during sacred month just by following their teen brothers or sisters.
In such a situation, you need to help them to cut their snacks, cold drinks, or other junk foods. But remember, you shouldn’t forget feeding them with proper meals. Make sure your little kids should drink adequate water during Ramadan.
You need to explain your kid about the importance of Prayers for five times in a day, reciting Quran and discipline in religion. You should keep an eye on the activities of your kid during Ramadan. You should not encourage his act of fasting during Ramadan especially when he/she is below the age of 14.
Explain Your Child about How Ramadan Changes the Life of Muslim
When it comes to explaining about Ramadan to your kid or kids, you need to explain about how Ramadan changes the life of Muslim. Ramadan isn’t a month of fasting only, but it helps Muslims to learn how to sacrifice, to have control over self and how to help other needy people on this earth planet.
Offering prayers five times in a day helps your kid to have control over his body and mind. If you have grown up kids, it’s important to teach them about how fasting can benefit a young adult to fight against potential health issues.
When your foster kid knows how to observe Ramadan, he can really enjoy the final festival i.e. Eid-Al-Fitr.
Read also : 5 IDEAS TO MAKE YOUR CHILD LOVE THE MONTH OF RAMADAN
