Eid Adha Sheep Money Box

A fun symbolic Eid craft to prompt us to follow in the footsteps of Prophet Ibrahim (as) and to sacrifice what we love for the pleasure of Allah as the little ones allocate a share of pocket money each week towards helping others. 

Activity:
Cut a small slit in the middle of a wide mouthed plastic bottle. Cover with cotton wool balls using glue. Cut out a face from black card and attach it onto the bottle lid.

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Stoning the Pillars

One of the rituals of hajj is to stone the three pillars at Jamaraat. When we are hitting these, we are thinking which of our bad habits do we want to hit and get rid of to become closer to Allah. 

Recap the concept of taqwa, reminding how no one can make you do anything. They might ‘whisper’ and give you ideas to do something wrong, but when you have taqwa, you remember Allah and have the power to fight the whispers and not listen to them.

Go in search for pebbles and write the word Taqwa on one of the stones. Discuss scenarios when you've been tempted to do something wrong. Did you fight it away and hit it with the stone of Taqwa? Display your Taqwa pebble as a reminder of the strength of Prophet Ibrahim (as) as he fought away the whispers of Shaytan. We too by remembering Allah all the time can stop becoming distracted to do what is wrong. 

See also:
Lesson plan and activities on Taqwa

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Picking Stones at Mina

One of the rituals of hajj is to stone the three pillars at Jamaraat by first picking pebbles at a place called Mina. As we collect the stones, we think about our bad habits that we want to hit away and get rid of to become closer to Allah. 

Imagine if you had to collect a stone for every wrong action you've done, would you remember each one? In the same way we forget about some of the wrong actions we've done because we think they are small but it doesn't matter what the size of the wrong action is, Allah sees and knows everything. In Hajj we have the chance to think about our actions and ask Allah to forgive us.

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Forgiving Others

Just as we want Allah to forgive us and accept our apology when we do something wrong, we too have to forgive people when they have done something which may have annoyed or upset us.

Give each child an effervescent soluble vitamin tablet. Have them think about a time they felt angry or upset with someone. Talk about how forgiving Allah is and how He wants us to forgive others too. Drop the tablet into a glass of water. As you watch it dissolve, talk about letting go of the hurt and anger you feel. Encourage the children to keep the image in their minds for the next time they find it hard to forgive someone.

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Affirmations

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The station of Ibrahim reminds us of the great man who was chosen to be a Prophet. He is remembered by millions of Muslims who follow in his footsteps as they complete the Hajj. Allah tells us the story of Prophet Ibrahim in many places, describing and praising his good character and how he was His special friend. Prophet Ibrahim is admired by all the religions and an example of a person who had qualities that Allah loves and those that we too are trying to have.

One way that can help us develop a good character is by using positive affirmations. These are words that are absorbed by the mind when repeated often. Positive words remind you of what you believe in and can encourage you to behave in the right way when you are in a difficult or unsure situation.

For example if you want to teach your mind to become more grateful you can focus on and repeat the words 'I am thankful' for a few minutes everyday. If you are then faced with a situation when you feel like complaining, your mind will remind you that you are grateful and instead you will remember your blessings and say Alhamdulilah! Allah has given us an amazing mind and the power to control it! Make Dua to Allah to help you and choose a few qualities and positive words to repeat everyday.

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Make a Compass

UK Qibla direction found by using the compass to locate South East 

Quran Verse: 
Turn your face in the direction of the Holy Mosque 2:144

One of the ways we can find the Qibla direction is by using a compass. To use a compass, we need to know the direction of Makkah from where we live. For example, Makkah is approximately to the South East of the UK. Therefore, if we have a compass, we can find out which direction is South East, and pray in that direction.

Follow the Wiki How instructions for how to make a compass and use it to find the approximate Qibla direction.

1. Fill a large shallow bowl with water
2. Magnetize a needle by rubbing it in one direction across a magnet approximately 30 times.
3. Balance or thread the needle through some styrofoam or cork and place it on the water.
4. Watch it rotate as it locates north
5. Check accuracy with a compass to confirm direction.

Extension: 
Read the history about the Qibla direction from the Qur'an 2:142-150

Live it:
Having a Qibla reminds us that everything in our life must be focused and directed towards Allah. In the Qur'an, Allah tells us "make your direction the rushing to do good wherever you are". 2:148. Are we living a life in the right direction?

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Trust In Allah

Qur'an Verse: 

Tawwakkal 'allalah, Put your trust in Allah 

Allah loves those who put their trust in Him 3:159

Having trust in Allah means that whatever difficulties we are faced with, we do our best and rely on Allah to help us. Allah loves us seventy times more than our mothers and we know that He will always do what is good for us. When we put our trust in Allah and do the right thing, we do not need to worry or be afraid of anything. Our trust in Him makes us strong.

When you believe and put your trust in something you can not see, it is called having faith. 

- The people who got on the ark could not see any water or rain but they listened to Prophet Nuh and put their trust in Allah to save them from drowning. 

- Can not see wind, but have faith that if you held a kite outside it would fly!

- Can not see electricity, but have faith that when you turn on the switch, there will be light!

- We can not see Allah but we have faith that He is always there.

Lesson Introduction:

When Prophet Ibrahim was asked by Allah to leave his wife Hajra and little baby Ismail in the desert all on their own, they both put their trust in Allah. There was no food, water or even anyone else living there but their faith made them strong. They did not worry about what would happen because they knew that Allah will look after them.

Imam Husayn’s army knew that they were standing for the truth and doing what would make Allah happy. It didn’t matter how old or young they were, they were ansarAllah, helpers of Allah and Allah says in the Qur’an ‘If you help in the way of Allah, He will help you’ 47:7. They put their complete trust in Allah and knew that whatever difficulties they faced, Allah would help them. Their incredible trust in Allah gave them amazing strength! An army of only seventy two fighting against thousands, yet their faith in Allah made them strong!

Activity: Objects of Trust
Identify each item being trusted
Learning swimming (trust armbands wont drown)
Put money in bank (trust bank)
Food in freezer (trust freezer keeps food good)
Cross road zebra crossing (trust driver will stop)

Activity: Faith Makes You Strong

Take two empty plastic water bottles. Tightly cap one of them and leave the other one without the lid. Compare the uncapped bottle to a person without faith, and the capped bottle to a person who has faith. Try to crush both bottles by squeezing your hand around them. The uncapped bottle will crush, but the one with the cap will not.

When we have faith and put our trust in Allah, it gives us an invisible strength! We do not need to worry or be afraid of anything. Our trust in Him makes us strong.

If you're scared at night your mummy might tell you to recite some Surahs. If you put your trust in Allah knowing He will look after you, it will make you feel strong and safe and you will be able to sleep peacefully.

Watch visual experiment online 

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