Mosque Backdrop

Create a unique decorative centerpiece or photo backdrop for celebration gatherings. Smaller cardboard pieces can be attached together to form the base of the mosque. The two can be slot together by making a vertical slit in each. Paint and embellish with lights!

See also: The Prophet's Mosque

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Surah Al Quraysh 106

Watch Surah Story Sack: Al Quraysh 

Watch: Surah Storytelling Al Quraysh 106

Summarise the surah through story box objects

Quranic Vocabulary

Shitaa - winter

Sayf - summer

Bayt - house

Rabb - Lord

Jewin - hunger

Khawf - fear

Reflection

- Allah is the true giver of safety and food. Two essential things everybody needs.

- We must thank Allah by worshiping Him and using the blessings He has given us in the right way, to do what He has asked us.

Activity: Map of Arabia

Print and label the map with the city of Makkah and the lands of Yemen and Syria. Show the direction that the caravans would travel for each season. Label the neighboring countries.
Make a list of the kind of dangers the Quraysh would have have faced on their journey. Sandstorms/lack of food/thirst/heat/cold nights/getting lost/bandits



Activity: Travelling for Trade

Find out what goods or special items Yemen and Syria are famous for today. Did you know, the Prophet's special blanket under which the Ahlulbayt gathered when ayah 33:33 was revealed, was a Yemeni Kisa, a blanket from Yemen. Quality cloths and special coffee, were some of the things the Arabs travelled to Yemen to buy.

Activity: Dua when leaving home
Learn the dua and recite it every time you leave the house. On your return, thank Allah for the safety He provided you on your journey.

Resources/Worksheet: Juz Amma Resources

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Celebrate the Birth of Prophet Muhammad (S)

Celebrate the birth of the Holy Prophet (S) in a fun and meaningful way. Click on the links to find complete activity details.

1. Read a book about the Prophet (S)
2. Colour in a story
3. Listen to a Nasheed
4. Act out a story from the life of the Prophet (S)
5. Make a family tree
6. Draw a timeline
7. Build a model mosque or Design a party backdrop
8. Recite lots of salwaats!
9. Learn a Hadith from the Prophet (S)
10. Play pass the 'hadith' parcel
11. Practice living in the footsteps of the Prophet (S)
12. Take a balloon banner quiz
13. Spend the day spreading smiles!
14. Create a word art collage
15. Watch a movie about the Prophet (S)

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Learning about Prophet Muhammad (S)

Resources: 
Prophet Muhammad (S) eBook
QFatima
The Academy for Learning Islam
Hujjat Bookshop
IHRC Bookstore
Muhammad the Last Prophet Movie

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Story of the Elephant

Read: The Story of the Elephant: Surah Al-Fil (Quranic Pop Up Book)

Activity: My Qur'an Story Pop Up Book
Have children create their own A4 folded card pop up books. The cover page can be decorated with the title and Surah chapter reference. The scene together with the elephant play pieces can be used by the children to retell the story in their own words.

Activity: Elephant Blowers

Lesson: God is Most Powerful

Extension Activity:
Imagine you are a reporter for a local newspaper in Makkah in 570 and have been asked to cover the attack of the Ka’ba as it unfolds. Write an account with a headline and descriptive witness statements.

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Prophet Muhammad (S) Movie

Watch: Muhammad The Last Prophet
A well made animated production with an emphasis primarily on the historical events of the conflicts between the powerful Meccan clans and the growing Muslim community. The film helps children to understand the timeline of events and an appreciation of both the strength of faith of the earlier Muslims and what a great task lay before the Prophet (S) in spreading the message of Islam. Recommended for 9+ 

Online: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Ti3BDS_TTik

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Prophet Muhammad (S) Colouring Storybook

Help children to become familiar with some of the main events in the life of Prophet Muhammad (S) through a simple to understand colouring storybook complete with quiz questions.

Download and print as booklet: Prophet Muhammad (S) Colouring Storybook

Activity: Timeline: Life of Prophet Muhammad (SAW)

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Responsibility

Lesson Objectives:

- To know that you are responsible for your actions towards God and His creation

- To know that you will be accountable to Allah on the Day of Judgement

- To understand free will in choices you make

- To define responsibility as being able to make the right choice

- To know that a responsible person always puts Allah first.

- To know how correctly fulfilling our responsibilities will bring peace to those around us

- To understand how not fulfilling our responsibilities contributes to bringing destruction.

Quran Verse:

Ta’muruna bilma’rufi

Wa tanhawna ‘anil munkar

You encourage good and forbid wrong 3:110

Key Learning Point:

A Muslim believes in Allah and the hereafter and understands that he is here on earth for a short time to do a very important job. He knows that he will return to Allah and be accountable for his actions.

We always have the freedom to choose our decisions but must know that every choice has a consequence. We must be responsible to know the rules of Allah and do the right thing. When we are careful of our duty to Allah our behaviour and actions are correct and we work hard at being the best we can. We obey our Creator and serve His creation, looking after the people around us. We do what is right and our actions bring peace to those around us.

Activity: Live for Allah

The deeds we plant on Earth, will determine how and what kind of life we live, for the the whole of the rest of our lives.

Activity: Sweet Choices

Life is full of choices and every choice has a consequence. Some of them will give you short term pleasure and others long term benefit.

Activity: Making the Right Choice

With every choice we make, we must put Allah first. Think, am I doing what Allah has asked me to do? Will it make Allah happy? We must listen to and follow the Quran and our Imams so we can learn how to make the right choice.

Activity: Put God First

A responsible person knows what is important and doesn’t get tempted to do something that seems easier or more exciting instead.

Activity: Build A Strong Community

Every time you do not act responsibly, it has a knock on consequence. You can not blame others for your behaviour. You are responsible for the destruction that your actions cause. 

Activity: Be Proactive

With every choice we face, we must be proactive. Remind yourself that you are response – able. You are able to choose how to respond in the best way

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We're All Wonders!

Learning Objective:

- To help children look beyond the physical appearance and see the wonder in everyone.

- To appreciate their own good qualities

Our physical appearance is just one part of us. We can't think we know what people are like just because of how they look. Everyone is special and good at something and it's these qualities inside us that make us all unique and wonderful! If we always look with kindness and get to know people for who they really are inside, we'll realise that we're all wonders!

Activity: Circle Time Prompts

Have the children sit in a circle and use the prompts to explore differences and similarities.

Share one thing that you're good at

Share one thing you like about the person to your left

Say one thing about the person next to you that is different from you
What do you love about yourself the most? A talent, skill, behaviour.
How would you feel if someone didn't want to play with you because they said they were different to you?
Share a smile around the circle

Activity: We're All Wonders!
Decorate a cut out figure to resemble the outside appearance. On a second cut out, have the children think of what they are good at and the special qualities they have inside them. Attach both figures with a paper fastener, emphasizing how we must always look beyond what we can see and look for the wonder inside.

Read: We're All Wonders by R. J. Palacio

Activity: Diversity

Activity: What's Inside Counts

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Muharram Poems

From Poems of Purity a compilation of children's poems by Buzz Ideazz

Have the children express their grief, understanding and love for the Ahlulbayt through poetry. They can choose whichever form, from acrostic to spoken word.

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Muharram Reflective Circles

Host a contemplative Muharram gathering by sending participants questions to ponder on beforehand, informing them that they will be discussed in a reflective circle. The programme style allows families and older children to reflect, engage and contribute in remembrance of Imam Husayn (as) and gain perspective from each other.

A selection of questions you could use:

1) What does the statement of Lady Zainab "wa ma ra'aitu illa jameela" mean to you?

2) What is the significance of the ziyarah of Arbaeen and the period of a 40 day commemoration?

3) Who from the event of Karbala inspires you most and why?

4) What Does Hazrat Qasims statement of "death is sweeter than honey" teach us?

5) How can we connect to Imam Husayn in a productive way on a regular basis?

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Ziyarah Ashura

A beautiful passage from Ziyarah Ashura for children to memorise and use as part of their Qunoot duas.

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Muharram Word Search

Activity: Muharram Word Search
Have children think of words which come to mind when they hear about Muharram and Karbala. They could also pick a specific event or personality to focus on. Have them create a wordsearch for their partners to solve.

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Forty Tears

Original poster by Hayaa 360

After the ten nights of Muharram, read over and discuss what learnings you have taken away from the lessons of Karbala. Choose one to work on and inculcate as a practical habit over the next forty days leading upto Arbaeen. Mark each day by colouring in a teardrop counter, symbolising and reminding how we must use our tears and mourning for Imam Husayn (as) to reform and improve ourselves. The chart can also be used to instil the habit of saying Salaam to Imam everyday.

Download and print: Forty Tears Worksheet

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Surah al-Ahzab Worksheet

Surah al-Ahzab is recited in the Ashura A'maal. The worksheet allows children to gain an understanding as to why this chapter may have been recommended. They will need an English translation of the Qur'an to locate certain verses and learn about the high position of the Holy Prophet (S)

Download and print: Surah al-Ahzab Worksheet

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Sacrifice

Learning Objective:

- Understand the meaning of sacrifice

- Understand that sacrifice in Islam is always to gain the pleasure of Allah

- Understand the reward of sacrificing for Allah is always better than what you gave up

Qur'an Verse: 

Lillah, For Allah

Surely my prayer, my sacrifice and my life and my death are for Allah, the Lord of the worlds. 6:162

Wa ma 'indallahi khairun, What is with Allah is better 3:198

Sacrifice is giving up something you love for something you love even more. It can be giving up something valuable to you like your time to help someone in need, sharing your favourite things with others or even giving up having sweets you love because you know they're not good for you.

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Courage

Learning Objective:

- To understand what courage means and when to practice it.

- To know that Allah will help you when you put your trust in Him 

- To know that with Allah's help you are stronger than you think!

- To understand that with Allah's help, nothing can overcome you.

Quran Verse:

If Allah is your helper, none can overcome you 3:160
Allah does not burden a soul more than it can bear 2:286

Courage is standing up and doing what is right even if you are alone or it is difficult. You may feel weak against a bigger crowd, but when you have faith and put your trust in Allah, Allah will give  you strength and help you stand up against whatever you face. 

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Build a Strong Community

Learning Objective:

- To know that each individual is part of a larger community 

- To know that you are responsible for your actions towards God and His creation

- To understand how correctly fulfilling our responsibilities will bring peace to those around us 

- To understand how our wrong actions contribute to bringing destruction to those around us.

- To understand that you can not blame others for your actions.

Qur'an Verse:

You are the best nation produced for mankind. You enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong 3:110

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Muharram Resolutions

Learning Objective:

- To understand the importance of self reformation

- To apply the lessons of Karbala

- To understand that working on a practice for 40 days helps to make it into a habit.

Lesson Introduction:

Discuss the mission statement made by Imam Husayn (as) after refusing to give bay’at and agree to the rules of Yazid. Imam explained that he was leaving Madinah “to reform the community of my grandfather.” Reform means to make better. The religion of Islam and the message brought by the Holy Prophet (S) was being changed and not followed in the right way. It was Imam’s duty to reform, the ummah, to make it better by encouraging goodness and standing against what was wrong.

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Sweet Choices

Learning Objective:

- To understand free will in choices you make

- To know there are consequences to the choices you make

Qur'an Verse:

wal aakhiratu khairun wa abqa

The hereafter is better and more lasting'. 87:17

Offer the child a fruit or a sweet. Discuss how both options look sweet but the fruit is more nutritious, better for you and gives lasting energy. 

Life is full of choices and every decision has a consequence. Some choices will give you short term pleasure and others long term benefit. 

There are so many things around us that tempt and look like the sweeter choice to make, but we must put Allah first and remind ourselves all the time, 'wal aakhiratu khairun wa abqa, the hereafter is better and more lasting'.

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Muharram Calendar

"And for you I shall be an example." Imam Husayn (as)

We spend the days leading upto Ashura, the 10th of Muharram, remembering the family and companions of Imam Husayn (as). Each personality sacrificed their life and faced hardships in the tragedy of Karbala and left us with lessons to learn from. 

Activity: Muharram Calendar
Create a display to highlight each of the personalities from Karbala and use the activity ideas archived to explore the lessons and values we can learn over the month of Muharram. The book Pearls of Karbala by Awaiting Angels can be purchased at Amazon and the cards can be printed online. 

Download and print 'Lessons From Karbala' cards by Awaiting Angels

Activity: Lessons from the Heroes of Karbala

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Lessons from the Heroes of Karbala

Download and print 'Lessons From Karbala' cards by Awaiting Angels

"And for you I shall be an example." Imam Husayn (as)

We spend the days leading upto Ashura, the 10th of Muharram, remembering the family and companions of Imam Husayn (as). Each personality sacrificed their life and faced hardships in the tragedy of Karbala and left us with lessons to learn from. 

Hurr

Forgiveness

Time on Earth is Short
Sweet Choices

Responsibility

Habib Ibn Mazahir

Friendship

Aun and Muhammad

Parents

Qasim

Faith in Allah

Abbas

Sacrifice

Ali Akber

Taqwa

Ali Asgher

Helpers of Allah

Imam Husayn 

Stand for the Truth

Do what makes Allah Happy

Let your Goodness Shine

Sakinah
Patience

Lady Zainab
Look for the Good
Courage

Resilience

Imam Sajjad
Dua: Talking to Allah

The Position of Sajda

See Also: Muharram Gems and Muharram Calendar

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Muharram Resources

BOOKS
Tears for Kerbala by Dr. Liaket Dewji
Let's learn about the 12 Days of Muharram 
Lessons from Karbala by Asr Kids
Learning the Lessons of Karbala with Class 14A by Nargis El-Hadi
Yaseer & Zahra Meet the Saviour of Islam
Pearls of Karbala by Fatemazahra Merali

WORKBOOKS
Lessons From Karbala by Islam From the Start
Muharram Workbooks for Children by The Academy for Learning Islam
Knowing the Ma'sumin: Imam Husayn (a) Workbook by The Academy for Learning Islam
Kisa Kids Project Booklets
Muharram Reflection by The Tasbih Project
Salamoji Muharram Workbook by Zahra Trust Media

WEBSITES

QFatima

Buzz Ideazz

Towards Jannah

Teaching Young Muslims

Hujjat Bookshop

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Learning about Muharram

Activities, crafts and lesson ideas to introduce Muharram, the event of Karbala and lessons to live by.

Muharram and the Story of Karbala

Remembering Imam Husayn (as)

Heroes of Karbala Family Tree

Journey of Imam Husayn (as)

Muharram Wall
Muharram Calendar

Karbala Landscape

Simple Muharram Book

Karbala Model

Muharram Gems Calendar

Handprint Flag

Getting Creative With Fatima

Water bag of Hazrat Abbas (as)

Drinking water

PEACE Pledge
Salaams on Imam Husayn (as)

Ashura around the world

Ashura A'maal
Surah Al Ahzab Worksheet

Lessons from Karbala

Living Karbala Everyday

Muharram Activities EBook
Lessons from the Heroes of Karbala
Forty Tears
Muharram Resolutions

Arbaeen

Bibi Sakinah

Imam Sajjad Story Bag

Sajda and Turba

Ziyara Places in Iraq

Iraq Guide Book for Kids

Preparing For Ziyarah

Resources

Links to Muharram books, worksheets and websites online.

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Popcorn Sheep!

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Surah Al Ankabut 29

Spider Handprint and Web
Quranic Alphabet Series: Ayn
Surah Ankaboot Good Deeds House
Key Concepts and Acrostic Poem
Quranic Highlights Surah Al Ankaboot 29

Resources:

QFatima 029 Al Ankabut
Infographics: Lessons from Surah Ankaboot by The Visual Age

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Prayer Jar

Activity: Praying for people close to me

Write names or attach photos of family members onto lollypop sticks and place in a jar. Pick one person to pray for each day.

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Poster: I Am A Muslim

'I Am a Muslim' outlines each value explored in our new book. Download the free poster and purchase Islamic Values online at sunbehindthecloud.com

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Islamic Values New Book Out Now

Get ready to dive into the Holy Qur'an and explore the manners and morals of a Muslim with your little ones, with over 100 crafts and hands on activities, using materials that can be found around your home. 

From sensory fun to science experiments and more, Islamic Values offers a new and exciting approach to learning about Islam in ways that are memorable and effective drawing inspiration from Qur'anic verses and using content grounded in a child's immediate world. The activities aim to create a lasting impact on children, making them more mindful in their actions.

A corresponding Quranic Calendar bringing together 30 short and memorable Quranic phrases is  available to accompany the activities in the book.

A Look Inside Islamic Values

Download the poster 'I Am A Muslim' outlining each value explored in the book

Available to purchase as paperback or eBook online:
Sun Behind The Clouds Publications

Amazon UK

US: Taqwa Media

Australia

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Eid Gift Exchange

The Prophet (Pbuh) said ““Exchange gifts, as that will lead to increasing your love to one another”.

Love this shared by a mum:
The little ones participated in a gift exchange programme at their workshop class. They decorated gift bags to take home and bring back the following week filled with a small present (worth £2 max). At the Eid party today they swapped bags with their fellow classmates and all left having felt the joy in both giving and receiving gifts. Eid Mubarak!

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Crescent Moon Lolly Holder

The children had a competition at mosque to decorate an Eid plate with entries being sold for charity. We loved the creativity of this crescent moon lolly holder and will be using it to share out sweets today!

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Colour In Eid Card

Printable courtesy of Tay On The Move

Use a colouring page to print your own Eid card or attach a few crayons inside and gift it as an activity Eid card!

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Create Your Own Puzzle

Use a blank craft puzzle to create your own unique themed jigsaw. Younger children can colour or assemble an image already drawn onto the puzzle. Older children can create their own pictures to gift to younger siblings or friends on Eid.

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Qur'an Quiz Bingo

Learning Objective:
- To review and consolidate learning after having completed the Ramadhan Qur'an Quiz
- to play as a fun Eid party game

Give each child/team an individual bingo card. Read out the questions with the children checking their cards for the answer and marking it with a cross if present. The winner is the first one to fill the card and shout bingo! Make it more challenging by asking for 4 squares in a row to be crossed in order to win.

Download and print Qur'an quiz bingo questions

Download and print 8 Qur'an Bingo cards

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Dhikr Breaks

Take dhikr breaks, time out throughout the day to remember Allah. It's amazing how many Salawaat, Alhamdulilah and even Surah Ikhlas you can recite in just one minute! It's a fun way to get little ones involved in dhikr and it takes just 60 seconds!

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Surah Ankaboot: Key Concepts

Learning Objective:
- to gain a glimpse into the topics covered in surah Ankaboot (29)
- to know its surah number and benefits of recitation.

Activity: Key Concepts
Use the Q114 Key Concepts by QFatima to highlight selected verses from the surah. Read and discuss together. Create a mind map or poster to illustrate the lessons. 

Activity: Ankaboot Acrostic Poem
Write an acrostic poem using the first letters of the word 'Ankaboot' to help children summarize the key concepts mentioned in the surah. Each line can be a word, a sentence or a phrase and does not need to rhyme. 

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