Dhikr Tasbeeh Tracking Ideas

Fun and engaging ideas to encourage Dhikr recitation.

Salawaat Sweet Jar
Dhikr Square
Sticker Tracker and Tally
Surah Ikhlas Stars
Dhikr Meter
Dhikr Breaks

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Dhikr Square

Numbered Dhikr Square For Younger Children

Use the hundred grid Dhikr Square as a tracker to mark tasbeeh recitation during a’amaal nights and the special seasons of worship.

Older children (or parents alongside their little ones!) can use the plain grid to set their own targets and draw up a key accordingly. They may for example colour one square for every 5-10 recitations. 

Plain Grid To Be Used For Individual Targets

Activity: Rajab Dhikr
The Holy Prophet (S) emphasised great reward in reciting Suratul Ikhlas in the month of Rajab. Younger children can recite and colour 3-4 squares of the numbered grid every day to complete 100 Surah Ikhlas by the end of the month. Older children can use the plain grid to set their own targets, draw up a key and aim to complete the square by the end of the month. 

Activity: Sha’ban Salawaat

Activity: Laylatul Qadr A'maal

Use the Dhikr Square to help you recite one hundred Surah Qadr through the night!

Activity: Ashura A'maal
Use the Dhikr Square to help you recite one hundred Surah Ikhlas throughout the day

Download: Dhikr Square Template

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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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Dhikr Meter

To motivate little ones to make a daily habit reciting their chosen dhikr during the special months of worship, have the children pick their own targets and design how to track their progress.

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La illaha illalah

Lesson Objectives:

- To understand the meaning of the dhikr la illaha illalah

- To know that application must be with speech, heart and actions

- To understand the power and benefits of the dhikr

Qur'an Verse:
La illaha illalah, There is no God except Allah 47:19

Hadith:

‘The Kalima of Laillaha illala is my castle, and whoever enters the castle will be safe.

Lesson introduction:

A castle is a strong building built by important people to keep them safe. Nothing can be a greater and safer place than the castle of Allah!

All Muslims believe in the Kalima. They say ‘La illaha illala’ with their lips, believe it with their hearts and show it in their actions.

Words are powerful. They can have an affect on your body. The words of Allah are the best words and most powerful words. Remembering Allah and saying His words, helps you to feel better.

Saying the dhikr with your heart means that you believe that Allah is the only One we worship, and understand that nothing is greater or more important than Him.

You show ‘la illah illalah’ with your actions when you always listen and do what Allah has said, you obey Allah.

Activity: Anecdote – Power of Words

Boy becomes ill, alim recites some verses of Qur’an. 

A doctor also present says, “We have medicine to make you better, how can saying these words make a difference?’

Alim says to him “I did not know donkeys are wearing doctors uniforms theses days.”

Doctor gets furious, his face turns red and he can not speak. How can you call me a donkey?!

Alim explains, ‘please forgive me, I only said these rude words to make a point. Your face turned red, your heart started racing, you couldn’t talk…all because I said a few words. Now imagine, can God’s words not make a positive difference?

Activity: A Secret Dhikr!

Look in the mirror and quietly recite the following phrases, each time carefully watch the movement of your lips: Allahu Akber, Alhamdulilah, SubhanAllah, Laillaha illala

Which one had the least movement of the lips and mouth even though the tongue was moving?
The dhikr of la illaha is like a special secret between just you and Allah! No one else can tell what you’re saying or even see you speaking!

Activity: Castle Worksheet
Fold an A4 sheet of paper lengthways from both ends to meet in the middle. Cut 2 rectangles out of the top edge to resemble a castle with an opening.
Inside, draw yourself and label the mouth, heart and hands, as the parts which must be involved in making the dhikr and explain how.

Download lesson plan: La illaha illalah

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Ramadhan Dhikr Tent

Create a a calm and special space to read and reflect. 

Inspired by the Itikaf tent featured in: How to Get Your Kids to Look Forward to and Love Ramadan 

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Alhamdulilah

Lesson Objectives:

- To understand the meaning of Alhamdulilah as praising and thanking Allah.

- To understand the difference between the two.

- To understand how saying Alhamdulilah with our hearts, changes our attitude to not complaining.

Quran Verse:

Alhamdulillah

All praise and thanks be to Allah 1:2

Key Learning Point:

Alhamdulilah is a beautiful dhikr we recite everyday in tasbih. It means to Praise Allah for who He is and thank Him for what He has given us. When we say Alhamdulilah with our heart, we do not moan or complain about the small things we don’t like or find difficult. Instead, we focus on all the good things and are grateful. 

Activity: Alphabet Thanks and Praise

Pass around a bag of alphabet/Scrabble tiles. Have each child pick out a letter and think of a blessing Allah has given us, beginning with the letter chosen. Can also brainstorm as a group.

For the second round, have the children think of an adjective or Ism, to describe Allah, with their chosen letter tile. Can use the A to Z Asmaul Husna alongside.

Use the activity to help make clear the difference between thanks and praise.

Activity: What does Alhamdulilah mean?
Complete the worksheet by writing what you can thank Allah for on one side and Names you can use to praise Him on the other.

Activity: The pebble and the sweet

Activity: Find the blessing
On strips of paper, write different scenarios that could lead to possible moaning. Have the child act out the negative reaction and then turn in it a positive by looking for the blessing in it.

Activity: Alhamdulilah Tasbeeh

Extended Home Activity: As a family, take on the 1 day no complaining challenge! Wear a rubber band on your wrist as a reminder and mark on a chart every time you complain. Did it make you stop and look for the blessings before moaning about something?

Resources: Brief Explanation of Alhamdulilah

Download Complete Lesson Plan: Alhamdulilah

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The Best Words

Lesson Objectives:

- To know how we can remember Allah with our words 

- To recap Quranic phrases of Dhikr and their usage

- To understand that words once spoken can't be taken back and so we must think before we speak

Quran Verse:

Udhkurullaha katheerun 8:45

Remember Allah Much!

Key Learning Point:

The tongue is an amazing blessing from Allah. Without it we wouldn’t be able to talk! We must thank Allah by using our tongue to speak the best words.

Using phrases like Bismillah and Alhamdulillah throughout the day, help us remember Allah.

When we use our words to cheer someone up and say kind things, our words make Allah happy. The words we speak become part of remembering Allah. Sometimes we say words that can be mean and hurtful. These words once spoken cannot be taken back.

We have to be really careful to stop and think before we speak. Are my words true, kind and helpful? Will my words make Allah happy?

Rhyme: Bismillah
Activity: Dhikr Clock

Activity: Think Before You Speak
Activity: Toothpaste Words
Activity: Wrinkled Heart

Download Complete Lesson Plan: The Best Words

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Think Before You Speak

Lesson Objective:

-  To understand that words once spoken can not be taken back and so we must think before we speak

-  To learn the three things to ask before we speak: Are my words true, kind and helpful? Will my words make Allah happy?

Quran Verse:
Udhkurullaha katheerun 8:45
Remember Allah Much!

Activity: Think Before You Speak

Make a moving tongue craft to help reinforce when it should be allowed to come out and speak! As you role play different scenarios, move the tongue slowly through each stage of questioning.

Download complete lesson plan: The Best Words

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Words Are Like Toothpaste

Lesson Objective:

- To understand that words once spoken can not be taken back and so we must think before we speak

Quran Verse:
Udhkurullaha katheerun 8:45Remember Allah Much!

Activity: Toothpaste Words

Role play speaking mean and hurtful words and squeeze out toothpaste as you do. Then ask the children to try to get the toothpaste back in the tube after it has been squeezed out.

We must be careful about what we say to others and the words we use. When you speak hurtful, mean things, you cant take the words back.

Download Complete Lesson Plan: The Best Words

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Dhikr Clock

Lesson Objective:

- To recap Quranic phrases of Dhikr and their usage

- To know that the best words are those that remind you of Allah and words that would make Him happy.

Quran Verse:

Udhkurullaha katheerun 8:45

Remember Allah Much!

Activity: Dhikr Clock
Words that help us remember Allah are called Dhikr. 

Use the Quranic phrases to remind you of Allah throughout the day.

Activity: Bismillah Rhyme

Listen and read online at QFatima Rhymes for Muslim children

Download complete lesson plan: The Best Words

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Rajab Calendar

Rajab, Sha’ban and Ramadhan are three special months that together make a season of worship. A special time to increase in our remembrance of Allah. In this month, we have been taught to try and recite laillaha illa/astaghfirullah and sura Iklhas as much as we can. 

Activity: Rajab calendar

Illustrate the calendar with a drawing and display it as a reminder of the important events in the month.

Download and Print 2019 Calendar

Activity: Happy Birthday Cake by Teaching Young Muslims

Use together with the Rajab calendar to keep track of the celebrations of the month. Template to print candles with the birth dates of each of the Imams available online.

Activity: Surah Ikhlas Dhikr Recitation

The Holy Prophet (S) emphasised great reward in reciting Suratul Ikhlas in the month of Rajab. Make it a habit to recite with the child everyday, marking with a gold star. Leave the stickers in a visible place and encourage the child to try and remember throughout the day. Each recitation is 'like a shining light in the darkness, showing you the way to reach Allah'.

Related Activities:

Season of Worship

Dhikr Tasbeeh Tracking Ideas 

Surah Ikhlas

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Talking about Allah (SWT)

A short 3 minute clip on the importance of talking about Allah to our children, to help instil the remembrance of Him in everything they do.

Watch in Youtube

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Salawaat Sticker Tracker

Encourage the recitation of salawaat in young children while sitting at mosque by using stickers or stamps. Helps to keep them engaged and allows them to be able to see how many they've recited. 

Older children could make a tally chart or use a digital counter as a fun alternative to a tasbeeh.

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