The Holy Prophet (ﷺ) emphasized the importance of education exclusively early on in life. Allah (swt) also states in Surah Al-Mujadila:
“God will raise those of you who believe, and those who have knowledge, in position. God is aware of what you do.” (58:11).
Every Muslim has a duty to learn about Islam. You must understand your faith instead of merely inheriting it. Gaining knowledge and awareness about the teachings of Islam can bring Muslims closer to Allah, strengthen their faith, and enable them to become better believers.
One of the best and most engaging ways to teach Islam education to children and adults alike is to incorporate them into daily lessons, especially if you're a Muslim parent living in a non-Islamic country and believe it essential to incorporate Islamic teachings into your children's daily life so they do not lose their sense of identity and are aware of the teachings of Islam. Therefore, if you’re willing to learn how to raise practicing Muslim children, we’ve just the suggestions for you!
By incorporating Islamic teachings into your child's daily life, you also teach them obedience and instill good values and manners.
Here are some tips to incorporate Islamic teachings into daily lessons:
1. Use Story-Telling Techniques to Keep Young Minds Engaged
Find some time to engage your child's mind every day and use the power of interactive storytelling to teach them about Islam. Storytelling is one of the ways you can capture your children's attention and teach them Islam in a way they will remember and find fun and interactive.
You can also encourage your children to retell or repeat the story you've taught them to ensure they understand the lesson and reinforce their understanding of Islamic concepts. Storytelling is a unique yet effective way of teaching children about Islam—it allows children to discuss and reflect on what they have learned and ask or talk about any queries they may have about what they have learned.
It also improves critical thinking skills and reinforces moral behaviors and manners Muslims must incorporate into their daily lives. Some Islamic stories you can teach your children include the story of Adam عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ, the story of Nuh عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ, the story of Ibrahim عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ, the story of Musa عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ, and the other Prophets.
2. Incorporate Islamic Duas and Habits Into Everyday Activities
To instill basic Islamic teachings or morals into children's or adults' daily lives – use the power of duas and make sure they make dua during their everyday activities or chores. For instance, reciting “bismillah" before starting with their meals and teaching them how the purpose of the dua is to emphasize one's gratefulness to Allah for their meals.
Moreover, other duas, such as the dua for waking up, wearing a garment, entering or leaving the toilet, starting ablution, or entering or leaving the house, must also be taught, along with the importance of reciting them.
You can also teach children basic household chores or hygiene tips to teach them about their responsibilities and link these chores to Islamic teachings. For instance, the Prophet (ﷺ) described cleanliness as half of a believer’s faith. Therefore, keeping oneself free from dirt or tidying up toys after game time can be taught as an Islamic practice, as well.
You can also cook together with your children and teach them about the teachings of halal food and ingredients and why Muslims cannot consume non-halal food. This will teach them about Islamic teachings while also ensuring they remain careful of the food they consume when outside of your supervision.
3. Technology is a Powerful Tool
In today's tech-driven world, our children do manage to get their hands-on technological devices, be it an iPad, iPhone, or desktop. So, why not ensure their screen time is utilized for learning something of value that can teach them about their faith and give them a head-start on a path towards becoming better Muslims?
Several videos, games, and apps are available on the Play Store and App Store that cater exclusively to improving children's Islamic knowledge. Interactive games (such as puzzles that test Islamic knowledge) help children retain information through hands-on learning experiences and ensure they do not forget what they have learned.
Islamic videos designed specifically to teach children and impart Islamic knowledge are available on the web and YouTube. They are an excellent tool for explaining Islamic concepts and history to children in a way that is highly engaging for them. They also spark their curiosity about different aspects of Islam while teaching them ways to incorporate Islamic morals and teachings into their everyday lives.
Digital tools provide an engaging and dynamic learning environment for children to help them learn more about Islam.
4. Visit Islamic Landmarks or Events with Your Family
Taking your children or adults to Islamic landmarks, seminars, or events can be a highly engaging activity to help them learn more about Islam. You can start by searching for any Islamic museums in your city or take your children to educational Islamic seminars or lessons.
If you happen to live in a non-Muslim country where these options may be scarce, you can take your children or anyone else interested in learning about Islam to your nearby mosque. You can also ensure to visit the mosque for the five mandatory prayers. Visiting the mosque provides a wonderful experience where children and adults alike can be introduced to the teachings of Islam and learn more about Islamic culture, such as the dress code. It can also help to ensure one remains regular in one's prayers.
Moreover, you can also check with your nearby mosque about any classes or lessons they may be offering to teach children about Islam. Enrolling in such programs and classes allows children or adults to learn about Islamic teachings from experts in an engaging classroom environment where they also have opportunities to ask questions or discuss any queries they may have while testing their knowledge through quizzes and exams.
Incorporating Islamic teachings into daily lessons provides people of all age groups an excellent opportunity to make Islam a part of their daily lives and remain steadfast in their faith. We hope you find our tips helpful on your path to becoming a better believer!
Author Bio:
Rafia is a certified Quran scholar and Islamic content writer based in Pakistan. She is passionate about educating and inspiring others through her writing, promoting a deeper understanding of Islamic principles. She occasionally writes articles for Muslim And Quran.