Although Muslim children are expected to begin sawm (i.e., fasting during the holy month of Ramadan, the third pillar of Islam) when they reach puberty, many parents would start introducing the importance of Ramadan and training their children to fast from a young age. This is what my parents did for me and my siblings, and I’m doing the same with my children.
I first introduced Ramadan to my eldest daughter three years ago, and this year to my son. It was a little daunting having to provide and explain all kinds of information about the holy month, especially when I was trying not to lose my kids’ interest. Even so, I believe that preparing my children ahead of time will make it easier for them to fast when it becomes an obligation in the future.
At the very least, it teaches them not only what to expect, but also how to observe and appreciate the things that Ramadan promotes, even if it’s as simple as recognising the hunger that many people across the world experience daily, not just during Ramadan.
What Are Ramadan Basics to Teach Young Children?
Children can become very excited about Ramadan if they are given accurate details and can participate in enjoyable Ramadan activities. While there are many aspects you’d like to tell them so they understand the purpose and significance of fasting during Ramadan, you don’t want to overwhelm them with information.
The first four key points that I believe are important to convey to children prior to Ramadan are:
- What is Ramadan? – It’s a month of fasting and abstaining from things that are considered impure for the mind and body. This is when Muslims abstain from food, drink, and impure thoughts between the hours of sunrise (Fajr) and sunset, allowing us to focus on prayer and connecting with Allah S.W.T.
- When is Ramadan? – Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, with a different start date each year because the Islamic calendar is based on the lunar cycle (the cycle of the moon). It differs from the Gregorian calendar, which we use daily. This is a fantastic chance to introduce your child to the Islamic lunar calendar!
- Why do we fast? – It is believed to bring you closer to Allah, to teach self-discipline, and to remind people of the sufferings of those who are less fortunate.
- The night of Laylatul Qadr (The Night of Power) – One of the holiest nights in the Islamic calendar. The Quran was revealed to our beloved Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) on an odd night in the last ten days of Ramadan. This is why Muslims recite the Quran more during this month.
Aside from telling them about Ramadan, the most important thing I do when teaching my children to fast is to avoid forcing it on them. I’d ask them whether or not they wanted to fast. If they do, that’s fantastic! If not, I’ll try to persuade and ask why not.
Here’s How Our First Ramadan Went
So, this year, my eldest daughter, who is now in Year 3 (9 years old), is fasting for the third year, whereas my second child, who is in Year 1 (7 years old), is starting fresh on his first year. We’ll see how I prepared my children to fast at different times of the day during the holy month of Ramadan.
The Night Before the First Ramadan
It’s been a while since I informed our children that Ramadan is approaching, and we’ve talked about fasting and other important details. I reminded them again the night before and told them to go to bed early so they could wake up for sahur (suhoor). We also discussed the significance of sahur and how it will keep them energised to fast during the day.
I decided to make a Ramadan reward chart for each of my children to ensure that they are all excited about Ramadan. This is my first Ramadan Calendar, and let me tell you, I’m not the most creative person in the world (so, yes, you can do it too!). I’m hoping it will keep my kids interested until the end. Even if it doesn’t, I’m proud of them for giving it their all throughout the month.
Sahur, or Pre-dawn Meal Time
Then came the first day of sahur. I woke them both up around 5 a.m. to give them plenty of time to finish their meals before Imsak (a period of time – about 10 minutes before the dawn prayer, Fajr/Subuh, begins) arrived. As you can see in the photo, we also have an extra little one who ended up being awake and enjoying sahur more than her sister and brother!
By the way, I was worried that they wouldn’t be able to wake up or that they wouldn’t feel like eating because it’s too early in the morning and they must still be very sleepy. But, yes, that is exactly what happened to my son! Even after we tried our best to persuade him, he just sat there staring at his plate of rice.
So, I gave him the option of eating his sahur or going back to sleep, and he chose the bed. He couldn’t even open his eyes, poor little boy! Let’s just say he wasn’t able to fast on the first day. Hopefully, we’ll do better the next time. No worries though as there’s still time to train him!
My eldest daughter did fantastic considering it was her third year of fasting. Of course, she was a little hesitant, but she made it (with a little encouragement!) It’s understandable given that it’s only the first day; they should be fine in a few days. All you have to do is believe in them.
It can be difficult to get children to eat early in the morning for sahur, but it’s essential if they want to try fasting. Plus, it is sunnah for the fasting person to eat sahur, as reported in the hadith of Anas ibn Malik (RA) Anas ibn Maalik (RA). The Prophet the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said:
“Eat suhoor, for in suhoor there is blessing.” (Narrated by Bukhari and Muslim).
The type of food they eat for sahur is also important. Our sahur meals for the kids will always include:
- Rice and any type of protein
- Vegetables if they’re up for it, otherwise fruits
- 1-2 dates
- At least 2 cups of water
Finally, following sahur, we waited for the Subuh prayer. My daughter was already awake from eating and praying, so I allowed her to carry on with her activities.
What Happened In Between?
Of course, things may not go as planned. As parents, we must never stop encouraging our children and never put them down. To stay on track, I constantly remind myself, ‘My kids are in training mode’.
My son didn’t fast because he didn’t eat his sahur, so when he woke up, he was hungry and asked for breakfast. My daughter, on the other hand, did fantastically, though she did occasionally ask when it was time to break the fast while touching her hungry stomach! Oh, I feel terrible, but all I can do is keep encouraging her to stay strong until the end.
I felt fine keeping my daughter fasting because it was a weekend. Unless she’s at school and has an active day, then I don’t mind if she breaks the fast and recognises that it is acceptable to take a day off.
Preparing for Iftar
I was at my mother-in-law’s house on the first day of Ramadan, so I spent most of my time assisting her with iftar preparations. I wanted to include my daughter, but I didn’t want her to become overly hungry after seeing all the food (remember, it was only the first day!) I’m just glad she’s coping so well.
Also, I initially intended for her to break her fast with whatever her grandmother had prepared, but after seeing her exhausted face at 5 p.m., my husband and I decided to take her to a nearby Ramadan bazaar so she could choose what she wanted to eat for iftar. Just a small reward for making it to the end.
During and After Iftar
It was a happy moment to see how my daughter was enjoying her iftar. After iftar and cleaning up, we prayed our Maghrib prayers and waited for Isyak. Right after Isyak, I performed the Tarawih prayer at home with the kids. I chose not to go to the surau or mosque because my kids can be the most excited little people when they start goofing around.
For the time being, it’s best for us to pray at home. I just don’t want my kids to disturb other people. We’ll give it a shot once they’ve all reached the appropriate age.
That about sums up our first day of Ramadan. Hopefully, every parent who has children fasting this year had a smooth and blissful first day. Let’s pray that our children will learn a great deal about this holy month. Here are eight Ramadan activities that you can enjoy with your children.
You Are Your Children’s Source of Strength
One thing to keep in mind during this period of training your children during Ramadan is that it’s okay for your young kids to break their fast if they really can’t handle it until the end of the day. Acknowledge their efforts and tell them that they can always try again. They’ll do better every day if you support and encourage them, and they’ll understand that fasting (sawm) and self-control training are vital aspects of their lives.
Motherhood Story wishes all our Muslim readers a blessed Ramadan!
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