Summertime is typically a time when youth are out of school and want to relax and enjoy themselves. When summers are very hot or there is a heatwave, it is recommended that young people, especially children, spend more time indoors away from the heat and humidity. Being confined to the inside of the house for long periods of time is often frustrating and frustrating to children who want to play in the sun, ride their bikes and run around the park and teens who may want to play sports. But summer offers opportunities for Muslims to have fun and increase their iman through everyday activities and specific acts of ibadah. The key is that actions that are good for the mind are often good for our spiritual growth as well.
Qiyam al Layl – Night Prayers
And rise at ˹the last˺ part of the night, offering additional prayers, so your Lord may raise you to a station of praise
Surah Al Isra 17:70
- Families can pray together during the late nights of summer. This increase in ibadah has the added benefit of enhancing iman and enriching family time
Memorize Quranic verses
And We have certainly made the Quran easy to remember. So is there anyone who will be mindful?
Surah Al Qamar 54:40
- Younger family members can try to memorize some of the shorter surah near the end of the Quran.
- Teens can reinforce their learning by helping younger siblings
- All family members can take an online course or view pre-recorded courses on platforms like YouTube.
Read – reflect
Read, ˹O Prophet,˺ in the Name of your Lord Who created—
Surah Al Alaq 96:1
- Reading, reciting and reflecting on the Quran is a mercy. When we read the holy Quran we are engaged with it and have time to reflect and ponder on its words.
- Families can have summer book reading activities that include stories in seerah, the lives of the prophets mentioned in the Quran or the life of prophet Muhammad (saw).
Remind ourselves to do good deeds
Do you see the one who denies the reckoning?
Who shuns the orphan
and forgets the hungry?
Woe to those who worship
but who worship mindlessly
and only to be seen,
and fail in neighborly kindness
Surah Al Maun 107
- Since children and teens have more time during the summer, this is a good time to reinforce the importance of doing good deeds.
- Helping each other with housework is a good deed. These simple but helpful tasks are in keeping with the life example of the prophet Muhammad (SAW) and should be encouraged. During the summer months children are less pressed for time due to school or other obligations, so this is an ideal opportunity to develop these habits.
Ayeshah (May Allah Most High be pleased with her) was asked, what did the Prophet used to do in his house? She (May Allah Most High be pleased with her) said, ‘He ﷺ was in the service of his family. And when the time for prayer arrived, he ﷺ went to prayer.’
(Sahih al-Bukhari 676).
Do dawah
And who is better in speech than one who invites to Allah and does righteousness and says, 'Indeed, I am of the Muslims?'
Surah Fussilat 41:33
- Typically we think of dawah as an act of inviting other people to Islam, but it is also includes inviting other Muslims to gain a deeper understanding of the religion. This dawah can be between family members, extended family members, neighbors or friends.
Share a meal
"O you who have believed, eat from the good things which We have provided for you and be grateful to Allah if it is [indeed] Him that you worship."
Surah Al-Baqarah 2:172
- The beauty of Islam and the mercy of Allah is that small everyday good deeds are pleasing to Allah. Since there is more free time, there is more opportunity to enjoy the company of other people during the summer. These opportunities of spending time and sharing a meal with another help alleviate any boredom or loneliness. Summer cook-outs and popsicle parties are long American favorite summer pasttimes.
Salim bin ‘Abdullah bin ‘Umar said:
“I heard my father say: ‘I heard ‘Umar bin Khattab say: “The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: ‘Eat together and do not eat separately, for the blessing is in being together.’
Sunan Ibn Majah 3287
Play
Anas ibn Malik reported: The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, would play with Zaynab, the daughter of Umm Salamah. The Prophet would keep saying, “O Zaynab! O Zaynab!”
al-Aḥādīth al-Mukhtārah 1580
- We have no greater example of kindness and love towards children than the reported actions of Prophet Muhammad (saw).
- Naturally during extremely hot days or even during a heat wave playing inside the house or another cool place is preferred. This can range from arts and crafts, playing with toys, family games or even physical games like musical chairs.
- Families that play together tend to have strong ties and learn patience, sharing, fairness and care for each other.
Rest and take a nap
O you who have believed, let those whom your right hands possess and those who have not [yet] reached puberty among you ask permission of you [before entering] at three times: before the dawn prayer and when you put aside your clothing [for rest] at noon and after the night prayer. [These are] three times of privacy1 for you. There is no blame upon you nor upon them beyond these [periods], for they continually circulate among you - some of you, among others. Thus does Allāh make clear to you the verses [i.e., His ordinances]; and Allāh is Knowing and Wise
Surah An Nur 24:58
- Often people only focus on how this verse from Suratul Nur teaches the etiquette of modesty within the home. Yet all ayah in the holy Quran contain information that is layered. Besides noting the modesty, we also see that Allah has made provisions for rest. During the summer months, the middle of day can be especially hot and coming inside from the heat and resting is a very healthy practice.
Author bio: Mahasin D. Shamsid-Deen is the news curator and content manager for Muslim Network TV (MNTV) and contributing writer for Sound Vision. She holds a Master’s degree in English Writing and has worked as both a High School and College ESL Instructor and Writing Instructor for more than a decade. Mahasin has numerous published articles, books, essays and is a published playwright with three award winning stage plays. She is currently writing her dissertation for her doctoral degree.
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