Nurturing the Next Generation
Sound Vision

Preserving our Faith during the Holidays: Mistakes Made, Lessons Learned

By Wendy Díaz

For those who converted to Islam, the spirit of the holidays is all too familiar and they are likely to have non-Muslim family members who celebrate Christmas. Author and convert Wendy Díaz offers reflection on mistakes made and lessons learned about how we can balance being a good Muslim relative, friend or neighbor while preserving our faith during the holidays. Learn more from the full article.

 Parenting Tip

Kids are excited this time of year. Schools are winding down for winter breaks, nights are filled with bright lights and decorations, and there are festivities galore as Christians prepare for Christmas. Be considerate of family members, neighbors, and coworkers and recognize that teachable moments for Muslim children abound, too. Take notice and plan accordingly.

Growing Up Muslim in a Christmas World

By Samana Siddiqui

It's impossible to ignore Christmas when you're living in America and other Christian-dominated countries, with the decorations, holiday sales, classroom artwork and parties, and more. Parents worry about their children feeling alienated and also about doing their best to counter with festive Eid celebrations. Read the article for one parent’s recollection of her childhood and how she has set the tone for her own children.

Inspiration

"It is not an exaggeration to say that I could not be a Muslim without believing in Jesus." 

Sheikh Dr. Omar Suleiman

Call a Family Meeting about Christmas

It’s Christmas time and, if you live in either the U.S. or Canada, it is likely that you are bombarded with holiday cheer. Younger kids may be feeling curious, jealous even, of all of the excitement surrounding the event. This is why it's critical to share the Islamic perspective on Christmas with your kids. Even if they know what it's about, they may feel left out, pressured, or confused about it and where they stand as Muslims. Here are 11 tips to help you raise the issue. 

1. Call a family meeting.
2. Start with the recitation of the Quran.
3. Get to know the territory.
4. Discuss Muslim and Christian beliefs about Jesus, peace be upon him.
5. Explain the need for multicultural understanding.
6. Stress the importance of respect for other faiths in Islam. 
7. Emphasize the respect for Jesus and all prophets in Islam.
8. Talk about gifts and decorations.
9. Acknowledge that respecting others does not mean compromising your faith.
10. Make the meeting interactive.
11. Put the suggestions into practice.

Read the full article for more details.

From The Quran

Surah Al-Fatihah, (The Opening)

1. In the Name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful.  

2. All the praises and thanks be to Allah, the Lord of the 'Alamin (mankind, jinns and all that exists).  

3. The Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful.  

4. The Only Owner (and the Only Ruling Judge) of the Day of Recompense (the Day of Judgment)  

5. You (Alone) we worship, and You (Alone) we ask for help (for each and everything).  

6. Guide us to the Straight Way -  

7. The Way of those on whom You have bestowed Your Grace, not (the way) of those who earned

Your Anger, nor of those who went astray.

Honoring our Neighbors: According to the Quran and the Sunnah

By Wendy Díaz

The type of neighbor an individual has – good or bad – can make a huge impact on his/her life. Having a reliable, friendly neighbor is reassuring in many ways. If an emergency happens, if you need someone to keep an eye on your children or even to borrow a cup of sugar, you can knock on that neighbor’s door. So, what does it take to be a good Muslim neighbor? Let’s look at the life of the greatest neighbor to have ever lived – Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him. Read more to put these same practices into your daily life.

Some Interesting Facts

Various research data suggests that children appear less likely than adults to have symptoms and severe illness from COVID-19. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, you should adopt the following strategies to keep your child as safe as possible at school during this juncture of the COVID pandemic.

• Adults and children aged 5 years and older should get fully immunized as soon as possible. 
• Everyone over the age of 2 years should keep wearing a face mask that covers the nose and mouth. As a bonus, masks can help stop the spread of other infections like the common cold or flu.
• Students — including those who are fully vaccinated — should be physical distancing at least 3 feet apart within classrooms when possible. When possible, schools should use outdoor spaces and unused spaces for instruction and meals to help with distancing. Activities like singing, band and exercising, for example, are safest outdoors and spread out.
• Screening testing can be offered to students who have not been fully vaccinated and may be most valuable when there are higher levels of COVID-19 cases in the community. To be effective, the screening program should test at least once per week, and rapidly (within 24 hours) report results. Diagnostic testing is recommended when someone has COVID-19 symptoms, or recent known or suspected exposure to the virus.
• Even with physical distancing, masking and vaccination, schools need to plan for exposures especially with new virus variants circulating. If a student or staff member has close contact with someone known to be infected with SARS-CoV-2, they should quarantine as recommended by local public health officials unless they are fully vaccinated. Fully vaccinated people who have a known exposure to someone with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 should be tested 5 to 7 days after exposure, whether they have symptoms or not.

Here is the link to the full article.

Taking a Time Out to Reflect

By Zahirah Lynn Eppard

As we draw to the end of a calendar year, there is time for reflection on what has been accomplished or achieved and what has also brought challenges and tests. Islamically, there is no “best” time to engage in this type of exercise (this should be done routinely). In case this is on your to-do list in the coming weeks, here is a 30-point checklist to ensure you are on a well-rounded course physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Read more to capture the full details.

Online Resources

Talking to our Kids about Jesus - This timeless article includes a collection of details about this important Prophet and Messenger from an Islamic perspective. 

How to Talk to Young Children about Christmas - This article by Eman Ahmed provides helpful tips on how parents can start discussing Christmas with a young child.

Muslims Celebrating Christmas: Why the Petty is Powerful - This article was published on MuslimMatters.org and is a reminder about how small things are actually big things, especially in teaching our children how to apply Islamic guidance to everyday life.

Religious Holidays beyond Christmas - This website offers a nice description of the holidays celebrated by members of the Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, and Buddhist faiths.

Adam’s World Video: Adams Learns about the First Pillar of Islam

When Mama returns from work to announce that her friend took the Shahadah, Adam gets a lesson on the meaning of the first pillar of Islam. The Arabic letter “sheen” and English letter “S” are featured in the spelling of the Shahadah. Dawud Wharnsby’s nasheed “Alhamdulillah, I Am Muslim” also adds a nice touch. (6:10)

Experienced educators and creative hosts have put together a special treat for the entire family during our Winter Break! 

Four separate classes designed for children ages 5 through 12 offer maximum learning opportunities in an engaging learning environment. Students explore:

• the beauty of Allah and His creation 
• the best of human ingenuity 
• beautiful Muslim lands and cultures
• delicious baked sweets

Recorded classes make it easy to learn at a time that works for your family and in the safety of your home. Tuition is family based and scholarships are available. Make a plan to join us!

Visit Academy.AdamsWorld.org for more details and online registration.

The Sound Vision Foundation has been a trusted source of Islamic knowledge for more than 30 years. Our work with the world-renowned puppets Adam and Aneesah pioneered creative programming for Muslim children, encouraging them to learn about and love their religion. We continue to bring sound content and engaging programs that stimulate minds, touch hearts, and strive to fulfill our mission of raising better Muslims, better neighbors, and better citizens. This latest effort is designed to support and empower Muslim parents to do the same.