Trying to teach our children about cleanliness can feel like a never-ending battle sometimes. Struggles over bathing, nagging over left-out toys, and sore sights of messy rooms can become daily sources of tension for families.

One day in Madinah, during the lifetime of the Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, a group of idolaters approached one of his followers by the name of Salman Al-Farsi., may Allah be pleased with him. They sought to ridicule the Prophets and made a mockery of his teachings.

Reinforcing good hygiene practices from an early age is important for several reasons. Firstly, because it is deemed essentially as half of our faith, as the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

"Cleanliness is half of faith."

(Sahih Muslim)

As residents of California for 30-plus years, I have never seen my family members so affected by the earthquakes that recently shook Turkiye. Mind you that California is an earthquake country. The earthquakes in Turkiye feel different and so close to home.

Since the beginning of time, mankind has been plagued with trials of different types.

As parents, we are constantly seeking ways to teach our children about the world we live in. As Muslim parents, added to that responsibility is ensuring that they also see the world and their purpose in it from an Islamic lens.

There are all different ways that parents teach their children about religious principles and concepts. Books are one of those go-to resources. And when it comes to teaching fundamentals of Islam with both detail and creativity, prize-winning author Zanib Mian is a favorite.