Calling All Muslim Kids: Publish Your Work, Views and Jokes!
Although we requested contributions from Muslim Kids since the launch of the new site in July 2009, we didn’t have the necessary system or support in place to actively solicit submissions or publish regularly. Alhumdulilah (Praise be to God), we are presently prepared to compile and publish work by Muslim Kids for Muslim Kids on a regular basis. Alhumdulilah, we have over 2 dozen Muslim Kids Islamic Book Reviews yet to post from our 1st Annual Summer Islamic Reading Program. Subhanallah (Glory be to God), with 3 months until our next kick-off, we feel it’s perfect timing to post them now, inshaAllah, to get all our Muslim Kids excited for the upcoming program. 
Categories for Submission
Muslim Kids Product Review
- A perfect example of how my 9 year old shares one of her favorite educational website, is by showing others how to register since there’s no available how-to guide online. So, if you can answer any of the following questions below, please complete this form.
- Do you have a favorite educational website you visit all the time? Please share it with others.
- Do you have a special toy, game, or program that you can’t live without? Please to tell us what it is and why it’s so great.
- Did you learn the Qur’an or Arabic through a software program that made it fun and easy? We’d love to hear about it.
Muslim Kids Weekly Video
- Every Sunday, inshaAllah, we showcase a Weekly Video in a blogpost, and place it on the right sidebar “Weekly Muslim Kids Video”.
- So, if you want to share your favorite nasheed or a funny Islamic video, please complete this form.
Muslim Kids Recipes
- On Tuesday’s we participate in a Tasty Tuesday meme. We find that recipes by kids for kids are well received by our readers.
- So, if you have a great, simple, healthy or not-so-healthy-but-delicious snack, meal or dessert to share, please complete this form.
Muslim Kids Jokes
- We just published our first funny Islamic joke here.
- So, if have another one to share, please make us laugh! Please complete this form.
Kids Book Review
- Do you love reading books? But, enjoy telling all your friends why he or she should read it even more!? We’ll, that’s called a book review.
- Book reviews are unlike book reports. Professional writers believe that writing book reviews is an ideal way for children to enjoy and improve their writing skills, because it’s an easy, fun, creative and rewarding writing exercise.
- You can even narrate your review to your parents. But, narration is meant for kids too young to write all their great thoughts and opinions down on paper.
- So, if you are ready to recommend your favorite book(s), please complete this form.
Want to be a Kid Blogger?
My 9.5, 8.5 and 6.5 year old daughters are having a blast blogging and vlogging!
We’re learning so much, spending quality family time together, sharing critical Islamic tips and lessons, growing our community, and actually winning prizes and free gifts along the way.
But, nothing is more important to us than receiving the blessings and acceptance of Allah (subhanallah wa’ Tala) as we worship Him and Only Him in all our work and play. Yar Rabb. Ameen.
We’re very interested in showcasing more Muslim kid bloggers here at American Muslim Mom. So, if you’d like to write for us, comment below or contact us with your suggestions and recommendations. Recommendations leading kids away from haram things is highly recommended.
Additional ideas include:
- Do you have an arts and crafts project you want to showcase? Please teach others how to duplicate your work.
- Want to share your favorite poem, du’a, or short story and become a published writer?
- Do you have tips that make your daily tasks easier? Please let other Muslim kids benefit from your wise ways.
- Did your class or homeschool family just figure out a fun way to learn a difficult-to-understand topic or concept? Share your lesson plans with us, like we did here.
- Would like to share your political commentary on breaking news? Innocent kids often say it best!
We look forward to showcasing educational, fun and motivational tips, tools and resources from the wise, innocent, and often humorous mouths of our children, inshaAllah. So, please comment below, contact us directly, or submit your work through one of the category forms above.
Please allow 28 business days for review. If you haven’t heard from us within that time frame, you may re-submit your idea.
*Disclosure: As a family-friendly Muslim Mom online magazine and blog community, healthy submissions in accordance to the Qur’an and Sunnah of our beloved Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) are encouraged. Our intention is to support the work of Muslim Kids and publish it accordingly. We reserve the right to edit, amend, delete, stop or ban anything deemed inappropriate or disrespectful.
Muslim Kids Video – Boys Trying to Pray
MashaAllah (God has willed), these boys are absolutely adorable. One is a very serious little Imam-in-training and the other is a jolly little guy happily learning alongside his buddy. This video always brings a chuckle at our house. Enjoy!
If you have a funny or serious Islamic video or nasheed you’d like to share, please let us know about it by clicking here.
Muslim Kids Joke – Alhumdulillah!
This funny Islamic joke was published in the “Kids Muslim Community News” Issue no. 2 Safar 1431-Feb 2010, which was found at the Noor-Ul-Iman School in Teaneck, NJ – Hafiz school this weekend. We had to share it today just to make you laugh
Alhumdulilah!
An old man was selling his horse in the market.
An interested buyer came to him and requested if he could get a test drive. The imam told the man that this horse is unique.
In order to make it walk, you have to say “Subhanallah” (Glory be to God).
To make it run, you have to say “Alhumdulillah” (Praise be to God).
To make it stop, you have to “Allahu Akhbar” (God is Great),
The man sat on the horse and said ‘Subhanallah”. The horse started to walk.
Then, he said “Alhumdulillah” and it started to run. He kept saying “Alhumdulillah ” and the horse started running faster and faster.
All of a sudden the man noticed that the horse is running toward the edge of the hill that he was riding on. Being overly fearful, he forgot how to stop the horse.
He kept saying all these words out of confusion. When the horse was just near the edge, he remembered “Allahu Akbar” and said it out loud. The horse stopped just one step away from the edge.
The man took a deep breath, looked up towards the sky and said “Alhumdulillah!”
We’d love to compile funny Islamic jokes for Muslim Kids. So, if you have one to share, please submit your joke by using this form here.
Kid’s Book Review – Attack fo the Turtle by Drew Carlson
Book Review for Muslim Kids by Muslim Kids
Title: Attack of the Turtle
Author: Drew Carlson
Illustrator: David A. Johnson
Publisher: Eerdmans Books for Young Readers
ISBN: 978-0-8028-5338-7
Number of Page: 149
Genre: Historical fiction
Kid Reviewer: The Sabra Girls
Reviewer’s Age: 6.5, 8.5, 9.5 years old
Date submitted: 2/2/2010
Reading Time: 1-4 days
Intended Audience:
Kid Reviewer: The Sabra Family
Age: 6 – 12 years old
Gender: Both
Rating: 5 of 5. Excellent.
Review:
6.5 year old girl:I liked this story because it is a historical fiction book and we live in Connecticut. When we coming home from Boston, MA we passed by all the towns in this book, like Old Saybrook and New London. Also, I’ve been to all the places in NY City too.
8.5 year old girl: By reading this book, it’s a fun way to learn history.
9.5 year old girl: I really liked this book because I usually don’t like history, but this book changed me. It discussed inventors, what happened during the Revolutionary War, and I liked the explanation between what was fact and what was fiction in the book.
Mama: Overall, this was an incredible book. Please read this book as a family, and enjoy opening a unit study in the Revolutionary War, inventors and inventions, and/or New England geography.
Interesting facts:
The Epilogue, American Turtle diagram and its description, Author’s notes and Bibliography are all must-read sections of this book. They were so funny and interesting that we look forward to going to the Submarine Museum in Groton to see the life-sized model of the American Turtle ourselves in the Spring, inshaAllah. We read the “Bushnell’s Submarine – The Best Kept Secret of the American Revolution” by Arthur S. Leftowitz the Uncorrected Proof to verify the historical and scientific information shared in “Attack of the Turtle”. 
* We read this book as part of the 2010 Intermediate Nutmeg Nominee Book Club at the Hamden Public Library. Previously reviewed books in this category included:
- Drita, My Homegirl
We’d love for you to share your kid’s book reviews on AmericanMuslimMom.com Click here to complete a review form.
My Kid Bloggers/Vloggers and I won–Thanks!
Jazaka Allahu Khayrun (May God grant you goodness) for voting for our video clip “Top 10 Reasons MomWebs Web Hosting Rocks!”. We won 2nd place and got all these great business blogging resources to help grow the American Muslim Mom online community.
My girls and I experienced quite the learning curve this past week, and I shared many Online PR lessons & aha! moments in my post here.
Alhumdulilah, Praise be to God, we feel extremely blessed at our house for having gone through this experience.
What started out to be an opportunity to teach my girls some writing and video producing skills, which I myself haven’t exactly acquired (this being only our 2nd vlog/video log), we actually gained many new friendships with the contestants, and renewed our relationships with long-lost family and distant friends through FaceBook, twitter, and my numerous email lists–even the ones that are not Muslim or mommy related.
And, can you believe the timing of it all!?
I never needed Scott, MomWebs superb support specialist, as much as I did this past weekend–a Sunday of all days. We were back and forth for nearly 5 hours because I actually lost one of my blogs while I attempted to add a new blog just for my girls. Now, tell me a web host who’d do all this?! So, Scott gets 2 Thumbs up now!
Last, this amazing one-week experimental journey brought me to where I want to see American Muslim Mom going: a hub of solid, useful, regular content helpful to Muslim Moms and their Kids, while involving their kids in the process.
By allowing my girls to be my assistants, they are now equal partners invested in our success. They have designated duties and goals of their own. They’re determined and focused, and their energy is what’s bringing life to this already lively community, mashaAllah.
We thank you for making this journey with us and supporting our growth.
For at the end of each day, we give thanks to Allah, subhana wa Tala (May He be Glorified) for all our blessings he bestowed us…and one, is our friendship with you!
At the advice of Marie, the contest winner, we’re joining her Tuesday Toot meme to praise our efforts and thank you in the process! Love to hear your thoughts below.
“My Masjid” Kids Drawing Contest on Family Reads
Honored to find that we’re listed on their Helpful Links page on Family Reads, we’re excited to announce this drawing and writing contest for children ages 4 – 16 years old. In addition to drawing a masjid, kids are asked to a short description of why they think their masjid is unique or special. Of course, each of our girls are participating, and we encourage you to have your kids join us too!
From the page:
“My Masjid” Art contest.
Do you like to draw? Art is a wonderful way to express ones creativity. If you like to draw, then this contest is just for you. Family Reads is hosting an art contest featuring local masajid around the world. Young artists, you are invited to participate in the contest by submitting hand-drawn or computer drawn illustrations of the local masjid you attend. Please include a 50-100 word description of your masjid, ie name, location, history, what makes your masjid unique or special. Winning art work will be featured on Family Reads. Please send submissions to familyreads@ymail.com and type “My Masjid art contest” in the subject line.
Contest Rules:
* One submission per person
* Submission should be your own drawings, computer or hand-drawn
* Submissions should be submitted no later than Feb 25th
* Submission should include: Name, Age and City/State
Contest Age Categories:
Ages 4-8 years
Ages 8-12 years
Ages 12-16 years
Contest Prizes
* Winning Art featured on Family Reads
* A collection of delightful books and/or coloring activity book
* A gift certificate to www.islamicbookstore.com or www.store.dar-us-salam.com
Muslim Kids Video – Don’t be a Showoff
We must pray only for the sake of worshiping Allah and for no other reason. This lesson explained in Surah Maun (Alms Giving) in the Qur’an is the reason we chose today’s funny Muslim Kids Video.
Surah Maun (Alms Giving) 107
- Have you seen him who denies the Recompense?
- That is he who repulses the orphan (harshly),
- And urges not on the feeding of Al-Miskin (the poor),
- So woe unto those performers of Salat (prayers) (hypocrites)
- Those who delay their Salat (prayer from their stated fixed times).
- Those who do good deeds only to be seen (of men),
- And prevent Al-Ma’un (small kindnesses like salt, sugar, water).
Please help us showcase the best nasheed and Muslim Kids videos available on the web every Sunday. So, please leave a comment below with your favorite link and check back each week to see when we post it!
5th Annual “The Praised One” Poetry Contest
Having participated in this poetry contest last year, my girls are eager to use creative words to share their love and admiration of our beloved Prophet (peace & blessings be upon him) again this year. It should be more interesting this year too, because we’ve been studying the various types of poetry. So, this is a perfect Language Arts and Islamic Studies/Deen project to join in.
5th Annual Poetry Competition about Prophet Muhammad(SAW)
Theme: “A Day with the Prophet(S)”
Northstar School invites all Young Muslims (7 -12 years) to join this Competition!
WINNERS
According to age group (7-9) & (10-12)
Announced at Northstar Fundraising Dinner in April, 2010
Will be awarded a Trophy and Certificate signed by the Judges
POEM CRITERIA
1. Must match current contest theme (above)
2. Must be postmarked between Feb 22nd & Mar 5th, 2010
3. Must be CHILD’s original poetry in their own words
4. Must be submitted with signed Entry Form online
5. Must NOT have won any other competition or have been published
NEW! ARABIC version of “The Praised One” Competition Praise Rasulallah(s) in the Language of the Quran NO THEME, write a poem in Arabic about Rasulallah (saw). Competition for ages (10-13) & (14-17).
Download Entry Form
POETRY WORKSHOPS
In addition this year we have 2 workshops to help inspire kids:
- English Workshop is a one day event (Saturday, Feb. 6th) at MCA in Santa Clara, CA. Deadline to register, Feb 2nd.
- The Arabic Workshop is aimed at producing a 4-6 line poem by the end of February. This workshop is a series of 3 Saturdays (Feb. 13th, 20th, 27th) at Northstar School in Hayward, CA. Basic Arabic knowledge is required in order to benefit. Deadline to register, Feb 9th.
Download Poetry Workshop Flier
Any Questions in regard to the poetry contest? please email: poetry@northstarschool.org
Annual Quran Qiraat Competition – Baytul Iman School, NJ. Spaces almost filled.
Baytul Iman School in New Jersey is hosting their Annual Qur’an Qiraat Competition. With the opportunity to win laptops, Wii games, iPods and other special prizes–this is definitely worth a day trip. Registration is based on a first-come first-served basis with the capacity to host 120-125 kids, so you better register right now. $10 per child.
Subhanallah, they already have over 80 registered paid participants . I just got my 6 year old registered before they closed down Level 1, since I was told by one of the organizers that it’s already full.
There are four age levels (birthdays by February 27, 2010*):
Level 1: 6-7 year old
Level 2: 8-9 year old
Level 3: 10-11 year old
Level 4: 12-15 year old
Location: 8998 Highway 18. North & Spring Valley Road, Old Bridge, NJ 08851
Time: 9:00 am sharp!
Food: Halal lunch and snacks will be provided for the kids.
For further information: Br. Yasir Shahid 917.309.9275 Br. Faisal Ashfaq 732.824.3107 Br. Muhammed Asif 347.392.7236
Sponsorship & Donations are welcomed.
Terms & Conditions. Please read these details for dress code, description of the judging process, how final decisions cannot be contested, and if anyone wants to even try to cheat or lie about his/her child’s age simply to qualify for these great prizes–you better think again! Astaghfirlazeem, this is a Qur’an Competition–let’s keep this fair and fun for everyone, inshaAlah khir.
InshaAllah, all Muslim Kids Qur’an Competitions should honor these Terms & Conditions, because we’ve witnessed too many times when parents ruin the day for the kids and other attendees because they take the competition too seriously and force their children into harmful and even haram practices, such as lying and cheating. Ya Rabb. Please forgive us all. Ameen.
Alhumdulilah, Muslim Kids Qur’an Competitions are always great to attend even if your child/ren is/are not participating. I’m notorious for tearing up and crying whenever they have the winners recite the Qur’an at the end of the day–or, even in the beginning.
So, if you plan to attend, please comment below–we hope to see you there!
Proper Prostration (Sajdah) for Women in Prayer – No difference from men
Welcome to the first American Muslim Mom Q & A post. As shared in our About Page, I am not an Islamic scholar. However, when I received the below email, I sought some advice, and the consensus was “When I need Islamic advice [woman to woman], I always call you first”. MashAllah, Alhumdulilah. (God has willed. Praise be to Allah). InshaAllah, God willing, at the very least I vow to find respectable authentic resources to lead as straight. So, Jazaka Allahu Khayrun to one of our loyal readers for asking this important question about women during sajdah or prostrating while praying.
I got a question for you and thought that you might know the answer or at least [know] where to find the answer. You are such a wealth of Islamic Information.
A fellow sister has commented that when women pray and are in sujuood that we should curl up into a ball and pull everything in tight. But all that I have come across says differently. Is there something out there that says we should or should not do this? Any advise that you can give is greatly appreciated.
My girls and I have found this to be a big problem here in our new hometown. We’ve noticed that a particular culture directs and teaches their women to prostate in a ball with legs, arms and thighs close to their bellies. Regardless what culture one is born and raised into, it is all our responsibilities to help one another in the most gracious and non-conformational means possible. It is my intention, that if there are future uncomfortable, possibly confrontational debate that may divide our sisterhood, that you will turn here. Through this new Q & A section, you can ask, refer, direct or lead one another to these answers. I promise to keep it in my light sisterly tone to motivate you to stay, rather than scholarly and dry to turn you away. Yar Rabb, Ameen.
Recommended books and slideshow how to pray in Islam
First, I pulled the 2 prayers books I refer too in our Islamic home library. I recommended this one book and great free slideshow how to pray to new Muslims, and Muslim kids before. But, it can now serve as a perfect medium for native Muslims who need to read and watch prayers taught correctly based on the Qur’an and Sunnah. A more in-depth book that I’ve had since I reverted to Islam is called,
“A Guide to Prayer in Islam. Pray as you have seen me praying (Buhkhari)” by M. Abdul Karim Saqib. Although it does not have pictures, it has 63 pages filled with verses from the Qu’ran and authentic ahadith (Bukhari).
Correct position for sajdah (prostration) in Islam
None of these resources showed a different way for a man and woman to pray. They only direct the way in which the Prophet (peace & blessings be upon him) prayed and how directed us to follow his way. Only seven parts of our bodies should touch the ground during sajdah (prostration) at the same time:
- The forehead along with the tip of the nose.
- Right hand. The fingers should be pointing towards the Qiblah (the Kabah in Mecca) without spreading the fingers apart.
- Left hand The fingers should be pointing towards the Qiblah (the Kabah in Mecca) without spreading the fingers apart.
- Right knee
- Left knee
- The bottom of your right toes, all pointing in the direction of the Qiblah (the Kabah in Mecca)
- The bottom of your left toes, all pointing in the direction of the Qiblah (the Kabah in Mecca)
* Place your hands down on the ground below your ears. Your forearms should not rest on the ground (lazy like a dog–another major mistake).
Pictures and slideshow shows how to prostrate correctly and when done correctly is the most comfortable position, subhannah (Glory be to Allah).
I tried to prostrate in the curled-up ball-like position, and find that one must sway their body back consciously, uncomfortably and unnaturally. When I was trying to go into this position, I had to actually think about it and go against the natural flow of gravity that my body had to lean with my forehead leading my way. While thinking about this unnatural position, one may be too preoccupied which may in turn take our focus away from Allah (May He be Glorified).
Fatwas supporting that there is no difference for sajdah (prostration) between men and women
Next, I turned to the trusted and respected IslamQA.com and found these enlightening fatwa that stresses there is only one way to pray as directed by our beloved Prophet Muhammad (peace & blessings be upon him). To pray with different versions for men and women is based on weak ahadith and should not be followed.
- Proof that there is only one way to pray, with no difference between a men and women.
- Fatwa explaining the weakness of such ahadith that defends the difference between male and female prayers.
Why search engines are NOT the best place for gaining Islamic knowledge
Last, I turned to our not-so-trusted search engines.
There were many posts, articles and even free downloadable ebooks showing the difference between a men and women’s sajdah (prostration). I will not link to any of them because it will only we cloud our minds to read material that leads us astray.
When in doubt, it is important to refer to ahadith written by Bukhari and Muslim. Until we can strive to memorize and embody the Qur’an to its fullest and then the complete collection of ahadith of Sahih Bukhari, we as an ummah (Muslim community) have our hands full. Why debate, try or follow less than perfected ahadith?
Beware where the search engines take you online–not only because it will take you to less than authentic ahadith; but it will take to you fancy, Islamic-looking, web portals not written by Muslims, let alone practicing ones. There are dozens of websites are not to be trusted and should be shut down; simply because they are distorting our blessed religion for the sake of propagating hateful views and thoughts of or just and righteous deen (way of life).
Send your Questions to American Muslim Mom for Answers!
So, that concludes our first American Muslim Mom Q & A. Please share your comments below, and send us your Questions for future Q & A posts. Alhumdulilah, while writing this post and having only shared this idea with a few sisters, we already received 3 new questions. P.S. All questions will be posted anonymously, unless stated otherwise, or asked publicly in the comments section below.
