This week, we have for you a video review of Muslim Stickers’ My Islamic Behaviour Chart. Though the chart is for one child, we adjusted it to include our three girls. Take a look and see how we use the Islamic Behavior Chart  Below:

How do you keep track/reward your child’s good behavior? Share with us in the comments!

Video Review: My Islamic Behaviour Chart by Muslim Stickers is a post from: American Muslim Mom Blog

Alhumdulilah, every day in Ramadan we are determined to watch one Islamic movie, video, lecture, etc. Tonight, we just finished watching a historical animated movie that my girls and I believe is a must-watch for every Muslim family. Fortunately, we just watched the full movie available on Google video, and embedded below. My girls insisted that this was the first time they’ve ever watched this, so the only logical solution was hubby and I watched it many years ago, alhumdulilah. My girls loved it dearly as we paused multiple times to field questions and recount classic scenes. They all came to appreciate our deep, rich Islamic history and while I’m writing this post, they are each conducting additional research on Sultan Muhammad, the brave flag bearer, and the hadith which the Prophet sallalahi wa layhi wa salam shared of the coming conquest of Constantinople. Please enjoy the movie!

From the youtube description below, the movie’s synopsis:

Historical cartoon of the conquering of the Christian capital of Constantinople by the Muslim Sultan Muhammad al-Fatih.

For eight centuries, the conquest of Constantinople, now Istanbul, Turkey, was a dream for the Muslim commanders. Ever since the era of the revered companion, Mu`aawiyah Ibn Abu Sufyaan, there had been many attempts to conquer it, but none had succeeded.

Every Muslim commander wanted to be the conqueror praised in the narration in which the Prophet said: “You will conquer Constantinople. Its commander is the best and its army (that will conquer it) is the best.”

Muhammad Al-Fatih was born on 27th Rajab, 835 A.H., 30th March, 1432. He was a committed Muslim who abode by the rulings of Islamic jurisprudence. Because of the way he was brought up, he was a pious man.

Muhammad Al-Faatih managed to realize his dreams through hard, continuous work, and well-organized planning. For example, before besieging Constantinople, he prepared for the war by making cannons, preparing his fleet, and making use of all the factors that might render him victorious.

Through high ambition, determination, and the effort to achieve his goals, he managed to materialize his dream, make his hope an existing reality which made him one of the great Muslim heroes and conquerors.

Muhammad Al-Fatih attained this victory when he was twenty three years old. This indicated his early military genius. He also deserved the glad tidings of the Prophet who foretold that a good person would conquer that city.
If you want to watch 8 separated parts via youtube, you may start at the first one here:

We’d love to hear your feedback about this momentous conquest in Islamic history.

Sultan Muhammad Al-Fatih – Islamic Animated Historical Movie is a post from: American Muslim Mom Blog

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How to download the Summer Islamic Reading Challenge Design a Button Form (1) Click here to get the form. (2)Scroll to the bottom as this image demonstrates. (3) Click on “Actions” and “Download”. (4) Color a button design. (5) Scan. (6) Email it to contact<at>americanmuslimmom.com

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How to Complete the Summer Islamic Reading Challenge Review Form(1) Click here to get the form. (2) Scroll to the bottom as this image demonstrates. (3) Click “Edit this page (if you have permission). (4) Request permission. (5) We will confirm your request to share this document, and you will receive an email. (6) Once completed, you MUST email contactamericanmuslimmom.com Subject: Summer Islamic Form Submitted. Please do NOT forget this step, because if we do not save this form someone will edit it and your information will be deleted!

If you have any problems or questions, please comment below so everyone can trouble-shoot together. Thanks!

How To Fill Out the Summer Islamic Reading Challenge Forms is a post from: American Muslim Mom Blog

I was visiting my family last week in Ohio and downloaded Allah Made the World, created by Suzanne Muir, on my generous mother’s iPhone 4. It would not download on my iPhone 3GS because I had to update my software and that seemed like a rather arduous task at the time.

I sat in a corner browsing the storybook application with its fun tunes and my family members looked at me oddly while I was smiling and turning the vibrant animated page. I gave it to mother to try and she thought it was awesome! So we both sat there playing around with it (yes, I am a graduate student).

It was a fun and cute story and was even more interesting as I put myself in the shoes of a 5 year old child.

What is great also is that it can be read by all children regardless of their religion, culture and race because of its simplicity and diversity.

It is easy to navigate and I am sure kids will not have problems turning the pages with the movement of their finger on the screen. It is colorful, engaging and educational all at the same time.

The downfall was I had hope there were more pages to read!

I would have also wished the font would be slightly bigger especially for the younger kids, but iPhones in general are small.

This would be wonderful on an iPad because of the larger screen. The application can bought on iTunes for $1.99. Must have for kids age 1-6!

Summer Islamic Reading Challenge Canadian Sponsor

Alhumdulilah, our 3rd Annual Summer Islamic Reading Challenge expanded North to add Canadian Muslim kids by their sponsorship. They will offer 5 free downloads to various kids who participate.

But, you can win one today!

Win 1 free download today ($1.99 value)

The most creative comment below of a Muslim child (and their mom or dad) will win.

Tell us WHY you think it’s so Awesome that Allah Made The World and what you think about this review!

That’s it!

I, Ponn Sabra, the founder/owner and my family will select the best comment, inshaAllah.

Entries accepted until Thursday, June 23, 2011 at 11:59 pm.

Review: Allah Made The World Application for iPhone is a post from: American Muslim Mom Blog

Alhumdulilah, Praise be to God, my girls of Kid Bloggers Club are my guests again. We received many kind remarks but more questions from their debut show with me, so I think we’ll be making this a more regular thing, inshaAllah.

To enlighten
Learning how my girls are learning about Major Sins, 70 Ways to Gain Reward from Allah, and the Hijab for Muslim Woman. Truly enlightening! We’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below.

To educate

• Living life without a microwave.
• Cooking and Baking with olive oil. Healthy–But, Yummy! Win our favorite cookbook here.
• More tips about using the library.

To empower You to Take Action!
Get your kids blogging with you! But, kids should NOT do this alone. Make your homeschooling writing fun project for free stuff & profit–not just for homeschoolers!

Special Thanks to our Sponsor

As shared in our show commercial, visit Muslim Toys and Dolls and say you were referred by American Muslim Mom to receive a free gift value at $9.95. Check out the owner’s unique creation: the Little Ponn Muslim doll–a large, soft, adorable hijabi doll named after yours truly, subhanallah, Glory be to God! Having never seen a doll like this before (and we’ve traveled in many Muslim and non-Muslim lands), it’s a must-have in any Muslim home. She even has Velcro removable clothes. She sits conveniently by my bedside, and wears my glasses for safe keeping. My girls and I hug her as often as we can. After all, no one is ever too old to squeeze a doll…let alone a Muslim one!

Past shows:

#1 Ponn Sabra of AmericanMuslimMom.com

#2 Zohra Sawari of ZohraSawari.com

#3 Amanda Moutakki of MarocMama.com

#4 Debbie Al-Harbi of MuslimToysandDolls.com

#5 Ponn Sabra RE: Social Media and Islam

#6 JuJu, GiGi and JoJo Sabra of KidBloggersClub.com

#7 Ameera Rahim of Habeebee Homeschooling

American Muslim Mom Podcast #8 is a post from: American Muslim Mom Blog

Alya Nuri is Zohra Sawari’s 10 year old daughter, who we discussed this week’s podcast. Here’s her adorable interactive website Everything a Kid Should Know which is based on her book series. MashaAllah, God has willed, a talented, well-poised, elegant public speaker, please gain some motivation with your children as you watch her interview on  The Deen Show below

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8i8RdgzglFM

May Allah accept our efforts to raise pious children who pray for us always as sadaqah jariah (on-going charity). Ameen. Jummah Mubarak! May you have a Blessed Friday!

Alya Nuri – One of America’s Youngest Authors is a post from: American Muslim Mom Blog

Interesting story about the evolution of The 99 by Naif Al-Mutawa, it’s humble beginnings, his desire to make super heroes for his 5 sons after 9-11, and what we’re to expect in the coming months here in the U.S., inshaAllah, God willing. 99 superheroes from different countries that based on the 99 attributes of Allah. My girls already scrolled through all the characters, and they’re psyched that of 99 superheroes, the women out-number the men 50 to 49, and that there is Filipino chick that they say is our middle daughter. The parallels to Islamic history is absolutely amazing as well, mashaAllah. httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_K095wuE_eE

Here is the preview in English

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SiYU3DZCepQ

While you’re tinkering on the computer, you may also be interested in listening to this BBC interview. One thing I can’t agree with him enough “there’s something wrong with them, not me…I didn’t grow up with an insecurity of my identity…as a Muslim…why aren’t there positive representatives of Arabs in media…why am I questioning it…why don’t I answer it”.

While I’m not Arab, I am a rather old-spoken and proud Muslim mom, and while it is not my #1 goal writing for American Muslim Mom and our various products and services is to portray a positive view of Muslims here in America–because my goal is first to please Allah in all that I do and all that I am, complete all my duties and responsibilities as a wife and mother to earn his pleasure–it is with this purity and sincere desire that I have in turn created a wonderful community that gives Muslims a very positive view, as seen in our various reviews, ratings, rankings and detailed feedback in our recent rebranding (by moms, single women, Muslims, non-Muslims and fathers and men), alhumdulilah, Praise be to God.

I am proud that on any given day we host an equal amount of non-Muslims in active dialogue as Muslims here, and surprisingly as many males as females, subhanallah, Glory be to God. So, while I don’t have $23million+ in investors, nor with Hollywood film makers, Allahu alam, in 2-short months we’ve 3-times our traffic and continue to grow each and every day. Ya rabb, Ameen.

Anyways, back to The 99–we’ve been keeping up on their site for months now, and curious when the big news will be of their release here in the U.S…according to my girls “not soon enough”…”Patience my dears…remember Sabr.” I always say that as Sabra or Sabr means patience in Arabic.

As always, I’m curious of your thoughts. And, if you have a Sunday Showtime video to share, please grab our button, link to this post and comment below.

The 99 – Superheroes Inspired by Islam is a post from: American Muslim Mom Blog

Subhanallah, Glory be to God, as I explained on last Saturday, it just happened that I was finally sharing my Poetry Lesson Plan for my girls’ entries last year to the Northstar School “Praised One” Poetry Contest; and just this week I received the announcement that this year’s contest will start accepting entries from Monday, February 14, 2011 to the end of the month, February 28, 2011. Since I had a wonderful surprise, that took away, Alhumdulilah, Praise be to God, much of my physical pain from yesterday, I have only a few minutes to share the 2 important links:

1. Entry Rules. This year’s theme is “Allah’s Mercy to Mankind” for children ages 7 -12 years, and
2. Entry Form to be completed and submitted along with your entry poem.

If you have a post you’d like to share in the “HomeSchool Never Stops on Saturday” meme, please grab our button, link to this post and comment below so we can learn from you too!

The Praised One 2011 Poetry Contest – Allah’s Mercy on Mankind is a post from: American Muslim Mom Blog

It has been 5-days since we released our free ebook, Balancing Life as a Muslim Mom ~ Marriage. Motherhood. Money ~ and we’d like to hear what you think. Is it everything you hoped for? Did it share new insights, tips or resources? Were you enlightened by new Qur’anic verses and quoted ahadith? Do you have a new outlook? Were you “enlightened, educated and empowered into action” like we set out to do in this ebook, as well as our newly branded American Muslim Mom mission? Did you feel the testimonials truly give the ebook justice?

Please share your feedback

• Kind critiques,
• Follow-up questions,
• Areas you’d like to learn more details in future works, and
• Your gut feelings, or
• InshaAllah, God willing, your heart-filled appreciation.

This page is for you, my reader, to share what you gained from this debut ebook. I’ve mentioned it many times, I actually have 7 full manuscripts big and small, but I finally have a plan to get them out into your hands. The only thing I need to know i:

In which order?

• Marriage – Being a wife OR homemaker?
• Motherhood – Home educator OR compassionate motivator to make our kids the most pious Mu’minym (true believers) living confidently and righteously here in the West, or
• Money – Managing it OR making it at home or specifically online?

Any feedback, even if it’s “bad” is “good”, because it’s necessary for offering you want you need and desire most. Just please be as kind as possible in sharing the “bad” feedback. The comment column is ALL Yours!

Balancing Life as a Muslim Mom – Free ebook Feedback is a post from: American Muslim Mom Blog

I’ve been meaning to share the latest update of American Muslim Consumers for some time, especially when News breaks out. But, the multiple articles compiled below were stuck in my drafts folder as I was traveling overseas the past few months. But, I couldn’t help but to prioritize this topic after reading Rachel Zoll’s, Associated Press, newest article that hit all the major media outlets such as MSNBC entitled, Weighing untapped market against terror fears last night.

UPDATED: Associated Press video “U.S. Muslims: A New Consumer Niche”

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1qihS_JjBwY

First, the fact that American Muslim Consumers are  Rich, Educated and Growing Fast wasn’t enough to make Producers take notice. Then, being Smart, Young and Making a lot of Money still didn’t cause too much of a wave. But, maybe, just maybe Being Well-connected, Extremely Loyal and Online will turn some worthy heads our way.

Muslim Consumers are Young, Online & Expressive

Nazia Hussain, head of strategy for Ogilvy Noor, tells in Forbes,

“One reason it may be important for marketers to communicate with them (approximately 1.8 billion worldwide & 8 million in the U.S.): A growing number of young Muslims are online and feel free to express their views on the Internet.”

Muslim Consumers Put Faith First

As in everything in this life, being a Consumer is second to being a Muslim, so it’s no surprise to find that

“Such choices reflect research by Ogilvy showing that Young Muslim consumers are different from their Western “Generation Y” counterparts in that they believe that by staying true to the core values of their religion, they are more likely to achieve success in the modern world.

Muslim Consumers have Economic & Social Influence

Nike’s “mistake” of imprinting a logo that resembled the Arabic writing for Allah (God) on the soles of sneakers caused the company to recall 800,000 shoes worldwide.

Describing the Nike episode as a “wake-up call” for companies, Mr. Goodman said it had also been a turning point for Muslim advocates, who realized that “if they make a noise, companies would listen and change, that they had economic and social influence.”

Brands Making Strides in Everywhere Else in the World Except in America

From Asia, Africa, Australia, the MiddleEast and Europe Muslim Consumer marketing is on the rise…just, not yet in America. Topping the list of Muslim Consumer Friendly brands, by Ogilvy Noor include

• Nokia. They were all over the MiddleEast during our travels. Yet, I don’t remember, nor know anyone here in America, right now that owns a Nokia. What’s up with that!?
• Lipton tea, owned by Unilever, and
• Nestlé.

When we lived in the MiddleEast 9 years ago, and Lipton tea and Nestle were all over the place back then. They keep their English names and use Arabic letters so Arabs say “Lip-TON” or “Nes-CA-fe’” with Arabic accents, which my girls found to be quite cute.

But, are they really making Strides with Muslim Consumers?

By having Islamic ring tones, Qur’an, etc. already installed at the time of purchase, makes Nokia cell phones very Muslim Consumer-friendly.

However, I cannot say that Lipton tea or Nestle did anything specifically Muslim Consumer-friendly in any of their marketing or packaging. They simply put the primary language of the countries they sell their products too on their packaging.

This is not even comparable to American companies offering Spanish bi-lingual advertisement in our primarily English-speaking country; because in the MiddleEast the main language is Arabic. So, the only way to market there is to write in Arabic.

All Lipton & Nestle is doing is expanding their market to the geographical location of MiddleEast, and not necessarily catering to Muslim Consumer like Nokia is successfully doing.

Muslim Consumers – Untapped Market

As shown above, there’s great benefit for any brand to better understand the Muslim Consumer and cease this opportunity to supply our demands.

Paul Temporal, an associate fellow at the Said Business School at the University of Oxford  shared with the New York Times

“The next big market is the Muslim market. There’s this huge group of people who have been relatively untapped in terms of what they want and need, and they represent a tremendous opportunity.”

But, wait…I mean, Don’t Wait!

“Experts say multinational companies will increasingly need such insights as they expand in Muslim countries. With the market growing rapidly and consumers becoming more astute, Mr. Temporal and others say time is of the essence. “The first-mover advantage is always there,” he said.

This falls directly in line with Ms. Zoll’s conclusion of her head-liner article, stating that

“It isn’t a question of whether they’re going to do it,” Evans said. “It’s a question of where and when and how.“

If not, Muslims are innovating big-time already!

Muslim Innovators

Muslim Innovators are enlightening, inspiring and motivating in this incredible article by the Washington Post, “The rise of Muslim Innovation”.

Watch out Silicon Valley!

Our inventions drove the Dark Ages Golden Ages, as seen “In this show, an Islamic World Brimming with Innovations” by the New York Times, and will thrive again, inshaAllah, God willing.

Who knows maybe my daughter’s invention may even come to production with the help our brother/sisterhood…hint, hint.

One American Muslim Mom’s Point of View

If you don’t treat me different, that’s Okay.

Now, as a Muslim who happens to be a Consumer living in America, I’m not shouting out, “treat me different”, or “single me out”. I don’t even care if they don’t “cease the opportunity” to capitalize on us as a market.

Quite the contrary!

My husband and I have provided for our family the past dozen years very nicely and comfortably. We figured out how to live our lifestyle without being catered to, nor do we expect it a non-Muslim country. So, we’re fine with that.

I’m used to going shopping in far-away places, but that’s family fun time. It’s just that our girls notice everything.

Our Kids Understand & Appreciate Brand Loyalty

They even said last night, as I read the article to them and discussed this post, “The companies don’t care–they have our money anyways.” We continued to discuss brands we’re loyal to, simply because they are the one & only ones offering what we need and like. That’s one reason we share all the brands, programs, services we love most here on American Muslim Mom, because we know we make a difference with our reviews, thoughts and opinions. Certain brands already have our loyalty…and, they know it!

Best Buys never really has the “Best” “Buys”

So, yes, while it was a very nice gesture of Best Buys to greet Muslims during our Eid (Feast & Festival), it didn’t make me want to go rush to their doors  and shop with them.

They are expensive, always busy, and their customer service needs improvement.

They’re even a joke in our very large extended, worldwide family, (not to mention all my colleagues and friends), that they cater to the uneducated, less informed, lazy, too-busy-to-care (hmm–that’s still laziness, right?), I-have-to-have-the-latest-gadget-now, I-can’t-think-on-my-own-to-run-comparative-research-for-the-Best-Buy-for-my-money crowd.

So, it actually surprises me greatly that the educated, wealthy, well-connected, loyal, online Muslim American Consumer would rant and rave about Best Buy’s debut and signature attempt to “appreciate” or “acknowledge” us. Come on already!

Did it bring a smile to my face and turn my girls eyes to that circular? Yes, we grinned, and said “That’s nice”.

But, the questions from little kids continue…especially when they are educated consumers, who work hard for their money, values frugality, and wise-decision making.

Our curious, innocent children are the one’s with questions

So, is it frustrating that my astute self-directed, research-loving girls find out that certain populations in America are a fraction of the American Muslim population–and they get special treatment, special celebratory notes and welcome signs; when we don’t get any? Of course.

Is it mind-boggling that my girls know American Muslims have financial power, but people are so blinded by mass media portraying Muslims as evil and unapproachable, that even a company’s greed is scared by such propaganda?

Funny, but yes.

I came to believe that they (the companies) know that they, by default, (and as explained above) have our money anyways, so maybe they find no need to cater to us.

And, again–we (my family and I) are Okay with this.

Why?

Faith Prevails

Because our faith prevails.

After all, consumerism at is worst, goes to prove that we, too, can be deceived by worldly things. (If you haven’t already, please read/watch “Deception of This World, by Shaykh Zahir Mahmood here.)

We’re striving for the greater reward of Jennah (Heaven). We know that we will be feared, misunderstood, oppressed, prosecuted, and abused in this life all at the same time. We will be the victims, yet the accused for the crime.

I don’t need recognition or acceptance

So, knowing this, as a parent it’s my duty to raise them with strong faith,  in a confident and loving environment, with all means possible for them to achieve our goals of reaching the Hereafter. And, we can do this happily, peacefully, and cheerfully without any need of  special treatment.

So, no.

I do not expect or want special treatment. I do not need “recognition by major corporations is an important sign of acceptance, as they struggle to establish themselves in the U.S.” as the Associated Press video ends.

I don’t need recognition or acceptance. Nor do I have to”establish” myself here in the U.S. I was born American, and my whole family is American.

Better Education would be a Time-Saver

But, if better education caused producers to be aware of the word “halal”, it would be a time-saver. First, a worker wouldn’t be surprised by the word, or frustrated to help out with something he/she doesn’t know. Second, it would be less time for me to explain to them.

Because, “Halal” is almost like “Kosher” but it is not the same–Even though Muslim consumers themselves don’t even know the difference, sadly to say.

Better Education would Reduce Hatred

And, better education will make less ignorant people in this world, so less name-calling and hatred.

Name-calling is just part of  my life. So, I don’t waste time or have any  interest in anyone, even Muslims, who complains for the sake of complaining. If you don’t have a solution; come back when you figure one out!

I know people don’t like me, simply because I’m a Muslim, and I’m Okay with that. I have so much love in my life, that hatred stemmed from ignorance is the type of negativity I stay away from, and I don’t get heated over (most of the time).

Kill with Kindness

My girls and I smile back, offer my kindness, and move along our day. It’s “Kill with Kindness” that always worked for us.

We’ve been blessed on many occasions in which that very person who slipped a nasty face, or grunted a curse, who would catch him/herself, pretend it didn’t happen (or even apologize), to talk, approach or even ask us questions, alhumdulilah (Praise be to God).

Rest assured, when injustice has come my way, I sought refuge. Fortunately, I’ve never been so wronged in my life that it couldn’t be solved simply, alhumdulilah, Praise be to God.

Surprisingly, in the presence of my non-Muslim family and friends, they are actually the ones who get so fired up that they will actually make the scene…so I digress.

Anyways, Yes, if I see more healthy, halal products available, or a little note like Western Union’s, a smile fills my face and worthy of my time to say ‘Thank You” here on my little space of the blogosphere.

Halal is for any Health-Conscience Consumer

Keep in mind, that halal is not just for Muslim consumers. It’s for anyone interested in

• More natural, more humanely raised meats,
• Healthier, non-processed foods,
• Non-alcoholic, non-carcinogenic, more natural, organic beauty, cleaning, household supplies, and, much more.

So, learning about the Halal (permissible) market, products, services, etc. and/or catering to them; has endless possibilities to affect worldwide change in a huge, wonderful, peaceful way. (Oh, my rosey-glasses are on again. Subhanallah, Glory be to God, for my optimism, right?)

And, This is exciting. This is a solution! Learn about it, welcome it, discuss it.

Family Friendly Discussion Welcomed.

So, did you learn anything new in this post today? If so, please let me know below. Do you agree or disagree with anything written? Please share below so we can keep this topic opened–after all, it’s definitely not going away.

Remember this is a family blog that is monitored and censored for our children. Please refrain from profanity or hateful remarks. Educated, open-minded dialogue and discussion is welcomed.

If you are a brand interested in consultation, partnering or sponsoring our innovative, online marketing efforts to reach the young, extremely loyal, educated, wealthy American Muslim Moms and their families   feel free to contact me at anytime.

Muslim Consumers are Young, Innovative, Well-Connected and Extremely Loyal too is a post from: American Muslim Mom Blog

Lyrics written out in this nasheed video describing different ibadah (acts of worship) Muslims complete during the month of Ramadan. The kids cheering for Eid and looking forward to fasting next year at the end is so encouraging and cute, subhanallah (Glory be to God).
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ng0WgDvxo1g

Always looking for educational and fun nasheed and Muslim kids videos to share. So, please comment below with your favorite ones.

Muslim Kids Video – In Blessed Ramadan is a post from: American Muslim Mom Blog

Bismillah ar Rahman ar Raheem (In the Name of Allah, The Beneficent, The Merciful)

First, I want to thank Sisters Aisha and Naseem for sharing their opinions, “…that purchasing eid decorations are copying the commercialization of holidays as done by the kuffar; and also a great waste of money…” and thought it’s critical that I write an article detailing all of the points they mentioned, in which decorating our homes for Eid and Ramadan are not prohibited under the Sunnah of our Prophet Muhammad sallallahu alayhi wa salam (Peace and blessings be upon him).

Please note, that I, nor my family, friends, colleagues, and scholar (who we consulted), are not offended by these sisters’ comments. Rather, I am grateful for their input, alhumdulilah, Praise be to God, because it caused me to reflect and assure that my family and I are on the straight path to jennah (heaven), inshaAllah (God willing); and not misguiding others to go astray through my actions.

Aisha Umm Abdurahman Hasan I honestly feel – without offending anyone – that purchasing eid decorations are copying the commercialization of holidays as done by the kuffar; and also a great waste of money. Instead of spending money on completly unbeneficial decorations, you’ll receive much more reward giving the money to an Islamic charity, or spending on your own child. We can make our own decorations out of household items while sharing that time making memories with our kids. i’m hoping this year to finally experience making eid cookies.

Naseem Yusuf I agree with sister Aisha

Fatwas about Decorations and Giving Incentives or Rewards

The article below is written from a combination of the following fatwas with Qur’an and Sunnah to support them:

• Fatwa regarding celebrating and decorating one’s return from Hajj,
• Fatwa on decorating for Eid rather than Christmas (please refer to the middle of the fatwa where the scholars mention that Jennah is especially decorated during the month of Ramadan) [I have not yet found the hadith that speaks specifically to this point, but our local scholar insists that Eid and Ramadan decorations are good ways to spend on our families as a celebratory reward and festive pride. Khair, inshaAllah],
• Another fatwa, which I can not find right now, that allows Muslims to offer incentives to our brothers and sisters, not just our children to make an necessary ibadah (act of worship) as a routine, and a good habit in one’s life. For example, offering to reward to one’s father so he will grow a beard for the intention of gaining reward from Allah first and not the gift itself. So, rewarding our children for developing new skills, especially ibadah (acts of worship) is permissible and encouraged. NOTE: My husband and I do not, nor recommend, giving monetary incentives to our girls for fulfilling any of the five pillars. Yet, we reward their pure completed actions with surprises after the fact. And, we do not reward them all the time, so they don’t expect to gain anything else but the love and happiness of Allah subhanallah wa Tala, and
• I consulted a local scholars in Islam to confirm the below statements.

Eid and Ramadan Decorations Are Permissible

1. Pure intentions - Decorations are permissible, if parents have pure intentions to celebrate their family’s completion of a good deed, especially one of the pillars, such as Hajj or Fasting during the month of Ramadan. A parent’s pure intentions to provide rewards to celebrate the fasts of their family members, especially children, may be counted as charity as well.  “If a man provides for his family hoping for the reward, it will be counted as charity for him.” (Bukhari & Muslim).
2. Decorate in Moderation and Not Extravagance - It is recommended and encouraged that we reuse, re-purpose, and recycle household items as a family activity to make decorations. This is the first year that we drew attention to Eid decorations made available online for sale. Based on our review, the prices of all the online stores are highly economical and not extravagant. Since the announcement of  Ranoon’s unique products prompted this discussion, we believe that their classy, unique products are not expensive, and do not resemble holiday lights or decorations of other faiths. “If a woman spends from the wealth of her house without causing harm (to her family), she will get the reward of what she spend and her husband also gets a reward because he earned it. (Moreover) the one who is entrusted with money gets the same reward (of spending it), without any of them (the wife and the entrusted) decreasing the rewards of the others.” (Bukhari)
3. The action of decorating does not become an act of worship, bidah - We cannot make habits that are expected by ourselves or our families,  or induce feelings that something is incomplete because the action is not completed. For example, the family feels like that it’s not “Eid” because one doesn’t have special Eid decorations. Again, we must check our intentions (point #1). We cannot worship the decorations or the act of decorating in any way.
4. The only times to decorate are for Ramadan and our 2 Eids – Not copying other religions or faiths - We should not copy the act of placing lights outside our houses like Christians during Christmas time. Our decorations should remain inside, or should be taken down after the 3 days of Eid al-Fitr, or 4 days of Eid al-Adha are completed. We should not keep them up and “hold on to the good times”, otherwise our intentions are not solely to celebrate the good deeds of the completed two pillars.
5. The act of Hajj & Ramadan are not private acts of worship, so celebrating one’s completion is allowed - We are allowed to celebrate, reward and draw attention to one’s completion of these fardh (obligatory) actions. Again, we cannot be so extravagant (point #2) that we are perceived as a showing off. Hence remaining moderate (point #2) and keeping all decorations inside (point #4) is protecting our pure intentions (point #1) once again. Hajj and fasting is different than giving charity in secret or in public. Charity in secret is more rewarded than giving in public.
6. Ramadan and Eid Decorations acting as a form of dawah (introduction to Islam) – Subhanallah, Glory be to God, my non-Muslim friend was curious what’s the latest project or contest on AmericanMuslimMom.com after visiting Ranoon.com, she asked what’s the significance of the moon and star, and the difference between Ramadan and Eid. Alhumdulilah, Praise be to God, because she thinks one particularly product was beautiful, she said she’s going to purchase it,and  hang it up as a house decoration. She thanked my girls and I because now she has an explanation for its significance when people ask her about this new wall hanging
7. Ramadan activities should be emphasized over Eid celebrations - Eid is solely the days of celebration, our feast and festival. Since  Ramadan is our month of fast, and our good deeds are multiplied by an amount only known by Allah, we should always emphasize doing good deeds, actions, celebrations, feasts during Ramadan and especially iftar (the meal breaking our fasts).  Our rewards are multiplied during Ramadan. Encouraging our children to participate in programs like the Ramadan Qur’an-a-thon Sadaqah Drive and striving to learn all the names of Allah are worthy activities during Ramadan, inshaAllah.

Ramadan Gifts are Giving-Gifts; while Eid Gifts are Celebrating-Gifts

We emphasize giving during Ramadan rather than Eid, to protect our pure intentions (point #1), and to gain more rewards for Allah, ishaAllah (God willing). Also, we believe it protects us, inshaAllah, from mimicking the holidays of other faiths, and possible commercialization of our feasts.  More specifically,

• We stress that “Eid” = Food/Feast, Family, Friends, and Fun. We do not call it a “holiday”, as to not assimilate, or be associated with celebrating a “holi/holy-day”. We have a different kind of pride and honor that is associated with our Eid, and we should celebrate and decorate accordingly and appropriately.
• “Giving-Gifts” means that our Gifts that keep Giving. We give any kind of gift (money, food, smile, etc.), and Allah gives back, inshaAllah (God willing): furdos (the highest Heaven). We give during in Ramadan purely and innocently; not to gain anything in return, expect Allah’s pleasure and acceptance. This is why we stress the importance of knowing when and how to give Zakat al-Fitr.
• “Celebrating Gifts” are Gifts given to help Celebrate with others. We give gifts purely to share the great accomplishment of completing our month of fast and/or Hajj. Therefore, again; we do not expect any gifts or rewards in return, except from Allah. We want to spread happiness, cheer and the love of Allah as He commissioned us with these 2 wonderful days of Eid. By giving Celebrating-Gifts, we also protect ourselves from commercialization and assimilation because
  • We are not intending to “exchange gifts on a specific day” like birthdays and holidays, which is prohibited.
  • We do not have hopes of receiving gifts equal or greater value to what we give and to who we give too. After all, if we’re sharing our celebration, gifts should be given freely, openly and to any of our brothers and sisters; not just immediate family and friends. If you can afford to give gifts to any and all kids and the needy in your masjid during Eid, and anonymously (since it’s charity), do it! Celebrate!
  • We do not have a goal of receiving any special gifts on the days of Eid. For example, making “Eid wish lists” like “Santa’s wish list”, which is definitely assimilating which is prohibited, and can be commercializing the days. Time to check our intentions, yet again.
  • Here are tips for Creative, Cost-Cutting Eid Gifts.(Includes baking, arts & crafts).

If I offend or lead anyone astray by this article, the fault is mine and mine alone and I seek forgiveness by Our Creator, for He is Perfect and does not lead astray. If you agree with the above, please enter to win your own free Eid decorations by Ranoon.

Since Eid is quickly approaching, we must make sure we have the correct intentions. So, please continue the dialogue. We’d love to hear your thoughts, concerns and support.

Eid Decorations are Allowed is a post from: American Muslim Mom Blog

Now, that our Summer Islamic Reading Program is officially over, it’s time for another worthy, Islamic educational project–and probably our most religiously-fulfilling one of the year! On behalf of American Muslim Mom and Islamic Relief USA, we are happy to host the 2^nd Annual Ramadan Qur’an-A-Thon Sadaqah Drive of 2010.

What is a Ramadan Qur’an-A-Thon Sadaqah Drive?

In this post you will find all necessary information to participate:

• The Program’s Purpose/Objective, Deadline Dates, and Contact Information,
• Instructions how to participate, and
• The Qur’an-A-Thon Certification Pledge Form.

This program is designed to be completed completely online this year. At http://americanmuslimmom.com each participant may register, download pledge   forms, seek pledges from local family and friend, have their Qur’an recitation certified by a local official of his/her choice, and then make secured online pledges directly to Islamic Relief USA.

American Muslim Mom launched July 15, 2009 as the first and only online (or offline) blog magazine dedicated to Muslim Moms and Their Children in America. With our growing international community of Muslim parents determined to raise Mu’miniyn in the West (and East) despite any obstacles we may face. As such, American Muslim Mom designed this program with the Purpose and Objectives listed below.

American Muslim Mom chose to partner with Islamic Relief USA because it is one of the most reputable, international relief and development Islamic non-profit organizations. In support of encouraging children to study the Qur’an and make charitable giving a part of their daily habits, Islamic Relief USA willfully accepted the opportunity to partner and promote this program for the 2nd year in a row. Together, we will acknowledge every child that participates with gifts and awards, inshaAllah.

Together, Islamic Relief USA and American Muslim Mom are determined to reach as many children as possible in this year by allowing all children to participate even though payments are only accepted in US dollars for Islamic Relief. Intenational children will be given the opportunity to make sadaqah at their local Islamic charitable organization of their choice. Of course, if they have USD, we pray that they’d contribute to IF-USA

We graciously ask that you help us recruit participants individually or collectively as part of an Islamic day school, weekend school, homeschool coop, Qur’an/Hifz school, Islamic youth groups, and/or individuals such as public school students who seek private Qur’an tutoring.

Program Materials:

Program information is all available on this post, and the only form to downloaded this year is  Qur’an-A-Thon Certification Pledge Form.

Purpose/Objective:

Narrated Aisha: The Prophet said, “Such a person as recites the Qur’an and masters it by heart, will be with the noble righteous scribes (in Heaven). And such a person exerts himself to learn the Qur’an by heart, and recites it with great difficulty, will have a double reward.”  (Book #60, Hadith #459, Sahih Bukhari)

Narrated Ibn ‘Abbas: Allah’s Apostle was the most generous of all the people, and he used to be more generous in the month of Ramadan when Gabriel used to meet him. Gabriel used to meet him every night in Ramadan to study the Holy Qur’an carefully together. Allah’s Apostle used to become more generous than the fast wind when he met Gabriel (Book #54, Hadith #443, Sahih Bukhari)

To help young Muslims appreciate and live more closely to the Sunnah of our beloved Prophet Muhammad (peace & blessings be upon him) by

(1) Learning more ayats of the Qur’an by heart,

(2) Understanding and appreciating the act of earning money,

(3) Allowing children to gain a sense of pride by making charitable gifts to the needy, and

(4) Completing these generous acts in the name of Allah (May He be Glorified) during our blessed month of Ramadan when our rewards are multiplied by the number only Allah knows and wills.

Who may participate?

• Any Muslim child able to recite and memorize Qur’an based on the rules of tajweed up to 18 years of age.

NEW: Worldwide Participation.

• Muslim children in the US will make sadaqah to Islamic Relief USA and pick his/her preferred charitable campaign (“Designation) here.
• Muslim children living outside of the US may make sadaqah to any Islamic institution or charitable organization of their choice.

How are the funds raised in this event?

• Each participating young Muslim will seek sponsorship from friends, family members, and others (Muslims & non-Muslims).
• Each sponsor will determine upon signing a pledge form to pay a predetermined amount of money (example 25 cents or $1) for each ayah (or surah) of the Qur’an that the participant reads with correct tajweed to an Islamic scholar or learned adult during the event*, OR
• The sponsor may also elect to pay a fixed amount of money as sponsorship for the participant regardless of the number of ayahs or surah he/she reads, recites or memorizes (for example: a sponsor may pledge to contribute one set price of $50).
• *It is recommended that each participating young Muslim describes the number of ayats (or surah) which is a realistic amount for that one participant to memorize with correct tajweed with in 30 days. Therefore, no one misleads the one is making a pledge. For example, its

How to Participate Ramadan 1431/2010?

• First 10 days of Ramadan [August 11 - 20, 2010] – Memorize as many ayats/surahs with correct tajweed as possible.
• REQUIREMENT: Comment below with your child/ren’s first name and last initial, age and his/her goal for memorizing the Qur’an.
• Second 10 days of Ramadan [August 21 - 30, 2010] – Continue to memorize as many ayats/surah with correct tajweed as possible, and be tested by an Islamic scholar or learned adult, called the Examiner. The Examiner must use certify on the bottom of the pledge form and acknowledge with his/her signature how many ayats/surah the participant recited correctly.
• OPTIONAL: Comment below with your child/ren’s progress so we can help motivate one another.
• Last 10 days of Ramadan 21-26 [August 31 – September 8/9. 2010 ] – Collect the pledge money and make your Sadaqah. US residents donate directly to IF-USA here. Please let your child/ren pick his/her own Designation for his/her sadaqah.
• REQUIRED: Upon completion,
  • Fax or email your Pledge form to contact@americanmuslimmom.com or Fax 858-552-5656, We will post the amount of sadaqah raised based on these completed pledge forms.
  • Comment below stating that you completed the program.

*It is critical to collect and return pledges on or before the 30th day of Ramadan, so our children receive the greatest amount of rewards for their hard work and efforts.

Jazaka Allahu Khayrun to my eldest daughter for making this year’s blog button. Please feel free to check out her many tutorials “How to Blog”, and grab your own button to show your proud participation!

Ramadan Qur’an-a-thon Sadaqah Drive 2010 – Open to All Muslim Kids Worldwide is a post from: American Muslim Mom Blog

Since August 15, 2010 is a Sunday, and the post office is closed, we will accept any entries postmarked Monday August 16, 2010. Other updates are listed below:

Form Submission

1. Postal mail them to our address listed here,
2. Scan and email to contact<at>americanmuslimmom.com,
3. Send us a Word or google doc to contact<at>americanmuslimmom.com, or
4. Fax forms to

Summer Islamic Reading Challenge Forms

• Rules & Registration
• Design a Button Contest Coloring Sheet
• Official Reading Journal & Review Form

Instructions:

• * Register your child/ren from Birth – Senior Year of college/university, during the Reading Challenge period of July 15, 2010 – August 15, 2010 (details below)
• Print out the Official Islamic Book Review Form and Reading Journal * Children read books at their reading level, or read-aloud to by an adult
• Complete one full Islamic Book Review, and list additional Islamic books read on the journal with all sections completed. A parent/guardian must sign the journal when it is completed.
• Mail the completed review form and reading journal to the address provided on the Review Journal (one per child). Multiple children from the same household may send their journals in one envelope for your convenience.
• Each participant will be sent a certificate and a prize in the mail as promptly as possible.
• Special prizes will be awarded to different age or selected groups by criteria stated for that prize.
• Deadline: Postmarked by August  15 16, 2010.

Children’s Design a Button Contest

Design a Button Coloring Contest Rules:

1. Open the coloring page here.
2. Design a Button. Create & Enjoy!
3. Scan and email on or before 12 midnight EST August 15, 16, 2010 to contact<at>americanmulismmom.com or postal mail it with your Official Book Journal.
4. Email must state: (a) Child’s full name. Only the first name and last initial will be publicized. (b) Age and DOB (date of birth).
5. Winning Design may be used for next year’s Summer Islamic Reading Challenge, inshaAllah.

Summer Islamic Reading Program Extension & Updates is a post from: American Muslim Mom Blog

A very cute and funny Islamic video that shows a kid’s innocent desire to gain ajr (a reward for doing a good deed or action) by making “Salam”…even to one who’s studying the Qur’an

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CvxzePNhUUI

Please share your thoughts about this week’s video in the comments section below. As always, if you have an Islamic movie video or nasheed you’d like to share, please let us know about it by clicking here.

Muslim Kids Video – Islamic joke about making Salam versus Qur’an is a post from: American Muslim Mom Blog

This short animated video is a great summary of the story of  zamzam for young and new learners. [And, us oldies too. ]  It’s an important Islamic story for all Muslims to know, especially because it’s one of the actions we perform during Hajj.
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AzHX8SlJkoM

We’d love to see what you think of this movie. So, please share your experiences with us in the comments section below. As always, if you have an Islamic movie video or nasheed you’d like to share, please let us know about it by clicking here.

Muslim Kids Video – The Story of ZamZam is a post from: American Muslim Mom Blog

We are so excited to host and launch the 2nd Annual Summer Islamic Reading Challenge from July 15 – August 15, 2010. Subhanallah, Glory be to God, today marks one year since we launched AmericanMuslimMom.com. Especially if this is your first time here, we hope that you’ll check out our past Archives to view our growth. We welcome your thoughts and feedback so we can better gauge your interests and further serve your currents needs and desires.

Alhumdulilah, we feel blessed that we’ve received numerous emails and even phone messages requesting if and when we’re going to host this Summer Reading Program again, so here it is! All you have to do is read at least one Islamic fiction or non-fiction book and share your honest review so we can post it online for everyone to read.

Objective:

• To read and review Islamic children and adult books from July 15, 2010 – August 15, 2010,
• Create a comprehensive list of recommended Islamic books, and
• Share the reviews with as many Muslim (and non-Muslim interested in Islam) children as possible, by publishing reviews on AmericanMuslimMom.com in our brand new channel just for Muslim Kids MuslimKids.AmericanMuslimMom.com [Today was officially launched!]
• All participants receive a prize.

*Participants may opt not to have their reviews published.

Rules:

• Participants must be make an official Intent to Participate, between July 15, 2010 and August 15, 2010,
• Any child from Birth– Senior Year of college/university, who is interested in reading Islamic non-fiction or fiction books (Non-Muslims welcomed),
• Participants must be a U.S. resident,
• Islamic books read should be at or near one’s reading level,
• Islamic books read aloud count,
• Islamic books can only be listed once,
• Only books read completely count, not partially read book,
• Islamic books must be read between July 15 – August 15, 2010,
• Use the Official Islamic Book Review Form and Reading Journal to review at least one Islamic book. A parent/guardian must sign the journal when it is completed.
• At least one Islamic book must be read and one Islamic book review form must be completed. Reading additional Islamic books are highly encouraged.
• While on prize will be given to all participants, additional Islamic books, games, gift certificates, etc. will be randomly selected.
• Limited to one additional award per child, per summer.
• The Founder/Owner/Publisher of AmericanMuslimMom.com and her family members are not eligible for prizes.
• Islamic schools. You are allowed to list the full-time, weekend or summer Islamic academy that you are a student of (you may only list one school). For homeschoolers, we recommend that you register as a local co-op, study group (youth halaqah). Whichever school has the most participants will receive a group of Islamic Books donated to their libraries.
• Deadline: Postmarked by August 15, 2010.

Instructions:

• * Register your child/ren from Birth – Senior Year of college/university, during the Reading Challenge period of July 15, 2010 – August 15, 2010 (details below)
• Print out the Official Islamic Book Review Form and Reading Journal * Children read books at their reading level, or read-aloud to by an adult
• Complete one full Islamic Book Review, and list additional Islamic books read on the journal with all sections completed. A parent/guardian must sign the journal when it is completed.
• Mail the completed review form and reading journal to the address provided on the Review Journal (one per child). Multiple children from the same household may send their journals in one envelope for your convenience.
• Each participant will be sent a certificate and a prize in the mail as promptly as possible.
• Special prizes will be awarded to different age or selected groups by criteria stated for that prize.
• Deadline: Postmarked by August 15, 2010.

How to Register:

[Purpose: We need to know the first name and age of each child to purchase the correct amount and appropriateness of prizes.]

• Participant must be officially signed-up on or before August 15, 2010.
• Participants can not register until the Official Kick-Off date of July 15,2010.
• Comment below on this Official Kick-Off webpage with your child or children’s first name(s) and last initial(s) and age(s).
• Having problems? Email: contact@americanmuslimmom.com

Children’s Design a Button Contest

Design a Button Coloring Contest Rules:

1. Open the coloring page here.
2. Design a Button. Create & Enjoy!
3. Scan and email on or before 12 midnight EST August 15, 2010 to contact<at>americanmulismmom.com or postal mail it with your Official Book Journal.
4. Email must state: (a) Child’s full name. Only the first name and last initial will be publicized. (b) Age and DOB (date of birth).
5. Winning Design will be used for next year’s Summer Islamic Reading Challenge, inshaAllah.

About the Host:

AmericanMuslimMom.com started as a family blog in 2005 and is now a family-oriented online magazine that encourages Muslim Moms in America and American Muslim Moms living abroad to share their tips, tools and resources as they raise Mu’minyn (true believers) based on the Qur’an and Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad (peace & blessings be upon him). The community benefits from Islamic, motivational, educational, practical, and fun articles, reviews, videos, contests, giveaways and much more. To participate in the 2nd Annual Summer Islamic Reading Challenge and/or receive free gifts and prizes, logon to http://AmericanMuslimMom.com today!

AmericanMuslimMom.com is founded by Ponn M. Sabra a best-selling author, writer, columnist and internet marketer, homeschool mom of three girls, and past administrator of an Islamic weekend school, and full-time Islamic elementary learning center and daycare.

Comment Below  to Read & Review Islamic Books.

Please help spread the word by sharing this article and/or posting our button on your blog.

2010 Summer Islamic Reading Challenge Kick-Off is a post from: American Muslim Mom Blog

This one video always causes me to cry. MashaAllah, God has willed, this gift of truly touching our hearts by reciting the heart of our Glorious Qur’an – Surah Yaseen. He recites the first 12 ayats (verses). While he’s a teenager now, he still has this beautiful voice has he shares an incredible recitation of Allah’s words. May Allah bless him handsomely in this dunya the akhira. Ameen.

• Surah Yaseen in the Qur’an can be found here.

• Translation in of Surah Yaseen English available here.

1Ya-Sin. [These letters are one of the miracles of the Qur'an, and none but Allah (Alone) knows their meanings].
2 By the Qur’an, full of wisdom (i.e. full of laws, evidence, and proofs),
3 Truly, you (O Muhammad-salalahi wa layhi wa salam) are one of the Messengers,
4 On the Straight Path (i.e. on Allah’s religion of Islamic Monotheism).
5 (This is a Revelation) sent down by the All-Mighty, the Most Merciful,
6 In order that you may warn a people whose forefathers were not warned, so they are heedless.
7 Indeed the Word (of punishment) has proved true against most of them, so they will not believe.
8 Verily We have put on their necks iron collars reaching to the chins, so that their heads are raised up.
9 And We have put a barrier before them, and a barrier behind them, and We have covered them up, so that they cannot see.
10 It is the same to them whether you warn them or you warn them not, they will not believe.
11 You can only warn him who follows the Reminder (the Qur’an), and fears the Most Gracious (Allah) unseen. Bear you to such one the glad tidings of forgiveness, and a generous reward (i.e. Paradise).
12 Verily, We give life to the dead, and We record that which they send before (them), and their traces and all things We have recorded with numbers (as a record) in a Clear Book.

• Tafsir (meaning and understanding) of Surah Yaseen in available here.

If you have an Islamic movie video or nasheed you’d like to share, please let us know about it by clicking here.

Muslim Kids Video – The Heart of the Qur’an – Surah Yaseen is a post from: American Muslim Mom Blog

We’re so excited to share this free download of “Lion of Ain Jaloot” available from Archive.org. This is one of the most inspirational Islamic children’s animated movies that every Muslim child (and adult) should watch. If you haven’t seen it yet, we believe you will love it since we watched it at least a dozen times over the past few years of owning the DVD.

Our youngest even has her roller-backpack of “Lion of Ain Jaloot”.

Seiffunddin Qutoz was born a prince, orphaned and sold into slavery with his cousin, earned his freedom at adulthood, and died as one of Islam’s greatest rulers who defeated the Mongols in honor of Islam and our beloved Allah (May He be Glorified).

Please share your review of this movie with us in the comments section below! If you have an Islamic movie video or nasheed you’d like to share, please let us know about it by clicking here.

Muslim Kids Video – Lion of Ain Jaloot is a post from: American Muslim Mom Blog

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.

Calling All Muslim Kids: Publish Your Work, Views and Jokes! is a post from: American Muslim Mom Blog

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 Video – Boys Trying to Pray is a post from: American Muslim Mom Blog

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.

Muslim Kids Joke – Alhumdulillah! is a post from: American Muslim Mom Blog

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.

Kid’s Book Review – Attack fo the Turtle by Drew Carlson is a post from: American Muslim Mom Blog

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 Kid Bloggers/Vloggers and I won–Thanks! is a post from: American Muslim Mom Blog

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

“My Masjid” Kids Drawing Contest on Family Reads is a post from: American Muslim Mom Blog