Birth Anniversary of Amir al-Mu’mineen (PBUH)-Level 1-1st Year
Topic Overview: Historical Discussion about the Birth and the Life of Imam Ali (PBUH)- Becoming Familiar with the Virtues of Amir al-Mu’minin (PBUH)- Expressing Gratitude to Father’s
Objective(s):
1.Becoming more familiar with Ka’ba-the House of God, the spiritual compass of the Muslims.
2.Becoming familiar with the birth of Amir al-Mu’minin [PBUH].
Procedures-Supplies Needed:
1.Tissue box
2.A4 black construction paper
3.A piece of poster board
4.A gold ribbon or a thin fabric
5.Glue stick and tape
6.Scissors
Duration:
25-30 Minutes
As shown in the images, cut the tissue box in half. Use a piece of the regular card board to cover the top slit of the box.
As shown in the image, glue the card board on the opening slot of the box from outside or inside.
Covering the cube with a black construction paper:
For the convenience of the participants, before the start of the program, put the upper edge of the cube in the middle of the paper and trace around it with a pen. So, this way, the precise location of where the cube needs to be glued is specified.
Glue the entire rectangle drawn in the previous step and place the upper edge of the cube on it, and gently squeeze it with your hands so its fully fixed in its place. Glue the other sides of the paper and stick it to the larger sides of the cube.
For the remaining 2 sides, just the way you wrap a gift, wrap the cube with the construction paper. Fold in the construction paper just like the image provided.
Repeat the same step explained above for the other side.
Use the regular cardboard to cut out 4 rectangles in size of 3.5 * 1 cm and 2 rectangles in size of 1*5 cm. And cut out a 40 cm gold ribbon.
Using the gold ribbon glue it around the top portion of the Ka’ba. To do this, you can tighten the beginning and end of the ribbon with a tape. Glue each large rectangle on the smaller side of the cube, below the ribbon. Glue each small rectangle on the larger side of the cube with a little spacing in between each of them.
You may use a silver marker or white color pencil to show the place the Ka’ba wall was cracked.
Objective(s):
1.Seeking means to the Holy Qur’an to illuminate our hearts that is means to salvation.
2.Becoming more familiar with Amir al-Mu’minin (PBUH) and the story of his birth.
3.The importance of a father, having respect for him, showing affection and being thankful for all his efforts.
4.Becoming familiar with the verse of Mawwada and its meaning.
Duration:
10 Minutes
Salaam my dears! How are you doing? Are you all happy and cheerful? Do you want to be happier, have lots of fun, and learn something new and good? Alright, now before we understand why today we have all gathered here to celebrate and be happy; lets recite one of the luminous verses of the Qur’an, and just the way God wants from us, start our celebration in his remembrance and brighten our celebration by reciting the verses of Qur’an, which are the words of the dear God to us. since the ayah that today we have chosen to recite is very important, it has a name and it’s called Ayah of Mawadda, which means to love. This is one of the ayahs of surah al-Shura.
بسم الله الرحمن الرحیم.
قل لا اسئلکم علیه اجرا الا المودة فی القربی
Say, “I do not ask you any reward for it except love of [my] relatives”
The Holy Prophet (PBUH & HP had the great responsibility of introducing to others the religion of Islam, however he did not expect anything from people in return of having this responsibility and doing this for them. While if it was us, and we had to do a favor for someone, we would had expected something in return and thought about ourselves too.
But the Prophet was not like this, and he was bearing this great responsibility of guiding people for the sake of God and had accepted the hardships and difficulties that came with this responsibility with a passion and wholeheartedly.
And this showed that he is for real the prophet and a messenger sent by God and his goal was to please God. However, God in this Ayah says that: O Prophet, tell people to love your near relatives and family, in return of the troubles you face for the people, and the difficulties and hardships you bear in this path.
This love was not a normal one, however when the dear God tells people that the reward and prize of the Prophet for this great responsibility, is this love, it appears that the Prophet’s family have a great status in the eyes of God. and again, this tells us that God wanted to predict that after the Prophet, people must follow the Prophet’s family, and act in a way that makes them happy so the Prophet’s path-which was the guidance of people is continued.
Now who can tell me what God meant by saying the near relatives of the Prophet? Yes, as the Prophet and our Imams have explained this ayah, the Prophet’s near relatives is referring to the only daughter of the Prophet-lady Fatemeh al-Zahra and her husband Amir-al-Mu’minin Imam Ali and their children.
This is very important that we must appreciate the efforts of a person who does us a favor. And it’s bad to be indifferent towards the efforts they have done for us. Therefore, we have the duty that when dear God has sent our beloved Prophet Muhammad [send a loud salawat] for our guidance and has said that to appreciate the Prophet’s hard work, we must love his near relatives, that we will do the same.
My dears! Now in your opinion how can we accomplish this responsibility of ours well?
One of the ways that can help us to love the near relatives of the Prophet, is that we learn more about them. Know better their greatness and the important work they have done for us. for example, read about the life of Imam Ali, lady Fatemeh al-Zahra, Imam Hassan, Imam Hussain and the rest of the Imams and this way we can become closer to these kind humans and the dear God and our hearts be more and more filled with their love, try to be like them and act according to their teachings.
Another interesting thing that it’s good to pay attention, is that right now on this earth, who is the person that is the closest of all to the Prophet and is one of the members of his Ahlul-Bayt [Prophet’s Family]? Yes, it’s the Imam of Our Time. Alright, so according to that Ayah of the Qur’an, we must love who? Great job, the Imam of Our Time-Imam Mahdi. So, what must we do? To know and learn more about the Imam of Our Time, so we can love him more.
Well, let’s have a nice and energetic round of applause and cheering, so I can tell you what our celebration today is about!
The Story of the Birth of the Great Man of the World:
It was the time of his birth. His mother went near the door of the Holy Ka’ba-the God’s House. She raised her hand in prayers and asked the dear God to help her and make this birth easy on her, when suddenly the door of the Ka’ba cracked open and the mother entered the Ka’ba. And again, the door returned to its original shape. The people who saw this happen, tried several times to open the door of God’s House, but they were unsuccessful. Then, they realized that this strange event was done by the power of the dear God. After three days passed, people saw the wall cracked open again and while the mother held her baby in her arms, she stepped out of God’s House.
My dears, as you all might have guessed, today is the birth of the best man of the world, the follower, and the friend of our dear Prophet-Imam Ali [PBUH]. And today we have all gathered here to celebrate and thank the dear God for this great blessing and this kind Imam.
Oh, I also wanted to tell you that in the honor of the birth of our 1st Imam, we also dedicate this day to our beloved dad’s, and how good it would be to thank our dad’s for all they’ve done for us, if we could give them a gift such as a drawing, or a handmade craft of your or even something small, and show our love towards them more and try to listen to them.
Objective(s):
1.Make this celebration more appealing to children.
2.Enhancing their listening skills and conveying information to others, the importance of emulating the good character of our father’s.
Duration:
10 Minutes
Game: My Father!
Ask children to whisper in their friend’s ear one good trait or behavior of their father which they like and try to be like. After every child does this, ask them, one by one to tell others what their friend has told them about their father. And then everyone should clap and scream hooray for that father.
Objective(s):
1.Becoming familiar with the moral virtues of Amir al-Mu’minin [PBUH].
2.Becoming familiar with the importance of showing hospitality, friendship and generosity.
Duration:
15 Minutes
For the Sake of the Guest
Imam Ali [PBUH] was very upset. Younus said: “Maybe his children are sick!” His friend Adam said: “Maybe something has happened to his wife-Lady Fatemeh al-Zahra [PBUH]!”
Everyone was worried. To find out why the Imam is upset, they planned a time to go and see Imam Ali [PBUH]. It was noon, and everyone arrived at the masjid. At the masjid when they caught sight of Imam Ali [PBUH], they were all surprised. They could tell by the Imam’s face that he was still upset.
Finally, Younus could no longer tolerate. He went ahead and asked: “O ‘Amir al-Mu’minin-the Leader of Believers, today we saw you and you looked upset. Has anything bad happened?”
Imam Ali [PBUH] smiled dimly and said: “It has been seven days that no guest has come to our house! That is why I am upset!”
Treating Your Employee
One day, Imam Ali [PBUH] and his employee -Ghabar went to a market https://ed-danmark.com/koeb-…ra-online/. The Imam [PBUH] bough two shirts that one was more expensive than the other. When they returned home, the Imam gave the more expensive shirt to Ghanbar and said: “Wear this.” Ghanbar said: “No, I am your employee; please give me the other shirt that was cheaper. This is the expensive shirt, and it’s appropriate for you.”
Imam Ali [PBUH] said: “You are younger, and this shirt will look better on you.” and he continued: “I’ve heard from the Prophet [PBUH & HP] that said: “Make sure your employee’s clothes and food is not worth less than you.”
Objective(s):
1. To instill the love of Amir al-Mu’minin in the hearts of children and teach them to call on him in times of need.
Procedures-Supplies Needed:
1.Projector or a device to show the clip and a speaker.
Duration:
4 Minutes
Objective(s):
1.Thanking a father.
2.Being grateful of all his efforts, thanking our father’s can be a good gift for them.
3.Thanking the Imam of Our Time [PBUH]
Procedures-Supplies Needed:
1.Actors: father, mother, and a girl (about 6 years old).
2.Table and chair, mat, and a glass.
Duration:
20 Minutes
Play: Thanking a Father
Scene: House
Start of the scene: (The door opens, Sara has her school backpack in her hands and enters the scene)
Sarah [with a loud voice]: Salaam, I have returned home, where are you mom?
Mom (enters the scene with a ladle in her hand): Salaam my dear, I hope you’re well! What’s going on?
Sarah [with happiness]: Mom, I have good news for you! Today I got the highest score on my exam in my class!
Mom: Wow! That’s great! Great job my dear! Now go and change your clothes, wash your hands and face, because your dad will be here in any minute now.
Sarah [smells the air around her]: Oh Mom! Its smells really good! Did you bake a cake for me?
Mom [laughs]: Not for you! I have baked a cake for your dad! I have also cooked his favorite meal, so I can surprise him!
Sarah [ is surprised]: Surprise him? Why? What’s special about today?
Mom [she is a bit surprised]: My dear Sarah! Did you forget it that soon? I told you last week that today is Father’s Day and we want to make dad happy!
Sarah [suddenly gets upset]: Ohhhhhhh Mom! You see what happened? I totally forgot to buy dad a gift!…. and I had planned to go out with Aunty and buy a beautiful gift for dad with the money I had saved…. But I forgot! Now what should I do?
Mom [pats Sarah’s head]: It’s ok my dear! Nothing has happened! I am sure Aunty was busy, and she also forgot to remind you! Now today we will give your dad lots of yummy food and congratulate him, and tomorrow I will take you to the mall, so we can buy a gift.
Sarah [still is frowning]: Alright, Mom whatever you say, but I wanted to give dad the gift today and make him happy! It’s so unfortunate.
Mom: My dear! Don’t think about it, get up, and quickly change your clothes.
[at this time the sound of door is heard, followed by the voice of dad.]
Dad: Salaam everyone! [Dad enters]
Mom [with a smile]: Salaam! I hope you’re doing well!
Sarah: Salaam dad!
Dad: Salaam my dear wife and my dear daughter! Thankyou! I hope you’re doing well too! Wow it smells really good! You again did lots of work! [ sits on the chair]
Mom: Oh no, I didn’t do much! Well today is your day!
Sarah [faces her dad]: Yep dad! Happy Father’s Day! [ with a gloomy face sits on a chair besides her dad]
Dad: well…. well…my dear what happened? Why are you frowning?
Sarah [with a sad voice]: my dear dad, I wanted to buy a gift for you for Father’s Day, so this way I could thank you for all your efforts and make you happy, but… but… I forgot to buy a gift!
Dad [laughs]: Oh well my dear! This is not important!
Mom: O Sarah! Did you tell dad that today you got the highest score on your exam in your class?
Dad: [with happiness faces Sarah]: well you told me that you didn’t buy me a gift? Then what is this??
Sarah [surprised]: What gift dad? I don’t understand what you mean!
Dad [ with kindness pats Sarah’s head]: You see my dear! A gift shouldn’t always be something that you buy! Doing a good thing or saying a good thing can also be a gift. You trying hard and being a good student is just enough for me. and for you to receive a good grade on your exam is really good, and it’s just like a gift for me, a really great gift from my good daughter that made me very happy.
Mom: My dear Sarah! With your hard work you showed your dad how much you appreciate his effort. In fact, when we love someone, by doing good things that can make them happy we can thank them that way.
Sarah [with happiness looks at her dad]: is that true dad? Did I really make you happy?
Dad [with laughter]: yes, my dear! You made me very happy! You made me so happy that it made me super hungry and I want to try you mom’s food!
Mom [with laughter]: alright, I will now go and get the food ready! [ exits the scene]
Dad [faces Sarah] :You see my dear, now that we are talking about this, do you remember that we talked about the Imam of Our Time-Imam Mahdi [PBU], and I told you that just like a kind father, he likes all the children, and you told me that you like him very much?
Sarah: Yes, yes, I remember it well.
Dad: well, by doing good things you can also make him happy, just like the way you made me happy today.
Sarah: To be honest, since that day I was thinking how I can make my Imam happy. Thanks dad for teaching me this. Starting today, I will try to do more good things, so I can make the Imam of Our Time meaning my kindest father and Imam satisfied and happy.
Dad: Great job my dear! Now let’s go and wash our hands while mom is preparing the food.
Sarah: Alright dad, let’s go!
Objective(s):
1.Becoming familiar with the history of the birth of Amir al-Mu’minin [PBUH] and his virtues in a form of poetry.
Procedures-Supplies Needed:
1.It’s important that the person in charge of performing this section to practice the script beforehand so it is performed in an appealing rhythm for children. Because if performed in a uniform rhythm it can distract children.
2.Need a projector, microphone and a suitable place to perform the Prezi.
Duration:
4 Minutes
Prezi: The History of the Life of Amir al-Mu’minin [PBUH]
http://prezi.com/0cfunmy0fcwo/?utm_campaign=share&utm_medium=copy&rc=ex0share
Slide 2:
The great man of the world/is our 1st Imam
The answer to this mystery/is Imam Ali [PBUH]
Now listen carefully/ as I tell you his life story
I want to tell you all/my dear smart kids
His mother was/Fatemeh bint al-Asad
On the 13th of Rajab/she came near the Ka’ba
While praying and making du’a/She called the dear God
O’ God, do something/so my child is born easily
Her voice was heard/by the dear God
Suddenly the wall cracked/Fatemeh entered the house
Her child in the Ka’ba/was born into this world
and this honor in the world/ was only his; my dears
Slide 3 & 4:
what about his father’s name? / [Abu-talib] it was
who was a great man/ kind and faithful
his mother was again/Fatemeh bin al-Asad
now they wanted for their child/ a great and beautiful name
by God’s order / they named him Ali
Slide 5:
Another honor/ of this boy
In the house of the Prophet/ he grew-up
Slide 6:
He was the kindest of all/ a friend for young and old
He played with children/was like a father to them
Slide 7:
Now my dears/ who before others
Accepted the Prophet/ and prayed to God?
They were Ali and Khadijah/ they prayed alone
behind the Prophet/The last messenger of God
Slide 8:
A Strong; brave; warrior/ this young man became
In the way of Islam/ he fought against the enemies
Slide 9,10:
one night/our beloved Prophet
was informed that his enemies/ overnight wanted
attack the Prophet/with their sharp swords
when Ali heard this/he slept in the Prophet’s bed
so, the Messenger of God/without anyone knowing
can leave the city of Mecca/and got to Medina
This was another honor/that the enemies became ashamed
Slide 11:
Generosity was another/characteristic of our Master Ali
I must tell you all/ he was one of the kindest
Even during praying/he was concerned about the poor
One day in a Mosque/ People saw our Master Ali
Gave a ring to a poor/to make him also happy
What he did to the man/made everyone know
That he is the best person/always thinking of others
Slide 12:
Now tell me / my dear flowers
Who knows here/ who was the wife of our Master?
The pure wife of our Master/was the daughter of the Prophet
Among all the women/she was the best of all
Now again/ this is the 4th honor
That no one except our Master Ali/ has these honors
Slide 13:
On the day of Ghadir/our Master Ali became our leader
On that luminous day/Islam became complete
The hand of Ali/was held by the hand of the Prophet of Islam
My dear ones how wonderful it is/that Ali is our Master
Is strong and kind/loves us very much
Let’s all together/love him and make him our role model
Objective(s):
1.Becoming familiar with Imam Ali by using poems.
2.Becoming familiar with the culture of poetry and literature regarding a religious topic.
3.Becoming familiar with the words of the Ahlul-Bayt [PBUT].
Procedures-Supplies Needed:
1.Mentor should try to practice reciting the poems before the start of the program to be able to recite it coherently. Even trying to memorize few lines from the poem.
2.Ask kids to recite along with you the lines of the poem that seems to be a bit easier, to create a happier atmosphere.
Duration:
5-10 Minutes
O’ Ali you are/ our leader and Imam
Your spoken words/ are the best of words
Your kindness O’Ali/ is none like other
Your names and remembrance/is like prayer
My dears!
When the night came our Master Ali/took with him a bag of bread and dates
Went door to door/and gave food to the poor
He never left the poor alone/played with the orphans
A father was he to the orphans/never left them alone
He ordered others as well/to be kind to them
Birth of Imam Ali [PBUH]
Mecca became luminous/happy and jubilant
Mecca became filled with/the beautiful scent of flowers
Darkness faded away/the Ka’ba door opened
Ali our Master was born/in the Ka’ba he was born
The man of courage/and bravery
The man of knowledge and faith
The man of strength and faith
The man kindness and generosity
When our Prophet conveyed to us the message of Islam,
The first man to accept was Ali
In everything the Prophet did, he had a share
He assisted the Prophet in every affair!
Every war, against every hero
Imam Ali (as) stood upright,
Never for once was he beaten
Because he got help from Allah, day and night
His character and life should be
For us Shi’a kids a model
The Crying Girl
Our Kind Imam, Imam Ali [PBUH]
When he arrived at the market
Boo hoo, boo hoo boo hoo
He heard someone crying
Near him he saw a little girl
Who was sitting on the ground
In her hand she had
A box of rotten dates
Quickly he came near her
“what is it? What is it? My little girl?
Tell me, what has happened
Don’t cry, tell me what’s wrong?”
A box of black dates
I have bought from this man
But all of them are rotten
And he won’t give back my money
Imam Ali came with her
and went to the seller of dates
he said: return her money
and don’t ever sell bad dates
she bought good dates and happily,
went towards her house like the wind
having a smile on his face
Imam Ali continued his way
Objective(s):
1.Concluding and reiterating the overall concepts of the program.
2.Heartfelt bond with the Imam of Our Time, our Master and praying for his reappearance.
3. Reiterating the fact that he is the son of Imam Ali (AS), and that by praying for him and doing good deeds we can hasten his reappearance, so he can come quicker and fill the world with justice, and tranquility.
Procedures-Supplies Needed:
1.It is important that this part of the program to be done in a quiet and calm environment, while paying utmost attention to the prayers.
2.Starting the dua after reminding the kids about the importance of praying for the reappearance of Imam of our Time- Imam Mahdi (May God Hasten His Return)
3.It is suggested that while the du’a is being recited the Arabic version of the du’a to be presented simultaneously along with the translation in the local language.
Duration:
10 Minutes
End/Conclusion and Du’a al-Faraj
Alright my dears, I hope you are not tired and you had lots of fun. Again, Eid Mubarak to all of you, and what better day, than today to honor your dad’s and appreciate all their efforts. So, my dears, remember that when today you get the chance to see your dad, jump up and hug them tight, and give them a kiss, congratulate them on this day of Eid, and thank them for all they’ve done for your and all their efforts.
Now tell me, what did you enjoy the most from today’s celebration? What did you learn? (It would be good if you allow children to speak and convey what they have learned to others)
Yes, as you all paid careful attention to the program and learned well, today was the birth of Imam Ali (PBUH) and learned that his birth was a miracle and he was born inside of the Ka’ba-the God’s House and God chose the name “Ali”, and Imam Ali and the Prophet are the two best creations of God.
And again, we learned that our 1st Imam-meaning Amir al-Mu’minin the Leader of the Believers was always besides the Prophet and was his follower and was the first man that believed in the Prophet of Islam and became a Muslim. And furthermore, when we hear his name; his characteristics such as kindness, bravery, and generosity come to our minds and we feel proud for having and believing in such a beloved Imam, who we believe as a guide and a follower of the Prophet. Also, my dears who was his wife? Yes, his wife was the only daughter of our Prophet, and the best women of the world-lady Fatemeh al-Zahra [PBUH]. So that means that he had to be the best man of the world to be worthy of being the husband of lady Fatemeh al-Zahra and they were able to have children that God ordered us to show our love towards them, and follow them, just as we read in the ayah of Mawadda. Now all of you please stand up and face towards the Qibla and let’s all pray for the person we follow and love very much.
- Standing up facing the Qibla out of respect for his Eminence.
http://film.tebyan.net/film/151746
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=0cXoTGnP1jk
In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
O’ God, send your blessing to Muhammad and the Household of Muhammad
O’ God, at this moment and every moment
Be a guardian, a protector, a leader, a helper
a proof, and an eye for Your representative &
proof, Mahdi son of Al-Hassan,
Your blessings be upon him and his ancestors
guard him as long as he lives on this earth as a ruler
benefit him and bless him with everything You and this earth has to offer
Objective(s):
1.Maximizing children’s ability in learning and memorization by doing related work at home.
Procedures-Supplies Needed:
1.Printing the poem that is provided at the end of this file.
2.Stickers to decorate their paper.
Take-Home Activity
Print the poem given at the end of this file and hand it to the children’s parents and ask them to recite it for their child[ren] and explain the meaning of the poem to them and instill the love of Amir al-Mum’minin in their child’s heart. You can also provide children with various stickers, so they may decorate the poem with, keep it for a while, and if they like they can even memorize the poem.
The Crying Girl
Our Kind Imam, Imam Ali [PBUH]
When he arrived at the market
Boo hoo, boo hoo boo hoo
He heard someone crying
Near him he saw a little girl
Who was sitting on the ground
In her hand she had
A box of rotten dates
Quickly he came near her
“what is it? What is it? My little girl?
Tell me, what has happened
Don’t cry, tell me what’s wrong?”
A box of black dates
I have bought from this man
But all of them are rotten
And he won’t give back my money
Imam Ali came with her
and went to the seller of dates
he said: return her money
and don’t ever sell bad dates
she bought good dates and happily,
went towards her house like the wind
having a smile on his face
Imam Ali continued his way