Objective(s):
1.Seeking means to the Holy Qur’an to illuminate our hearts that is means to salvation.
2.Becoming familiar with the religious rulings of fasting in accordance with the Qur’anic verses.
3.Considering the dignity of Imam Hassan al-Mujtaba (PBUH).
Duration:
10 Minutes
Salaam everyone! How is everyone doing? I hope you are all doing well! Welcome to our celebration my dears! We are all very happy to have you all here and are looking forward to spending good times with one another. But before anything, let’s start our program with God’s name by reciting a few ayahs from Surah al-Baqarah which is about the Holy month of Ramadan. This way we can become familiar with the month of Ramadan from the Qur’an. We want to see what God has told us about this month? Now let’s all together recite these verses, because as you all know not only reciting the Qur’an has lots of rewards, this reward is multiplied in the Holy month of Ramadan. (Print out the verses or project it on a screen)
The ayah’s that we’re going to recite are 183-186 of surah al-Baqarah, which is the longest surah of the Qur’an:
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحيم
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمُ الصِّيَامُ كَمَا كُتِبَ عَلَى الَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ ﴿۱۸۳﴾
أَيَّامًا مَّعْدُودَاتٍ فَمَن كَانَ مِنكُم مَّرِيضًا أَوْ عَلَى سَفَرٍ فَعِدَّةٌ مِّنْ أَيَّامٍ أُخَرَ وَ عَلَى الَّذِينَ يُطِيقُونَهُ فِدْيَةٌ طَعَامُ مِسْكِينٍ فَمَن تَطَوَّعَ خَيْرًا فَهُوَ خَيْرٌ لَّهُ وَ أَن تَصُومُواْ خَيْرٌ لَّكُمْ إِن كُنتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ ﴿۱۸۴﴾
شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ الَّذِيَ أُنزِلَ فِيهِ الْقُرْآنُ هُدًى لِّلنَّاسِ وَ بَيِّنَاتٍ مِّنَ الْهُدَى وَ الْفُرْقَانِ فَمَن شَهِدَ مِنكُمُ الشَّهْرَ فَلْيَصُمْهُ وَ مَن كَانَ مَرِيضًا أَوْ عَلَى سَفَرٍ فَعِدَّةٌ مِّنْ أَيَّامٍ أُخَرَ يُرِيدُ اللّهُ بِكُمُ الْيُسْرَ وَ لاَ يُرِيدُ بِكُمُ الْعُسْرَ وَ لِتُكْمِلُواْ الْعِدَّةَ وَ لِتُكَبِّرُواْ اللّهَ عَلَى مَا هَدَاكُمْ وَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ – ۱۸۵
وَ إِذَا سَأَلَكَ عِبَادِي عَنِّي فَإِنِّي قَرِيبٌ أُجِيبُ دَعْوَةَ الدَّاعِ إِذَا دَعَانِ فَلْيَسْتَجِيبُواْ لِي وَ لْيُؤْمِنُواْ بِي لَعَلَّهُمْ يَرْشُدُونَ ﴿۱۸۶﴾
Now I will tell you the meaning of these few ayah’s.
Dear God, in ayah 183 says: fasting has been recommended for us and for the previous religions, so through fasting people would achieve piety, do not sin, and remember God.
My dears! Fasting is a way of controlling ourselves. Meaning that for the sake of God, we are able to put away eating and drinking, even if we really want to eat and drink. So, in another word, fasting is a practice for us to keep away from the sins we might like to do.
In the next ayah, God says: This fasting is only for a number of days, meaning for one month. But if someone is sick, or travelling they should not fast, and fast the same number that they missed in another time. Or if they were not able to do that, they can instead feed the poor even though fasting is better.
My dear ones! One of the benefits of fasting is that a person thinks about all those poor and needy people who cannot always eat good food. That is why dear God says: if you were not able to fast, you can instead help the poor.
The meaning of ayah 185 is: The month of Ramadan is a month in which the Holy Qur’an was sent to the Prophet. A book which was sent for the guidance of mankind and by its verses we can distance ourselves from any wrongdoings. And whoever can observe this month, should fast, and whoever is sick or is travelling should fast the same number of days at another time. God wants ease for you and doesn’t want hardship for you. Therefore, fast for a month, take the mercy of God for granted and be thankful of him.
And finally, in verse 186 God says to us: O’ Prophet! If my servants asked you about Me tell them: I am near and will answer their prayers. So, they should come towards Me, and believe in Me so they can be guided in the right direction.
My loved ones! Fasting is a kind of a health routine for us, that God has planned for us, so our bodies could be cleansed once a year, so we can live better and have a healthier life. That is why God would like us to take his orders for granted and accept them. God’s feast is way different than other feasts. The month of Ramadan is the month of God’s feast. It’s a time when our dear God has invited all of us to have healthier bodies and by praying, worshiping and reciting the Qur’an, and understanding the words of God, we can refresh, and revive our souls as well. This way we are able to spend the rest of our year with full of energy and joy.
Every feast and ceremony are usually hosted by someone. And the host of this great feast is none other than the representative of God meaning the Imam of Our Time. That is why this month can be a great opportunity for all of us, to more than ever talk our hearts out to him, ask for his help and thank him for this great feast.
And one more thing my dears! Another important thing has happened in the middle of the month of Ramadan that we celebrate, what is that event? (Wait for their responses) YES, it’s the birth of Imam Hassan al-Mujtaba (Peace be Upon Him). He is our 2nd Imam, and the eldest child of Imam Ali and lady Fatemeh al-Zahra (PBUT). An Imam who was very kind and had good morals and not to mention that he was very generous and good-hearted. Who knows what generous means? (Wait for their responses). Yes, it means to give out what is yours to others, and even though they are very kind and charitable they don’t expect anything in return, because they are very noble, and they’re not generous to receive something in return, they don’t even expect an appreciation. Imam Hassan al-Mujtaba (PBUH) was also Karim. Meaning he was very generous and noble. And today (tonight), we can ask him to be generous to us, and ask God to bless us with a luminous and loving heart.
Now to congratulate the Imam of Our Time on the birth of Imam Hassan al-Mujtaba, let’s all recite together a loud salawat and offer it as a gift it to our Imam. (اللهم صل علی محمد و آل محمد و عجل فرجهم) – Allahumma salli ‘ala Muhammad wa Ali Muhammad wa ajjil farajahum: God send your blessings upon Muhammad (PBUH & HP) and the family of Muhammad (PBUT) and quicken the return of our Imam
Objective(s):
1.Paying attention to the benefits of God’s commandments.
2.Becoming more familiar with the Holy month of Ramadan, the month of God’s feast, its attributes, and our responsibilities in this Holy month.
3.Create this sense of love towards God, and the fact that we are his guests in this month both on the spiritual and materialistic matters.
Instructions – Materials:
1.Projector, and a suitable place to present the Prezi slides.
Duration:
15-20 Minutes
Slides 2-3:
My dears who loves us the most? (Wait for them to respond) yes that’s right our father, mother, the Imam of Our Time and of course the dear God.
Slides 4-5:
Now tell me, if your mom or dad ask you to do something difficult. Like they ask you to brush your teeth every day, or ask you to not do anything until you have finished all your homework, or not watch TV too much, would you all listen to them even if it’s hard for you to do them all?
Why would you do it? (Guide them to the following answers: that doing the things mentioned above is useful for them, and their parents want what is best for them. For example, they want their kids to brush their teeth, so their teeth wouldn’t decay, because in future they would be the ones who will suffer. Or if they don’t sleep on time at nights, waking up in the mornings would be difficult for them, or even though sometimes studying might be hard, it helps to foster minds and help them succeed in the future, which kids might not understand it now. Or if they watch TV too much, it hinders their physical activity; this in fact is not well-suited for kid’s health, and it decreases their abilities…) So, since we know that our parents love us so much, and want our best, we will try to do what they tell us even though it might be hard for us to do them. Because we love them and love ourselves and don’t like to harm ourselves by not listening to them. Is that right?
Slide 6:
Now, who else did we say loves us the most? Yes God, and His messengers such as our Prophet (PBUH & HP) and our beloved Imams.
From all the people we mentioned, in your opinion, who do you think knows what is good and bad for us the most?
Yes, that is right, dear God. Now tell me why??? (Wait for them to respond) That is great you were all right! Because it’s the dear God who has created us all. And whoever creates something, knows that thing much better than anyone else, and knows what is best for it.
Slide 7:
For example, if I invent a computer, I would know more about how that computer works than anyone else. Correct?
Slides 8:
Therefore, dear God knows the best in what is good and what is bad for us, and what is the best way to live life. So, because we know this, and know that God loves us, and wants us to be the best people, we try to listen to his words, even though it might be hard for us to do!
Slide 9:
Now this kind and wise God has told us that I invite you all in this Holy month of Ramadan, and just like any host that would like their guests to have fun in that feast; I would like you all to also have fun and offer you the best things. Our dear God has asked us to fast in this month, and avoid doing any sins, this is good for us and God always looks after us all. He likes us to go in the right direction and so we wouldn’t get hurt later. He also likes to keep the devil (Shaitan) away from us in this month.
Slides 10:
In this Holy month, He likes to give us more reward for every good action we perform. He would like us to pray more and pay more attention to our prayers, speak to Him more often and be closer to Him.
Slides 11:
He would like us to eat less, so we would appreciate His blessings more. And understand the hardships of those who don’t have food, and we should also try to help them out. Therefore, in this month; some of our elders help those in need by collecting food and money. This way not only do they make these families happy but also put to display the beautiful Islamic morals. Even some people are willing to give up their food and give it to others.
Slide 12:
God would like to know which one of us like Him the most, and listen to Him, so he could help those people more. It is interesting to note, that God loves his faithful and fasting guests so much that when they sleep due to tiredness and hunger, He rewards them for their sleep and for every breath they take.
Slides 13:
God loves us to talk with Him during this feast more than ever. Therefore, He has said: reciting the Holy Quran has lots, and lots of rewards. God likes us to get very, very close to the Qur’an in this Holy month, and become more familiar with the meanings of its ayah’s. So, we can find the right path that God has mentioned in the Qur’an.
Slide 14:
God likes to choose nights in this Holy month that are very, very special, and by praying in those nights, our sins will be forgiven, and we become closer to Him. The name of these specials nights is called “Laylatul Qadr” or the Nights of Power. These nights are at the end of the month of Ramadan, and in those three nights people are busy praying and asking God for forgiveness.
Slides 15:
In this feast, God likes us to become closer to the Imam of Our Time-Imam Mahdi (pbuh), think about him, and pray for him. During the days of this feast, talk more often with our Imam, and in our hearts speak to him like a kind father, enjoy our conversation with him, and ask him to help us become a better person and pray for us.
Slide 16:
So, for the sake of the dear God, and for ourselves who like to continue the right path and not lose and regret later, we will listen to God’s words even if its hard. We know that God will help us and give us strength in addition to a great deal of reward, which will make us closer to our God and be a better person.
Objective(s):
1.Becoming familiar with the preconditions for our fast to be accepted before God. Fasting does not just include the fasting of the stomach, but an acceptable fast is when all parts of our body abstains from sinning and is fasting.
2.Becoming familiar with the many benefits of fasting.
Instructions – Materials:
1.Players: Maryam, Leila, and Leila’s mom.
2.House like environment, pillow, door and a door sound effect, and a loud sound effect.
Duration:
15 Minutes
Play: An Acceptable Fast
Narrator: Maryam and Leila’s family are neighbors and these two are friends. Some days with the permission of their mothers they go to each other’s houses and play with one another. Especially now that it’s the month of Ramadan, and it’s the first time both Maryam and Leila are fasting, therefore during these long summer days they get bored easily.
(Maryam’s mom is sitting, when suddenly Maryam storms out of Leila’s room with anger and exits Leila’s house after quickly saying bye to Leila’s mom.)
Leila’s mom: Dear Leila, Leila. Why was Maryam angry? (Leila doesn’t answer, and mother doesn’t say anything as well)
Narrator: Leila’s mom was fasting that day. She had lot of work that day, and was tired, so she goes to rest a bit but…
(Leila’s mom rest for a bit, when all the sudden, a loud sound comes from Leila’s room (This sound can be tailored to any sound feature, such as a TV, or something falling or anything…) and her mom jumps from her bed, becomes mad, and rests again. A moment goes by, and Leila comes out of her room to take her notebook, and during the time when she comes back to her room she bangs her door. (If a “door” doesn’t physically exist, instead its sound affect can be played.)
Mother (jumps again from her bed, holds on her head and madly says): Leila what are you doing? Don’t you see I am resting? Don’t you know that I get a headache (and rests again).
Leila (lowers her voice): Sorry…
Leila (moments later comes out of her room, sits on the couch, and starts to page through her story book. Looks at her mom and is sad about the fact that her mom has a headache. She goes and sits beside her mom and says): Mom I am very sorry. I was a bit mad today.
Mother (With frustration): I knew you were mad, and I asked you why, but you did not answer me. I have a headache now, but tell me what happened today? Why did Maryam suddenly go back to her house?
Leila: Maryam and I got into a fight today, and I will never be her friend again. Because when we were playing together, we got thirsty and so Maryam said: let’s go and drink. We were not paying attention to the fact that we were fasting, so we went and drank water. But only afterwards we realized that we were fasting!
Mother (smiles and says to Leila): Since you two were not paying attention its fine that you drank water and your fast is acceptable. But if someone argues with their friend, it’s then that their fast is not accepted. Maryam was not paying attention, now go and become friends again!
Leila: Well, it was Maryam’s fault!
Mother: we fast to just not to eat, but rather we should avoid from doing the things that God does not like, such as lying, getting mad, not having good morals and other bad things.
Leila: Really mom??? I always thought that when someone is fasting it just means that they should not eat something from dawn to dusk.
Mother: No, my dear, fasting is not just for our stomach. Rather we fast with our mouth, hands, feet, ears and just our whole body should fast as well. Meaning that we shouldn’t do bad and sinful things with them.
Leila: Mom but fasting is a really hard thing!!! But why should we fast?
Mother (smiles and says): My dear, fasting has many benefits and is ordered by God which is good for us. For example, when someone is actually fasting with every part of their body they are thanking God. Because they have used the blessings given by God the right way and did not sin with them. Therefore, God is pleased with them, and they become closer to Him and distance themselves from the devil (Shaitan). The month of Ramadan is in fact a great time for us all to get closer to God. And God will forgive our sins and help us to be better than ever before.
Leila (with surprise): Wow how interesting! But why should we not eat or drink in this month. Eating and drinking is not a sin!!!
Mother: Yes, that’s right my dear, eating is not a bad thing. But have you ever realized that we sometimes eat something that is not healthy? Or eat more than we should, and we get fat? Or our eating time is not regular and not a good time? But rather, food is an important matter in the life of us humans, and if we don’t eat regularly and eat right it will potentially be dangerous for our health and we may eventually become sick. Therefore, God in this Holy month of Ramadan has not only invited us to worship, repent and pray but also has invited us to become healthier by fasting. This is a great opportunity for us to eat healthier foods and be able to flush out all the bad and harmful things from our body.
Leila (For example Leila can ask): If the days we fast are long what should we do? I feel like fasting such long hours is not good for our health? No?
Mother: But of course, we must keep in mind that when the month of Ramadan falls during the summer and the days are long it’s possible that some people might not be able to fast. Or if they have a sick person, and fasting might not be good for their health, they should not fast at all, and if they fast it’s a sin. Our dear God not only wants the best for our spirits, but our physical health is also important for Him, and He has said that maintaining good physical health is necessary as maintaining our mental health. Sometimes, it would be better if we do less work, so we are able to increase our ability to fast. By managing our time, we can fast easier.
Leila: Wow that is interesting! So, fasting actually benefits our health and helps us to not become sick!
Mother: Yes, for sure my dear! Oh, and when we fast, and hear the smell of good food, but because we are fasting and can’t eat; we think of all those who might like to eat these delicious foods. However, they don’t have enough money to prepare good foods. This makes us to be more responsible, such that we try not to waste food, thank God for all His blessings, and try to help the poor. This is one of the lessons our religion teaches us, which we are very proud of. We Muslims are proud that our religion teaches us to think about others and be generous to everyone.
Leila: I always assumed that fasting is God’s order that we simply must follow; and never thought that it actually has so many benefits for us. It’s very interesting how God is so kind, that what he orders us to do has benefits for us. But for sure some of us don’t know this and are not aware of it.
Mother: Yes, that is right; all the orders from God are in this way. Oh, and I forgot to tell you that in this Holy month, all the good things that we do, have lots of rewards. Even sleeping and studying while fasting has rewards. Think about all the rewards we can get in this month, and how we can get closer to God. But we must keep in mind that if we sin during this month the reward of our fast is less than when our whole body is fasting, and we don’t do bad things with the parts of our body. In reality, in this month of God’s feast, we must imagine ourselves sitting in front of God, and aiming to please Him.
Leila (Goes into a very deep thought, looks down and apologizes from her mother and says): Now I will quickly go and become friends with Maryam again. I will go and tell her what it means to be really fasting, tell her how closer to God we can get in this month, and how we are able to learn good morals. From tomorrow on I want to promise along with Maryam to fast better than before.
Objective(s):
1.Make this celebration more appealing to the audience.
2.This physical exercise for the kids reinforces accuracy, coordination and reaction time; especially since their roles change.
3.Changing kid’s cognitive thinking/imagination towards more conceptual and functional ideas.
4.Becoming familiar with the month of Ramadan which is a month of worship and a month of being a better person in every aspect.
Instructions – Materials:
1.It is required for the mentor to show excitement and have an expressive voice to make this game fun for the kids.
Duration:
15-20 Minutes
Group Activity: (Teaching Good Deeds in the format of a play and pantomime)
My dears, as we said this month is a great opportunity for us to try to practice doing good behaviors so in the long run they can become a habit for us. It would be even great, if we could do a lot of good things in a way that doing bad things never crosses our mind. Now let’s play a game together. I will call you all up in groups of 2 and whisper a good behavior in your ear. Then those two people should show that good behavior in a form of play or pantomime in front of others. The rest of you must guess what that good thing is? What do you all think? Do you guys like it?
Helping parents
Helping the poor
Reciting the quran
Cleaning the house and the room
Performing Wudu
Performing prayers (Namaz)
Having good morals and behavior
Going to ziyarat
Reciting dua/supplication
Thanking others
My dears, performing doing these good things and staying away from doing bad things during the Holy month of Ramadan, in order to get closer to God, will make our fast more acceptable and this way our body parts are also fasting, meaning that our body parts are avoiding doing any sin. So, after a month of practicing in being a good person, and listing to God’s words, we become closer to God. So, let us all be careful of our fast to be an acceptable fast. Now who understood what it means for our fast to be accepted and right? (Wait for their responses)
Objective(s):
1.Becoming familiar with the culture of poetry and literature regarding a religious setting.
2.Encouraging them to memorize religious concepts in form of poems.
Instructions – Materials:
1.Mentor should try to practice reciting the poems beforehand to be able to recite it coherently. Even try to memorize them.
2.Ask kids to recite along with you the parts of the poem that seems to be a bit easier, to create a happier atmosphere.
Duration:
5-10 Minutes
Ramadan Is Here…
Close the doors of hell
Cool down the fire
Angels go ring the bell
And put on your best attire
My guests will be here soon
Be ready to serve them
They only await the sighting of the moon
Then they’ll be here all women and men
This is the month of Ramadhan
In which I am their Host
To unload their sins is the plan
Let’s see who can benefit the most
For every day that they fast
And every second they restrain
Turn to dust the sins of their past
And make their future paths straight and plain
Oh! Look at him who sheds tears
And whispers to Me past midnight
Take away all his fears! Increase his years!
Fill up his heart with My Light
And give to them a special gift
The gift of a special night
The night better than a thousand years
Let their spirits take flight
Come closer to Me Oh My humble servant
I have been waiting for you for so many days
You did forget Me but I did not
My Mercy has been there with you always
Remember with Me My Prophet (PBUH & HP) too
Without him (PBUH & HP) my message would not have gotten to you
Love his progeny if you love for him is true
In their love I open the gates of Heaven for you
Come to Me, now don’t be shy
You take one step closer and I’ll take five
You can better yourself, you must try
Hold My hand and you will surely get by
These nights are for you
So take advantage
It saddens me to see so few
Come take advantage
The Month of Mercy Has Begun…
The Holy month of Ramadan
For all Muslims has begun.
Praising Allah through the day,
From dawn to dusk we fast and pray.
We pay charity for those in need,
Trying hard to do good deeds.
When the sun has set, and day is done-
I’ll break this chain, but only one.
By the end of Ramadan, this whole chain will be all gone!
It’s time for Eid and lots of fun!!!
Objective(s):
1.Concluding and reiterating the overall concepts discussed in this file.
Instructions – Materials:
1.It is important for 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 the Imam of our Time- Imam Mahdi (May God Hasten His Return).
3.It is suggested that while the dua is being recited the Arabic version of the dua to be presented simultaneously along with the translation in the local language.
Duration:
5 Minutes
End/Conclusion and Dua
My dears, I hope that this program has encouraged those of us who can fast, to start practicing from now and fast the right and complete way. Meaning that we should promise from now on to use every second of this blessed month that God has provided us, to become closer to Him. This month is a great opportunity for us to practice doing only good deeds, think about good things and try to act to the orders that God has told us in being better people. Especially since the dear God has told us that: He will multiply the reward of good deeds in this month and make you closer to myself. This is definitely a great, and great opportunity for us all.
Now who can tell me, this month is a great opportunity for what other things? (Kids Reponses) Yes you are all right, but reciting what in this month is so great? Yes, the Holy Qur’an. Let’s all promise to try to practice reciting the Qur’an every day, understand its meanings, truly learn from it and try to act to what we learn. Even if it’s just reciting 5 ayah’s a day but try to understand the meaning behind every ayah. We can even ask our parents and relatives to explain it more to us, so we can understand it better and can use the things we learn in our life. Because as all of you know, God has sent the Qur’an for our guidance, so we do not want to miss His help.
Another thing that we got to know today was one the qualities of Imam Hassan al-Mujtaba. Of course, that all our beloved Imam’s were generous, but our second Imam was famous for this quality, and would always help out others. Let’s all try to practice in this Holy month, to have this quality. Even try to tell the Imam of Our Time: O’ our beloved Imam, we have learned from you and your ancestors how good generosity is, and that is why we want to be like you. So please pray for us, help us to fast in a way that is acceptable before God, practice generosity and help people around us, and after this Holy month be a better person than we were before. Thank you for always thinking about us, praying for us, and helping us to become better and better people.
§ Recitation of dua al-Faraj and standing up out of respect and love 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 upon 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
