Mayous Parenting Blog

Author: Mayous Publishing

  • Understanding the Complexity of Sadaqah

    Understanding the Complexity of Sadaqah

    Sadaqah, or giving in the name of God, is a concept that most would think is fairly easy to convey. Until we actually see all the subtleties of life.

    Questioning Our Intentions

    Did you give only so that your community would cheer you and see you as a good person? Did you give as a favor in return for something that person already did for you? Did you give because it felt good, or because it would ease your own conscience?

    The Unasked Question of Intent

    In the end, what was the INTENT behind your act? This is the question that often goes unasked. Most people never take the time to really reflect and ask themselves these deeper questions. It’s easier to offer a surface-level explanation, especially when teaching children. So they might explain sadaqah like this: “Yes kids, you have to give during Ramadan this amount of money because Allah said so,” or “Yes, Allah wants us to give to the poor, so we do that.” End of story.

    Children’s Perception and Curiosity

    But children are often more perceptive than we give them credit for. They notice the gaps, the inconsistencies. They sense when our explanations are incomplete. They might ask, “Why did mom give to that charity but not to the smudged man under the bridge we drive near? Is he less deserving because he doesn’t look like us?”

    Avoiding Quick Fixes and Embracing Deeper Conversations

    And so we try to patch these gaps. We offer quick answers, explanations to quiet the curiosity: “That man might use the money for the wrong thing,” or “The charity helps more people at once.” Maybe these responses are true, maybe they’re not. But what we’re really doing is avoiding the deeper conversation about what sadaqah is at its core.

    Simplifying the Core Principle of Sadaqah

    We’ve thought about how we could convey the idea of sadaqah in a simple way to children, and found we could boil it down like this…The heart of sadaqah is : Giving Without Expecting ANYTHING in Return, and doing it solely in the name of God. Not for approval, not for praise, not even for self-satisfaction. It’s about sincerity. About purifying your intent. About giving simply because it is right, and because you recognize that everything you have is a blessing entrusted to you by Allah.

    Teaching Through Reflection and Example

    This is a lesson that requires more than words. It requires modeling, reflection, and open conversations with our children. It means being honest when we don’t have all the answers. It means teaching them that sometimes, giving is uncomfortable, complex, and requires trust. Trust that our giving—no matter how big or small—is seen by Allah. That it’s not about who sees us, but about Who we are seen by.

    A Storybook Approach to Teaching Sadaqah

    When we teach sadaqah like this, we raise children who give with open hands and open hearts. Who understand that the value of giving isn’t about how it looks, but about the love and sincerity it carries. And that is a lesson we’ve designed for you and your children through the storybook Nora’s Snowy Sadaqah. So that it can break down all these concepts, and weave it into a single story kids can have fun reading.



  • But mama, baba, I don’t want to fast when I’m older, it’s too hard!

     But mama, baba, I don’t want to fast when I’m older, it’s too hard!


    The nightmare—and for some of us, the reality—of our kids’ day-to-day. As soon as we hear those words, thoughts rush through our minds.

    “Where did I go wrong?” “Why doesn’t he want to fast?” “Doesn’t he realize how bad it is to say he doesn’t want to do Ramadan?” “Have I raised him as a good Muslim?” “I should’ve put him in an Islamic school.” “I should’ve homeschooled.” “I should’ve returned home to my Muslim country so he’d be surrounded by Muslims.”

    Ramadan Comes with Its Hardships

    While all these thoughts race through our minds, after they’ve settled and we’ve gathered ourselves, we realize there’s likely no silver bullet. Ramadan comes with its hardships. Somehow, over time, we learned to accept those very same hardships that once felt overwhelming.

    But let’s track back our process. What helped us?

    • Was it our parents’ praise?
    • Was it our all-Muslim community?
    • Were we just born with iman (faith) in our hearts from a young age?

    The answer usually lies in many factors, rather than one.

    In the Age of Instant Gratification, Hardship Is Hard to Swallow 🔍

    We have to remember that our times were different. Whether you’re a millennial or Gen Z, you likely grew up without screens at a young age. Sure, we had a TV at home, but as soon as we stepped outside, we were free again. This generation is different. But it doesn’t have to be the end-all, be-all.

    Depending on how easy they had it—ease of distraction from boredom, ease of getting any toy they wanted thanks to both parents working—we need to consciously instill values of perseverance. Slowly. Even if they’re used to none.

    Perseverance is built slowly, while surmounting the hardships of life. The easier we make our kids’ lives, the more we embed the idea that life is supposed to be easy. So even low levels of hardship can feel unbearable.

    Grit: The Key to Success 🎓

    A 2024 UK study of over 10,000 children found that the most important factor in a child’s long-term success wasn’t intelligence or talent, but grit—perseverance in the face of adversity.

    This is obvious once we grow up. We know that short-term sacrifice leads to long-term reward. But for kids, it’s not so obvious. So how do we make it obvious?

    Through something ALL kids love: Storytelling!

    Rafiq Learns Perseverance 🐻

    Inspired by the verse from Surah Al-Sharh:

    إِنَّ مَعَ الْعُسْرِ يُسْرًا

    Inna ma’a al-‘usri yusra.

    Indeed, with hardship comes ease. (Qur’an 94:6)

    Kids are introduced to the story of Rafiq the bear, who loved raspberries but struggled to compete with bigger bears who always got the best berries. Determined to succeed, Rafiq decides to climb to a hidden valley of berries.

    He faces hardships—sore muscles and exhaustion—but keeps pushing forward. Eventually, he discovers rows of berry bushes all to himself.

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    Along the way, kids will learn fun science facts about raspberry growth, muscle development, and the importance of perseverance. Our newly published story is designed to entertain and educate, amusing kids while sparking curiosity and reflection.

    The Best Part? 🚀

    We’re offering the eBook for FREE on Amazon this Thursday, March 13th, and Friday, March 14th!

    📖 Download it here: [Amazon Link]

    The only thing we ask? If you enjoyed the story, please leave us a review. Your feedback helps us continue creating stories that matter.

    Yours Truly,
    The Mayous Parent

  • A in Quran Memorization, F in Manners and Common Courtesy

     A in Quran Memorization, F in Manners and Common Courtesy

    You walk into a park. Fellow Muslim parents are there—so far, so good. Alhamdulillah for your community; it’s always nice to see other Muslims around. Then, your kids start sharing the play structure, and you notice the other kids don’t take turns, don’t show respectful behavior. It almost looks like they were caged up at home and finally got to the park.

    Well, all young kids look forward to park playtime (for young ones at least), but how we release that built-up energy can take many forms…

    He Knows 5 Surahs of the Quran

    You strike up a conversation with your fellow warrior parent—after all, people who have kids in this day and age are somehow warriors. Whether they see it or not…

    And they tell you, “Ohh, you know my children already know 5 surahs of the Quran now, mashallah! By the end of the year, they should know a whole hizb.”

    Then the child comes running, pushes away all the kids who are in line for the slide so that he can do it first and not wait for his turn. Turns around, guzzles up the whole juice box to refuel, and goes back blazing. No hi, no thank you, no manners whatsoever.

    BUT, let’s not forget—he knows his surahs…

    Mismanaged Priorities

    Quran memorization in itself is obviously good. We went through it as kids, and thankfully, since once we grow, we usually get less time and memory bandwidth to learn new surahs.

    But it seems like basic manners to be a human being should be on top of your priority list, way before you spend time with your kid learning the Quran.

    The reason for that, it seems to me, is that we’ve gotten used to the model of:

    1. Make money working 9-5.
    2. Spend money to solve problems.
    3. Go home, eat, sleep, and repeat the next day.

    But some problems require YOU, the parent, spending time with your kid to educate them. You cannot outsource everything. And in most cases, spending money for a Quran class and dropping off your kids there is a lot easier than actually spending time with them.

    Gymnastics in Diapers

    Many parents do this with late potty training too—where the kid still craps his pants but goes to gymnastics class. Again, it’s easier to pay for a class and see your kid play than it is to potty train them and wipe after misplaced stool debris…

    BUT, it has to be done. Some things just have to be done, regardless of the cost in energy and time.

    The Cherry on Top

    I know your kid will grow and become well-mannered by himself eventually, but if we can, let’s raise kids with akhlaq from a young age. If akhlaq are missing, then Quran memorization is really the cherry on top of the cake, and we’re missing all the layers below.

    In our humble way of making an effort in our community, all of our books include moral values meant to inculcate akhlaq. Whether it’s through learning how to share sadaqah with people who don’t look like us (birds vs. animals in Nora’s Snowy Sadaqah), or through Rafiq the bear, who shares his berries with his younger siblings in Rafiq Learns Perseverance, every single book has subtle, embedded moral values that build akhlaq.

    It may not make a difference the first time children read the book, but if many books embed it, and they read them enough times, the planted seeds of goodness will eventually grow in their minds.

    As always, you can find our books in our catalog at https://www.mayous.org/book-catalog
     

    Yours truly,
    The Mayous Parent

  • The Isolationist Theory and Why Walls Never Work

     The Isolationist Theory and Why Walls Never Work

    It was the year 221 BCE, The Chinese Empire decided that in order to protect itself from invaders, it would build the Great Wall of China. The Wall was vast, requiring constant repairs and a massive military presence. Guards and officials were sometimes bribed, allowing invaders to pass. The Wall was effective against small raiding parties, but Mongol leader Genghis Khan (13th century) and the Manchu invasion (17th century) showed that large, well-organized armies could simply go around, breach, or overpower the Wall.

    Why Walls and Isolation Always Fail

    Ultimately, if we want to know the future, knowing the past is always a good starting point. And history has taught us that walls—and isolation—always fail. Over time, the empire grows decadent and out of touch with neighboring nations, which always leads to its collapse.

    What Does That Have to Do With Kids and Parenting Anyways?

    I see a lot of Muslim parents building a wall around their kids—through a Muslim-only community, through limitations on what they’re exposed to. Now, that doesn’t mean we should sign up for Disney and let that run all day in the house, playing princess movies to our young daughters. But the middle is always the hardest to reach, and it is always where the greatest rewards are—if we are able to navigate as parents.

    Expose to Reality, and Teach Alongside Them

    The reason why walls fail is because they are the equivalent of a shield. Instead of helping the individual become strong enough to overpower an opponent, you are indirectly telling them they are too weak to face reality and should hold a shield all day long. Obviously, in any real fight, shields—or deflecting techniques—are part of the strategy, but they are never the only component a fighter has at their disposal.

    Use Shields, but Help Them Build Strength and Techniques

    If you teach them to recognize some of the faulty values in society, TV, or books, you are helping them learn to fight back. Learn to recognize the pattern, understand its values, and decide whether they want to internalize that or not. They are not passive anymore. They are active, aware, and deciding what they want to internalize.

    The Longer Path

    Yes, it means you have to spend time with your kid and not let them be brainwashed by TV. You can limit them to Muslim TV only, but they may be out of touch with friends who talk about other Western shows they don’t know about (isolation theory again). And one way or another, they will be exposed to content that isn’t Islamic.

    And it is not just age that matters. We think of time as time. But in reality, it is the events in the seconds that make up time—not just time passing through itself. If you don’t help your kids build a thought mechanism, a mindset that allows them to interpret the data around them, then you are not helping them be strong. You are letting them stay weak and shielding them from the harsh realities of the world.

    Walls always fail eventually.

  • Build the Gears, Don’t Give the Finished Product

    Build the Gears, Don’t Give the Finished Product

    Why do so many parents keep shouting the same orders to their kids, wondering why they don’t follow quickly? It often takes repeating instructions dozens of times, raising their voices louder and louder, before the child finally complies.

    The Corporate KPIs

    If you work in a corporation, you probably have to deal with some reporting, paperwork, and KPIs that seem useless—designed more to check boxes than to add real value. These tasks often feel disconnected from actual productivity, yet they are enforced anyway. You have no idea why this is in place, or you kind of do, but you have it, and you just do a half-assed job to somehow do it to get management off your back. Does that ring a bell?

    Well…

    Parents Are Management at Home… And Guess What? Nobody Likes Management

    You might very well be doing the same as management.

    At each weekly 1:1, you remind the employee that he needs to complete the tedious paperwork he dreads. Similarly, at home, you remind your kid every time he has to do that thing he doesn’t like. It can be a toddler who keeps forgetting to pull his pants up, or brush their teeth, or clean up after himself at the table.

    Basic stuff, right?

    It’s Not Working Because You Insist on the WHAT, Not on the WHY

    People take ownership of things when they understand the WHY they do the things they have to do, not WHAT they need to do. But helping kids understand the why is a lot harder than it seems…

    After all, if it was easy, it would be easily done with adults at a corporate level. So how much harder will it be to do with kids?

    The good news is that it’s actually a lot easier with kids.

    We just need to think about it intentionally.

    Build the Gears, Build the Why; the Mindset, the Logic Inside Your Child, That Fires Every Time He Sees a Certain Situation

    Scenario 1

    You: “Hey kids, take your plates and put them in the sink please now that supper is finished.”

    Kids: (Go off running and playing because they don’t like putting those damn plates in the sink.)

    Now you have two choices.

    1. You can shout and scream until the dishes are in the sink.
      You have won in the short term, but who are we kidding? The energy it took to repeat and scream is larger than putting the plates in the sink ourselves. So in the long term, they’ll wear us out and we lose.

    2. You can help them understand the long-term implication of not helping.
      If kids are really young, they’ll understand when something they want doesn’t happen. You have to find some leverage somewhere, like…

      • “No bedtime story since Mom and Dad spent too much time cleaning the dishes, and we got no help from you kids, so it’s straight to bed.”
      • “No playing on the bed you two, it’s already time to go to sleep.”
      • Kids: “But how come there’s no more time?!”
      • You: “Well, it took us too much time to clean up, so now there’s no more time for play.”

    You can get creative here, and it has to be rooted in something real. Otherwise, as kids grow up, they’ll see through your scheme.

    But you get the essence of it.

    May Allah put barakah in your parenting journey.

    Yours truly,
    The Mayous Parent

  • The Dirty Little Secret of Canada, Dubai, and Malaysia

     The Dirty Little Secret of Canada, Dubai, and Malaysia

    A lot of Muslims in the West dream of moving to one of three places: Canada, Dubai, or Malaysia. These countries are seen as the ultimate destinations, where life is supposed to be easier, better, or at least more aligned with Muslim values. But the truth? None of them are perfect. Let’s break it down.

    Dubai: The Luxury City Where Your Poop Gets Trucked Away

    Dubai looks like something out of a sci-fi movie—skyscrapers, luxury cars, gold ATMs. But behind all that glitz? A sewage system that, for years, couldn’t handle the city’s rapid expansion. That’s right. For a long time, there were no proper underground sewage pipes, so literal convoys of trucks had to haul away waste from fancy buildings, including the Burj Khalifa. Every single day. Imagine taking a luxurious shower on the 80th floor, and your waste gets driven out of town in a truck. They’ve built better treatment plants now, but this problem was very real for years. Growth happened so fast, infrastructure couldn’t keep up. And even today, some areas still rely on those trucks.

    Canada: Free Healthcare, But Good Luck Seeing a Doctor

    Canada has “free” healthcare, and yeah, daycare is subsidized. Sounds amazing, right? Until you actually need a doctor. Then you realize it’s almost impossible to get an appointment. Why? Because the system is overloaded. Too many people see doctors for every minor issue, while people with real problems end up waiting months to get help. And while healthcare is “free,” it’s actually funded through insanely high taxes. So you’re paying for it, whether you use it or not. Canada looks like the land of opportunity, but the cost of living is high, the winters are brutal, and navigating the system can be a nightmare.

    Malaysia: The Paradise Where You Can’t Breathe Outside

    Malaysia seems like the perfect blend—affordable, Muslim-friendly, and filled with beautiful modern buildings. But step outside in the summer (which is basically half the year), and you’ll feel like you just walked into a sauna. The humidity is so thick it feels like you’re drowning in the air. This country is built on what used to be a literal jungle, so nature is always trying to reclaim its space. Huge insects, constant rainstorms, and the kind of heat that makes you want to never leave your air-conditioned bubble. Sure, it’s great if you’re used to it. But for a lot of people moving there? It’s a shock.

    So Where’s the Perfect Place?

    I picked these three countries because they’re the top choices for Muslims looking for a better life. And yeah, they all have good things going for them. But there’s no utopia. No “perfect” country. Every place has its own set of problems.

    So what’s the answer? Move to outer space? Nah. Just realize that the best place for you depends on who YOU are. Some people love the fast-paced, tax-free hustle of Dubai. Others don’t mind Canada’s long wait times because they value stability. Some thrive in Malaysia despite the heat because it gives them the lifestyle they want.

    At the end of the day, a fish is only at home in water. So instead of chasing the “perfect” place, figure out what your water is—and go there.

    Yours Truly,

    The Mayous Parent

  • The Hidden Truth About Pigs: Teaching Kids the Wisdom Behind Halal Food

     The Hidden Truth About Pigs: Teaching Kids the Wisdom Behind Halal Food

    If you tell your child, “Pork is haram; we don’t eat it,” without explanation, you’re giving them a rule, not the understanding behind it. You, as an adult, reached that conclusion after seeing and learning about different things. But children are a blank slate, and they don’t see the difference. They’re not trying to be defiant toward you (although if you have teens, that might be part of the mix). They simply may not have the vision you have developed over many years.

    Building the Mechanism, Instead of Giving Them the Final Product

    The knowledge we acquire and the beliefs we hold shape how we see, understand, and interact with the world around us every day. So, we have to focus on instilling two key things in our children. The first is the belief in Allah above all, and the importance of following His commands for our own good. The second is the knowledge—or fuaad—that you help your children acquire with time.

    Is Meat Just Meat Like Any Other Meat?

    Under the carefully marketed plastic wraps of smoked bacon, you might almost think this animal is fit for consumption—it even looks delicious, especially since it resembles other meats children are familiar with, like beef or turkey. And with so many restaurants sprinkling bacon on every dish possible, you might wonder: How could something so omnipresent be that bad? After all, it looks red, like the halal stew Mom makes at home. Are parents just exaggerating? Why are they so wound up about pork? Why does Islam make such a big deal out of it?

    Returning to the Wild to Understand the Place of Pigs in the Ecosystem

    When we return to our roots, to nature, we realize that every single animal has a place in the ecosystem. Even the vicious predator that hunts and preys on the poor, innocent deer plays an essential role. Without it, herbivores would grow exponentially, devouring every last herb until the whole system collapses. So where do pigs fit into all that? We know it, but we often forget to voice and explain it clearly to our kids: Pigs are the recyclers of nature. Unlike herbivores that digest plants or predators that control populations, pigs consume waste materials, playing a crucial role in breaking down and recycling organic matter. They eat anything and everything, helping even the worst waste in nature decompose and become manure, which then helps plants grow. So, naturally, we wouldn’t want to eat the last stop in the cycle of animals.

    Two Ways to Show Kids the Disgusting Place of Pigs in Nature

    1. Take them to a farm. They’ll immediately notice how awful pigs smell, especially compared to herbivores like cows and sheep. Their poop just doesn’t smell the same, given their diet.

    2. Show them what wild boars eat in nature. You can use a documentary or a book for this. As a note, this is precisely what our book, Halal Animals and Mountain Trails, does.

    As always, you can find our books on Amazon for the price of a meal, and if you join our newsletter, you can stay apprised of free eBook promotions!

  • From Tarbiyah to Tablets: Are We Raising Kids or Entertaining Them?

    From Tarbiyah to Tablets: Are We Raising Kids or Entertaining Them? 

    The Proverbial Golden Ticket Out of the Screen Time Hole

    Islam teaches us to choose the harder path today so that we may find Jannah in the Hereafter. This principle applies to our daily lives in ways we often overlook. Every day, we make small choices—whether to take the easy road that brings short-term relief or to embrace discomfort for the sake of a better future. Parenting is filled with these decisions, and one of the most pressing ones today is how we handle our children’s screen time.

    The Easy Way Out: Screens as a Solution to Chaos

    Young children are full of energy, designed by nature to run, explore, and interact with the world around them. Yet, modern life confines them within homes and apartments, where their natural tendencies clash with our adult needs for order.

    “Don’t touch that, you’ll break it.”
    “Don’t make a mess; I don’t want to clean up again.”

    We say no to so many things that, eventually, the easiest solution becomes screens. TV, tablets, and smartphones offer an escape—not just for kids, but for parents, too. These glowing rectangles keep children entertained, quiet, and still. For many parents, they seem like a golden ticket out of the chaos of early childhood.

    But fast forward a few years, and the consequences of those easy choices begin to surface. The children who spent hours consuming screens now struggle with focus, creativity, and real-life engagement. The habit of seeking easy entertainment instead of real-world stimulation sets in. What seemed like a solution for today has created a bigger challenge for tomorrow.

    Choosing the Harder Path: A Different Kind of Struggle

    If you find yourself in this situation, it’s never too late to change course. But to help your children, you must first change yourself. As a parent, you might also be accustomed to avoiding hardship—perhaps by seeking comfort in distractions, entertainment, or routines that make life temporarily easier. Your children, in their own way, do the same. They turn to screens to avoid boredom, just as you might turn to your own coping mechanisms.

    So what can you do?

    You can choose a different type of challenge—one that you can manage better. Instead of battling with screen addiction, embrace alternative activities:

    • Go outside. There’s no mess to clean up at home if you’re at the park.

    • Join structured activities. Whether it’s an indoor playground, a sports class, or a hobby group, these environments provide engagement without screens.

    • Create an engaging home environment. Maybe you want to stay home and interact with your kids, but they won’t sit still for books and games. Instead of traditional books, consider ones that are visually rich and immersive—ones that pull kids into the story and stimulate their senses as they explore the details of each image while you read to them.

    This is where Mayous comes in. Our mission—”One verse, one story, one lesson”—is to provide high-quality illustrations and engaging stories that educate and entertain at the same time. Our books use stunning Pixar-style 3D illustrations that captivate children, helping them truly immerse themselves in the story while learning valuable lessons. Instead of passive screen time, our books encourage active engagement, curiosity, and bonding between parent and child.

    A high-quality, engaging book costs about as much as a fast-food meal—around $10 for most paperbacks—but it might be a step toward helping your child reconnect with real-life experiences.

    May Allah put barakah in your journey as a parent, and may He guide us all in making choices that benefit us in this life and the next. Ameen.

  • Salah, Chaos, and Tawakkul: A Muslim Parent’s Everyday Struggles

     Salah, Chaos, and Tawakkul: A Muslim Parent’s Everyday Struggles

    Teaching Tawakkul to Our Children: Trusting in Allah’s Wisdom

    As Muslim parents, we often find ourselves explaining the concept of tawakkul—putting our trust in Allah—to our children. But let’s be honest: this is a lesson we, as adults, struggle with ourselves. Tawakkul is a virtue that we don’t typically think about when life is going well. It’s when life throws us unexpected turns, disappointments, or even tragedies that we truly grapple with its meaning.

    Processing Life’s Ups and Downs

    When something unfortunate happens—whether it’s a missed opportunity, a sudden hardship, or even something trivial like trying to pray in peace—we go through a series of emotions.

    Like when you finally manage to carve out a few moments of solitude for salah. The house is quiet (miraculously), you set your intention, raise your hands, and just as you begin reciting Al-Fatiha, chaos erupts. A child suddenly needs something urgent, the doorbell rings, or a sibling war breaks out in the next room. You try to focus, telling yourself to stay calm, but with every shout or interruption, frustration builds. You start thinking, Maybe I should have prayed earlier! I should have locked the door! Should I stop and start over? And finally, as you complete your prayer amidst the distractions, you sigh in resignation. Ya Allah, You know I tried. I hope this counts. And deep down, you remind yourself: Allah understands our struggles, and He will accept our efforts, even if they weren’t perfect. Well, in all seriousness now… life does throw some actual and very real curve balls at us…

    And this is where tawakkul comes in.

    Tawakkul is not just passive acceptance; it is an active process. It has three essential steps:

    1. Acceptance – Recognizing and acknowledging what has happened, no matter how difficult it seems.

    2. Taking Action (Asbab) – Doing what we can to improve the situation while understanding that our efforts are part of a larger divine plan.

    3. Finding Serenity – Trusting that Allah knows best and that even what appears as a hardship may have hidden blessings.

    This mindset, however, doesn’t form overnight. It develops with experience, hardship, and deepening faith. Often, our resistance to what happens stems from our ego—thinking we know better than Allah what is good for us. But in reality, we see only a small fraction of the grand picture. So, how do we help our children understand this wisdom early on?

    Teaching Tawakkul to Our Children

    Children learn best through stories, experiences, and discussions. As parents, we can use real-life examples from our friends and family, or even historical stories, to show them how trust in Allah always leads to something better—even if we don’t see it right away.

    One powerful way to teach this is through storytelling. 

    That’s why we created the book Adam Learns About Tawakkul: When the Horse Left… and Came Back! It tells the story of Adam, a young boy who loses his horse—an event that seems like a loss at first. But then, the horse returns with seven stallions, turning a misfortune into a blessing. However, when Adam tries to tame one of the stallions, he falls and breaks his leg—again, seemingly a bad event. But when war breaks out and all young men are called to battle, Adam is spared because of his injury.

    Through this tale, children learn that what seems good or bad in the moment is not always what it appears. The story teaches them the three stages of tawakkul: accepting what happens, taking action, and trusting that Allah knows best.

    As always, you can subscribe to our newsletter to get the eBook for Free during monthly promotion events, or you can find the print version on Amazon.

    Enriching the Time We Have with Our Children

    Every day, our children are exposed to ideas that shape their worldview, whether we realize it or not. With the limited time we have with them—perhaps just half an hour before bedtime—it’s crucial that we make those moments meaningful. Teaching tawakkul through engaging, relatable stories can help them develop resilience, patience, and a deep trust in Allah’s wisdom.

    In a world where instant gratification is the norm, instilling this mindset in our children will equip them with the ability to navigate life’s challenges with faith and confidence. Because, at the end of the day, only Allah knows what is truly best for us.

  • Teaching Kids About Sadaqah: Giving Without Seeking Recognition

    Sadaqah: More Than Just Giving

     Teaching Kids About Sadaqah: Giving Without Seeking Recognition

    One of the most valuable lessons we can teach children is the true essence of sadaqah—giving in Islam. But true sadaqah is not about seeking praise or expecting something in return. It is a private act of kindness, done sincerely for the sake of Allah.

    Too often, we see good deeds performed only when an audience is present—donations made for recognition, kindness shown when cameras are watching, and generosity extended in hopes of building a good reputation. But in Islam, the intention (niyyah) behind an action matters more than the action itself. If sadaqah is given for the sake of reputation, then it is not truly for Allah—it is simply an investment in one’s dunya, not the akhira.

    So how do we teach children about giving with sincerity?

    Teaching Kids Through Actions and Stories

    Children learn best through examples—both from what they witness in daily life and from the stories they hear. If we want them to understand selfless giving, we must model it ourselves—helping others quietly, sharing without expecting thanks, and performing small acts of kindness when no one is watching.

    But stories are also powerful tools for shaping young minds. That’s why we published Nora’s Snowy Sadaqah, a beautifully illustrated children’s book available in English, French, and Arabic, designed to introduce children to the true spirit of sadaqah.

    In the story, a kind sparrow shows children different ways to give—from building shelters to feeding stranded animals, and even helping in the quiet of the night, when no one sees and no one says thank you. Through these examples, children learn that sadaqah is not about public recognition, but about a personal connection with Allah.

    You can find the book here: https://mybook.to/norasadaqahenglish 📖✨

    Making Sadaqah a Habit for Kids

    Here are a few ways to encourage children to practice sincere sadaqah:
    ✅ Give in Secret – Encourage them to leave a small gift for someone anonymously or donate quietly.
    ✅ Help Without Expecting Anything – Teach them to assist others without looking for praise or rewards.
    ✅ Use Stories to Teach Values – Books like Nora’s Snowy Sadaqah (available in English, French, and Arabic) show practical examples of selfless kindness.
    ✅ Remind Them of the Bigger Picture – Allah sees even the smallest good deed, whether anyone else notices or not.

    By reinforcing these lessons, we raise children who give purely for the sake of Allah, understanding that the most valuable sadaqah is the one given with sincerity, not for recognition.

    How do you teach sadaqah to the children in your life? Share your thoughts in the comments!