Mayous Parenting Blog

Category: Critical Thinking in Islam

  • Islam and Delayed Gratification: Building Resilient Kids

    Islam and Delayed Gratification: Building Resilient Kids

    From Farmers, to Factory Workers, to Sedentary Office Workers… in Less Than 100 Years

    islam and delayed gratification shortening over the ages

    Many of us have heard the hadith that, in the end of times, time will accelerate.
    But is time just time? Or is it the events that happen within it that truly define what time is?

    When we look back at the last century, the growth of our lifestyle has been unprecedented.
    Our great-grandfathers worked the land. Our grandfathers were simple merchants or held straightforward jobs during the height of the industrial era.
    And we… make our living sitting in front of screens, working alongside AI, in a deeply connected, digital world.

    However… this article isn’t about AI doomsday predictions, nor is it a nostalgic plea to return to the “good old days.”

    Let’s talk about something that hasn’t changed, no matter the era, technology, or lifestyle:

    The Time It Takes for Things to Grow

    Whether we’re talking about planting a seed that becomes food, training muscles through physical effort, or developing our minds to gain new skills or strengthen character—things take time.

    And nothing changes that.

    The fact that our attention span has shrunk to just 3 seconds, thanks to the lightning pace of information, has completely reshaped what we expect from the world.
    But it shouldn’t.

    Good things take time to build—just as they take time to grow.

    Kids Living in the 3-Second Age

    This is especially important for our kids, who are growing up in a world where everything is instantly available.
    Bored? Tap a screen. Need something? It appears in seconds.
    Even parents rush to help or provide, unknowingly feeding this expectation of speed and ease.

    But this sets children up for struggle when faced with reality: learning takes time, homework can feel endless, and progress often feels slow.
    If they’re not taught to wait, to trust the process, and to persevere—they’ll see effort as failure and slowness as punishment.

    So How Do We Teach Sabr?

    One of the gentlest and most powerful ways to teach sabr (patience) is through storytelling.

    Our storybook With Sabr, What Allah Plans Always Grows is a fully illustrated tale that captures this exact lesson. It blends heart, moral, and science—explaining how patience is not just a virtue, but a universal truth.

    📖 Inside the story, your child will discover:

    • A simple fable inspired by nature
    • The Quran concept of sabr
    • Scientific facts about how plants grow over time

    You can:
    👉 Read it for free
    👉 Or get your own copy

    Let them grow with the stories you plant. 🌱

  • Why Muslim Kids Aren’t Smart

    Why Muslim Kids Aren’t Smart

    (And What That Really Says About Us)

    Let’s talk about the uncomfortable thought we’ve all had at some point:

    “Why do other kids seem so much smarter?”

    They speak confidently. They ask deep questions. They seem curious, engaged, driven.

    Meanwhile, our kids?

    They’re memorizing facts they don’t understand.

    They’re praised for sitting quietly, not for thinking critically.

    And we wonder why they’re not shining.

    Here’s the truth: Muslim kids aren’t lacking intelligence.

    They’re lacking the space to grow it.

    We Reward Obedience Over Curiosity

    From a young age, many Muslim children are taught to:

    • Listen, don’t ask.

    • Repeat, don’t explore.

    • Follow, don’t question.

    But what does that do to a child’s brain?

    It shrinks it.

    It turns potential into performance.

    It produces rule-followers, not thinkers.

    And then we wonder why, in school or in life, they hesitate.

    They’ve been conditioned to wait for permission instead of seeking knowledge.

    Intelligence Isn’t Just About IQ — It’s About Environment

    Kids become smart by being allowed to be smart.

    That means:

    • Being asked what they think.

    • Being allowed to make mistakes.

    • Being challenged, stretched, inspired.

    • Being told that questions are not dangerous — they’re divine.

    But if every “why” is met with a glare or a guilt trip… that fire dies.

    What Our Books Should Do (But Usually Don’t)

    Too many “Islamic” storybooks today are just sermons in disguise.

    They tell kids what to do, but never show them how to think.

    At Mayous, we believe in books that respect children’s minds.

    Stories that:

    • Raise big questions

    • Include real emotions

    • Teach values through meaningful choices

    • Spark wonder about both faith and the world

    Because a smart child isn’t one who simply knows what’s halal.

    A smart child is one who knows why — and chooses it for themselves.

    Let’s Raise the Next Generation of Thoughtful Muslims

    Not just compliant.

    Not just well-behaved.

    But thoughtful, curious, and confident in both their faith and their intellect.

    Ready to Start That Journey?

    📚 Visit our free eBook library and discover storybooks designed to stretch your child’s heart and their mind — all rooted in Islamic values, without the preaching.

    👉 Start reading at mayous.org/read