Mayous Parenting Blog

Category: Teaching Kids About Islam

  • 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.



  • 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!