Ramadan 2013 Posts
The usual scene at taraweeh is children running around in the prayer area, tweens in the hallways, and teens in the parking lot. At the masjid I’m attending, the imam said some very wise things: Taraweeh is sunnah, while looking after and protecting your children is fard. He urged the fathers to watch the children while the mothers prayed and then switch so that fathers could pray while the moms watched their kids, emphasizing that both genders’ ibadah is just as important. The issue wasn’t to not bring the kids to the masjid but to make it a positive experience for them.
“Why did you bring your children here?” he asked rhetorically, his voice shaking with emotion, “To give them an Islamic foundation and experience this blessed environment. Help us give that to them.”
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Well, they weren’t getting much of that wrestling outside the facility or stuffing toilet paper into the bathroom stalls, or hooking up in the parking lot. I love seeing kids in the masjid – I really think for the future of the deen, our masajid need to be extremely family friendly.
All of this was happening even though the community put together two separate, free, age-appropriate child care stations with activities (wo)manned by the young women of the community and not just the usual ‘a ton of children running around babysitting,’ which leads me to say this: we often complain that the masjid doesn’t do enough for the community, but sometimes the community doesn’t do enough for the masjid.
All it takes is for one child to get hurt or injured and the whole place could be shut down. (Although I have to say there is a special rahmah during Ramadan when so many kids are doing the most crazy stuff I have ever witnessed and none of them get hurt – it must be the angels!)
Some parents make it work – they have the well-behaved kids in the masjid who make you smile and say MashaAllah. Here are some things that they do which may help. Most of the following suggestions aren’t for babies – babies cry, it’s normal, and we need to learn to deal with it.
- Most importantly, Ramadan and taraweeh should be planned for ahead of time so we actively participate in Ramadan instead of Ramadan falling upon us. It should be the culmination of our year as a family.
- Plan your stays at the iftars and tareweehs. Talk to your kids ahead of time about what will happen and what the timeline will be. Give them a “social hour” to meet and greet their friends before salah starts. Make a rule that after salah they need to be in the musallah. Bring some quiet activities like coloring books and books for older kids.
- If you are going to take your children, make sure that they are fed. You are fasting, but your younger kids are not fasting. Kids start becoming very anxious/cranky if they haven’t been fed properly. Make sure that they are satiated so they are not bugging you while you are opening your iftar or praying. Take small, non-messy snacks with you.
- Let your children know what you expect from them. Sometimes they don’t know what is expected and follow the crowd. Also, if the kids haven’t been inside a masjid all year long they may have forgotten what happens during taraweeh. It is even harder for kids whose parents have never been to the masjid. My husband says just because you went on Hajj last year and now you have starting coming to taraweeh doesn’t mean that your 9 year old who has never been to a masjid knows how to behave at a masjid. You will have to be patient and teach them. Going to the masjid is important for their identity, but don’t expect them to learn immediately proper behavior there.
- Ask your friends to kid-pool during taraweeh: you watch their kids while they pray and they watch yours. If there are enough of you, everyone can get a good chunk of taraweeh during the month.
- Your tweens/teens need you to step up. Make their Eid presents dependent on their behavior during taraweeh. Have them leave their gadgets at home or in the car. Use all your best parenting tricks that you use for good grades in school NOW.
- Get them excited about worship. Talk about the themes/meanings that will be read at taraweeh before heading out. Tell them about the reward of taraweeh. Make up a game for the younger ones. We talk about how many “zombies” we “kicked” by praying – it’s a bit unconventional but boys like games.
- Show some respect. If you know that your children will need to use the bathroom multiple times or will roll around in front of the musallis, pray in the back or sides. The elders who have already raised their children deserve some quality time. It’s easy to take children to the bathroom from the back rows and to check on the older ones.
- Be a role model. Don’t be chit-chatting during the salah, in the halls, in the bathrooms and then expect the kids not to follow suit.
- Turn to them after each set and give them a smile, a pat on the back, a look of love, telling them immediately that you appreciate their patience and stillness. Tell them that they are surrounded by angels and that you love them for the sake of Allah. Other adults should do this too. In my opinion, this goes further than anything else.
- Stay home if you cannot control them or if the experience is so bad that it would make them run away from the religion (yes some masjid experiences can do that), especially if it smells really bad, is extremely hot and crammed.
- Take their sleeping bags or a favorite blanket with you so if they are sleepy they can lie down next to you.
- Reward them with a small treat if they behaved or read (stayed by your side) salah. Positive reinforcement makes for positive memories.
- There are so many huffadh in our communities that maybe you can host taraweeh in your own homes with smaller gatherings. This can complete your ibadah and also give your small children the convenience of being in their own homes.
- Don’t give up! If you are in charge or know someone in charge, try to announce the names of the kids who were really well behaved after each taraweeh. There is nothing like good ‘ol competition and recognition. It gets people’s attention more than the “parents please control your kids” announcements.
I would love to hear from tweens and teens on how taraweeh can become a more positive experience for them as well. Please feel free to add your suggestions in comments!
Announcements2 weeks ago
Hyde
July 19, 2013 at 8:45 AM
Hooking up in the parking lot…what sort of “hooking up” are we talking about, if I may be so blunt to ask ?
Fathima
July 19, 2013 at 9:34 AM
Helpful tips really a good article !
Hena Zuberi
July 21, 2013 at 11:38 PM
Jazakillah khayra for reading – please do share with friends and fellow masjid goers.
mar
May 27, 2019 at 4:14 PM
Salam aleikum. Our masjid ICGC has invested in an amazing way by having a program specifically designed for children ages 4 to 12 during the first 8 rakat of taraweh. The Institute of Youth Development and Excellence delivers this program all but one night a week. Children are registered and when they arrived they participate in fun lessons that focus on Ramadan and on implementing these lessons. This year’s theme is “building your garden in janah’ the lessons include the imams lead Isha prayer and special projecta for the last 10 nights of Ramadan. Children are safe, learning and positively engaged with their Masjid and with this blessed month while parents are able to take and extend the benefit of the 8 rakat of taraweh.
iMuslim
July 19, 2013 at 10:52 AM
Perhaps combine with “taraweeh tips” that have been offered in other MM articles: e.g., read the translation of the Quran to be recited that night together as a family. For young children who won’t understand as well, tell stories of the prophets, Jannah, Jahannum, manners, etiquette, etc., that will be mentioned. Then after the completion of the prayer unit, remind them of what you discussed earlier, “Did you hear the imam recite the story of Musa?”. Reinforcement through positive attention insha’Allah. :)
Hena Zuberi
July 21, 2013 at 11:40 PM
Great point Zee, esp if you are reading the tafseer and meaning anyways why not share a condensed version with the children.
Jessi Frenzel
July 19, 2013 at 11:08 AM
This is really great, mashaAllah. Thanks.
Hena Zuberi
July 21, 2013 at 11:44 PM
Jazakiilah Khayra for reading Jessi. May Allah help us raise righteous Muslimeen. The day this posted was the day my own daughter started chit chating. She had asked for a break so I said sure, as it was really late; so we can never be too relaxed :) It is easier when my husband has the boys and I have the girls but if he is ever at work during a Taraweeh it gets hard taking care of all four.
ahmed
July 19, 2013 at 3:01 PM
Idk that any of these work for teens. Im a youth grp person and I think kids don’t respect the masjid.
Hena Zuberi
July 21, 2013 at 11:48 PM
Teens are a category on their own- so much can be said about it. How were they raised? What are their parents expectation of them. For some parents its just enough that their kids are at the masjid and not at the mall. While others have inculcated the practice of taraweeh since they were young. How do you think teens who haven’t been taught about the hurma of the masjid can learn to respect the masjid?
maliurjmalikha
July 19, 2013 at 4:00 PM
Don’t ever blame the kids…they emulate the behavior of their parents. If you raise your children by educating them about proper adab(behavior) there is no way on this earth they are going to behave unruly when they are out. Let’s be real…Telling them to behave when they go to masjid and at home they act like renegades and rebels…just ain’t gonna get the outcome we all seek. So parents fulfill your obligation as parents…control your kids everyday …365 days a year so when Ramadan comes it’s like ,,,everything is normal. the children know their roles!
Hena Zuberi
July 21, 2013 at 11:50 PM
I agree that we cannot blame the young children. we have to be be proactive parents. Sometimes the best of parents may have children who are having an off day. I think empathy goes a long way.
muslimah24
July 20, 2013 at 11:03 AM
Asalamu Alaikum, Let me start off by saying I’m not against kids in the masjid (unless your child is wild). However, one thing I never hear Muslims mention is babysitting! (the kind that’s done at home) Why is our community so allergic to that word. Taraweeh is very late this year, a 5 year old should be at home, in bed, sleeping. Period. All the babysitter has to do is make sure things are okay in case he/she wakes up. Kids need routine and structure and muslim families are just not providing that.
Hena Zuberi
July 22, 2013 at 12:03 AM
wa ‘alay kummassalam wa rahmatulah,
You are right. Many in our community are allergic to this word. Some can’t afford it or think that they cant afford it. Others like myself do not feel comfortable leaving the kids with a babysitter. Let me re-frame that; the only people I felt comfortable leaving my children with ever were my very close (after years of friendship) friends, close family, and young sisters from my community who I knew since they were kids themselves.
That is why I suggested kidpooling, which can be done at home.
I am not an intense routine oriented person; I couldn’t be as a stay at home mom with the schedule my husband has ( he doesn’t have a 9-5 job and keeping a strict schedule would mean kids not seeing Baba for days) and now when I am working as a reporter, my timings are also not set in stone.
Personally I think children should be raised to be adjustable to circumstances and surroundings. However, I recognize that there are parents whose parenting styles may differ from mine and who are comfortable with hired babysitters so your recommendation is a great one for them. Jazakillah khayra for reading and leaving a comment.
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Yasmin
July 20, 2013 at 2:16 PM
Jazakallah khiar for these much needed post!
Hena Zuberi
July 21, 2013 at 11:51 PM
Wa alaykummassalam Sr. Yasmin
Thanks for reading and leaving encouragement :)
aeelq
July 20, 2013 at 11:33 PM
trawee is a spiritual and an astonishing event that we all should participate
Hena Zuberi
July 22, 2013 at 12:05 AM
I agree. I didn’t grow up going to Taraweeh but alhamdulillah my kids are growing up with this ni’mah. My own father now recognizes what a blessing they are and realizes that it should be shared with the whole family. He arranges for a hafidh to come to the house and my parents, brother’s family and several neighbors all get to pray together.
Azleena
July 21, 2013 at 5:13 PM
Assalamualaikum, I always bring special books or toys that I keep specially for going to the masjid, so that if your masjid doesn’t have a babysitting option, when your child gets bored, instead of starting to sing or run around, you can take out the ‘ammunition’. At least it should keep them engaged for another 15-0 minutes, which is really all you need if you’re doing 8 raka’ah. I like the idea of announcing the names of well-behaved children. One point I think is important: When all else fails, LEAVE! Don’t ruin terawih for everyone else!
Hena Zuberi
July 22, 2013 at 12:07 AM
Wa alaykumasalam wa rahmatulah, May Allah keep your children on the path that brings them closest to Allah.
Excellent point. Even a few minutes outside in fresh air can calm a child down.
Azleena
July 21, 2013 at 5:18 PM
I meant “…when your child gets bored, so (s)he doesn’t start singing/whining/running around, you can take out the ‘ammunition’.” :-)
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Afreen
June 5, 2015 at 5:04 PM
Thats really a wonderful and important article.
We really need this kind of information time to time.
Jaza kallah Khair