NOISY KIDS IN THE MOSQUE: IS IT THEM OR US?

By Jamilah Samian www.coolmumsuperdad.com

“My 4-year-old grandson is terrified to go to the mosque,” my neighbour said.

“What happened?” I asked.

“He followed his father to the mosque last week. He was running around at the back of the mosque with the other young children when suddenly a burly man appeared and yelled at them: ‘Do you think this is a playground?’ The man even raised his hand and threatened to hit my grandson and the other kids.”

“Well,” I said, “At Makkah and Madinah, it’s common to see young children tagging along after their parents and grandparents to the mosque. Young mothers would bring their newborns, placing these infants next to them the moment they started praying. It does get noisy, but how else are these kids going to learn to love the mosque?”

Yes, I do know that all that din can be distracting. But to be honest, if we find all that kids-related sounds annoying, instead of getting upset with the little ones, perhaps we should ask ourselves: Is it the kids or is it us? Is there something we can do to improve our prayers? After all, quality solat (prayer) means you and I are so focused (khushu’), we wouldn’t even notice the sights and sounds around us.

I’m not suggesting I’m so focused during my prayer that the sounds don’t affect me; far from it. But if we were to look at the long-term, every word and gesture we adults make at the mosque and observed by the kids will be seared onto their minds. It’s either, “The mosque is a nice place to be” or “The mosque is a scary place; never again.”

The mosque ideally should be the center of the Muslim community; it makes sense for the children to develop a connection to it.

Children who are never exposed to the mosque may grow up feeling disconnected from their faith and their community. Bringing them to the mosque and involving them in its activities can help to create a sense of belonging and pride.

There’s a sense of community that comes from attending the mosque. Many children grow up feeling isolated and disconnected from their community, particularly if they do not have Muslim friends at school. By bringing them to the mosque, we can help them to make new friends, interact with other Muslim children, and feel like they are part of something bigger than themselves. Going to the mosque can help to teach them about Islamic values and ethics. Many mosques offer educational programs for young children, which can help them to learn about the basics of Islam and develop a strong foundation in their faith. By exposing them to Islamic teachings from a young age, we can help them to develop a strong moral compass and a sense of purpose in life.

Unfortunately, some mosques are not particularly welcoming to young children, and parents often feel discouraged from bringing them along. This is a problem because if children do not feel comfortable in the mosque, they are unlikely to want to return. These uncomfortable emotions will fester in their minds over the years, pushing them away from the mosque such that by the time they’re adults, the mosque is nothing but a cold, strange place they would rather stay away from. To conclude, bringing young children to the mosque is an essential part of fostering a strong sense of community and belonging in our children. By providing a welcoming and child-friendly environment in the mosque, we can help to create a space where children feel comfortable and engaged, and where they can learn about their faith and values. As parents, elders, and mosque patrons, we have a responsibility to support families bringing young children to the mosque. So, the next time you hear someone yelling at a little child in the mosque, feel free to speak up, so that the mosque becomes an endearing place to him or her.

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WHAT IS EID AL-FITR?

Eid al-Fitr means “festival of breaking the fast” and marks the end of the fasting month of Ramadan.

Traditionally, Eid is celebrated for three days as an official holiday in all Muslim-majority countries. However, the number of vacation days varies by country.

HOW IS THE START OF EID DETERMINED?

Like Ramadan, Eid al-Fitr begins with the first sighting of the new moon, so usually Muslims have to wait until the night before Eid to verify its date.

If the new moon is not visible, the month lasts 30 days.

Because it is a lunar occurrence, the date of Eid changes annually on the Gregorian calendar and varies from country to country depending on geographical location.

To declare the start of Eid, Muslim-majority countries depend on the testimonies of local moon sighters. The Judicial High Court then decides if Eid has arrived.

When the sighting has been verified, Eid is declared on televisions, radio stations and at mosques.

HOW DO MUSLIMS CELEBRATE EID?

Muslims across the world begin Eid celebrations by partaking in communal dawn prayers, followed by a short sermon. While in some countries the prayers take place in mosques or large halls, in many countries it is also held in the open. People congratulate one another as they head home after Eid prayers. They spend the day visiting relatives and neighbours and accepting sweets as they move around from house to house. Children, dressed in new clothes, are offered gifts and money to celebrate the joyous occasion.

This is preceded by the giving of alms to the poor, or zakat, which is one of the five pillars of Islam.

It is common for the capitals of Muslim-majority countries to decorate their streets with festive lights and hold carnivals to commemorate the end of the holy month.

Each country has traditional desserts and sweets that are prepared before Eid or on the morning of the first day. These foods range from special biscuits and bread to cakes and puddings. On the first day of Eid al-Fitr, voluntary fasting is not allowed as Muslims are encouraged to feast and celebrate the completion of a month of worship and abstinence from food.

In some countries, families visit graveyards to offer their respects to family members who have departed. www.aljazeera.com