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We, as Muslims, very much cherish the Quran. The Quran is what gives purpose to our lives. Without it, our lives would be very bland and confusing because we would not know what to do. Teaching this holy book to our kids is one of the priorities that every Muslim should consider. We must know how to teach kids the Quran. In this article, we will analyze how to perform this great task.
Starting With the Basics
Teaching the Quran to kids should usually begin when kids have reached the age of five. Of course, there is no objection if you feel that your younger child has the talent to learn the Quran. You should start with teaching them the short surahs of the Quran that we all know and have memorized. For example, you can teach them to memorize surahs Fatiha, Kawthar, Fil, Quraish, and Qadr. These surahs are short and relatively easy to memorize because both the verses and the surahs are short. Memorizing short surahs of the Quran is the initial step you or your child’s teacher should take when teaching kids the Quran.
It would be best to make learning fun and entertaining. While teaching these short surahs to your kids, tell them the Quranic stories as well. For instance, Surah Qadr is about the Night of Ordainment in the month of Ramadan, a night on which Allah revealed the Quran to Prophet Muhammad (s). On this night, Allah decides every matter and seals people’s fate for that year. This night is greater than a thousand months. Therefore, the good deeds that people do on this night are multiplied. By telling them the stories of the surahs and the meaning of the verses, kids will become eager to learn the Quran.
Explaining the Significance of the Quran
Explaining the significance of the Quran to your kids is essential. Kids must learn that they must respect the Noble Quran because it is the word of God that was revealed to the Noble Prophet, Muhammad (s). Some of the ways of respecting the Quran outwardly are:
1. Not leaving it on the ground so that no one would step on it accidentally
2. Placing it on a high place, such as the highest shelf of your bookshelf
3. Not extending your legs to the Quran
4. Making wudu before touching the Quran and reciting it
Of course, these are just some physical ways of respecting the Quran. Respecting the Quran in our actions is much more important. If we follow the Quran’s commands word for word, such as praying on time, giving zakat, fasting in the month of Ramadan, respecting our parents, and relying on Allah, we would have respected the Quran inwardly, too. We should explain all of these points to our kids so that they learn about the significance of this holy book.
The Quran Is the Book of Life
Our perspective on the Quran should be unique. The Quran is not just an ordinary book containing stories, history, laws, and facts, but rather a book that also teaches us to live a better life. It teaches us morality, how to treat others, how to act in the face of difficulties, and how we should see God as always present. These teachings make a path for us that leads to our prosperity in both worlds. We should teach our kids this clear Quran. This unambiguous book is easy to understand, easy to memorize, and easy to practice in our daily lives. We should inform our kids of these things when they are old enough to understand these matters. Generally, kids at the age of 9-12 can grasp the significance of the Quran as the book of life.
Teaching Reading of the Quran
The next step teachers must take to teach kids the Quran is teaching them to read the Quran when they reach school age. Reading the Quran is as simple as learning any other language. The first thing that parents or teachers should teach kids are the letters in the Arabic alphabet and their sounds. After learning the alphabet, they should teach them the vowels. There are three short vowels and three long vowels. Read the article “How to Teach My Kids Arabic” to learn how you can teach your kids Arabic.
Teaching Basic Tajweed
Tajweed is a way of perfecting and beautifying your recitation and sounding more Arabic. You should not teach all the tajweed rules to your children, but rather the most important ones. For example, you can teach them the pronunciation of the letters, some basic rules of idgham, or merging of two letters with each other, and the mudud, or lengthening of long vowels. When kids get older and reach the age of puberty, they can learn the advanced rules of tajweed.
Conclusion
Teaching kids the Quran may be a lot of work, but it is not rocket science. Any Muslim individual can teach their or other kids the Quran. You should begin with the basics, which is teaching them to memorize short surahs of the Quran. Kids must also learn the meanings and significance of the Quran in their lives. Finally, they should learn how to read the Quran and some tajweed rules. Inshallah, by following these steps, you will be able to teach the Quran to your kids so that they come to love it and practice it in their lives.
