Mentioned in Al-Baqarah 2:183,
O you who have believed, decreed upon you is fasting as it was decreed upon those before you that you may become righteous,
And in Al-Baqarah 2:185,
شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ الَّذِيَ أُنزِلَ فِيهِ الْقُرْآنُ هُدًى لِّلنَّاسِ وَبَيِّنَاتٍ
مِّنَ الْهُدَى وَالْفُرْقَانِ فَمَن شَهِدَ مِنكُمُ الشَّهْرَ فَلْيَصُمْهُ وَمَن
كَانَ مَرِيضاً أَوْ عَلَى سَفَرٍ فَعِدَّةٌ مِّنْ أَيَّامٍ أُخَرَ يُرِيدُ اللّهُ
بِكُمُ الْيُسْرَ وَلاَ يُرِيدُ بِكُمُ الْعُسْرَ وَلِتُكْمِلُواْ الْعِدَّةَ
وَلِتُكَبِّرُواْ اللّهَ عَلَى مَا هَدَاكُمْ وَلَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ
The Month of Ramadhan [is that] in which was revealed the Qur’an, a guidance for the people and clear proofs of guidance and criterion. So whoever sights [the new moon of] the month, let him fast it; and whoever is ill or on journey –then an equal number of other days. Allah intends for you ease and does not intend for you hardship and [wants] for you to complete the period and to glorify Allah for that [to] which He has guided you; and perhaps you will be grateful.
***
Ramadhan is in sight, everybody misses and waits of Ramadhan, not only adults, but also from the very young to the teenagers. Why? Because many special events are happening for them (especially in Muslim countries) during the month of Ramadan.
In addition to iftar and sahur together with family in the morning, many other things that are so enjoyably done with family and could not be enjoyed and felt in other month. Such as performing tarawih with jama’ah, reading Al Quran together, and a lot more.
Activities at school are less interesting for the children. In Indonesia, the children enjoy fasting together when they are playing, tadarus (reading Qur’an) which is mostly done at school, or a short time of boarding school (Madrasa) with a variety of special events that are held only in the month of Ramadhan. All these activities are met with excitement and joy!. The children and even the adults do not find these activities burdensome. In Islamic countries or Islamic schools, all school activities gravitate towards Ramadhan which includes many interesting and positive learning activities that are made fun and exciting. This fun yet learning activities allow children obtain a positive view of Islam and also to complete their Deen.
To motivate students as well as to compete in worship, school usually provides books to remind them how are their worships in the month of Ramadan, reflect on themselves, how much they do good things either in the form of reading Qur’an, tarawih, fasting, good manners and also to know lessons they learn during a very noble month. Children are also trained i’tikaf in school, what is the meaning of i’tikaf itself and how they can finish or khatam Al -Quran within a month. Subhan Allah indeed these activities are much different from regular months.
Moreover, instead of I’tikaf there is also a great activity in Ramadan that is the night of Nuzulul Qur’an. The children are involved in these activities so that they will understand and interpret the revelation of Quran is not just to know, and only a tradition but underneath it, in their deepest hearts they recognize and understand why they should love Al-Quran.
Indeed, We sent it [i.e. the Qur’an] down during the night of Decree. And what can make you know what is the Night of Decree? The Night of Decree is better than a thousand months.
(Quran Surah Al-Qadr 97: 1-3)
Let’s read Al-Quran starting now. Make it a habit though only a paragraph after fardlu prayers…
