Train our Children to Fast Gradually during Ramadan

Less than 2 month, In shaa Allah we will meet the glorious month, the month of Ramadan. Ruhiyah (soul) preparation and physical preparation must have been doing since we started before moths ago.

Fasting in Ramadan is obligatory for the Muslims who is baliq (puberty). What about our small children, should they fast during Ramadhan?

Illustration by Wikara
Illustration by Wikara

Rubayyi bint Muawidz said: In the morning of Ashura Rasulullah Shalallahu ‘alayhi wasallam sent a messenger to the villages of Ansar: “Who is this morning in a fasting state then complete the fast, and whoever this morning in a fasted state, then fasted at rest today. And we also do fasting Ashura ‘. As we have fast our little ones, and we along with our sons go to the mosque to make toys from cotton to them, if any one of them crying out for food, we give it to him until the toys come in time to break “(HR Bukhari and Muslim).

From the above hadith can be concluded that fasting is to train children in the instigation of Personality ‘which is unquestioned. Hadith mentioned above in the context of the sunnah fasting `Ashura fasting, what about the obligatory fast of Ramadan? When Rasulullah Shalallahu ‘alayhi wasallam confirmed sunnah fasting exercise for the children, then the obligatory fasting is certainly more of a priority.

It is an obligation for Muslim parents to teach their children how to perform prayers, it is also expected of us to train our children regarding the importance, rules and etiquette of fasting. This is part of the overall education that children must gain from an early age. Fasting is one of the main pillars of Islam, and it is, therefore, a foundation for all other knowledge. For this reason, the practice and spirit of fasting should be nice in children so that it comes natural and effortless for them as they reach adulthood.

Before you command your children to fast, it would be much better if you start out with the knowledge of Ramadan and fasting. Mention children with attractive and nice language as the Islamic story. Besides the important thing is that parents should give the child examples of fasting.

Explain our children the meaning of Ramadan and fasting, and train children to fast gradually, namely fasting half a day for children. With fasting children will practice eating when hungry and avoid eating too overfed. If the child is familiar with this, train the child to full fasting. Indeed, a child is not required to do moreover a full daily fasting. However, introducing early in order to understand the meaning and the rules that must be followed is your duty as a parent. One thing is for sure that teaching children to fasting should avoid element of force that would cause the child to be lazy run.

These are some tips to make our children learn fasting:

  • Make meal time fun atmosphere for children because at the moment it still feels very sleepy child.
  • The food menu meal prepared in accordance with the child’s favorite, of course, with emphasis on the nutrients, carbohydrates and nutrients. This is to stimulate the child to eat the meal.
  • Increase consumption of foods containing fat to help avoid hunger and fiber to facilitate defecation.
  • Give sugary drinks such as sweet tea, milk, or fruit juice. Because sugar dissolves easily and is absorbed by the body so it can quickly be used as an energy source
  • In the daytime if our child was hungry and could not resist hungry, let them eat and then continued until the time of breaking his fast.
  • Motivate and reward children when they managed to fast the whole day. Award does not have to be a little extra pocket money but it could also provide a special menu when breaking a child’s favorite or buy them a story of Islamic book.
  • When breaking the fast, start by eating or drinking sweet like dates or make sweet tea. It is advisable to drink warm not cold (ice).
  • Eat when breaking not to glut because it will make the stomach ache that children become traumatized. Eat gradually. For example, after Maghrib prayers and then resumed after the evening prayers.

O muslima, always pray after our shalat fardhu this du’a, may Allah bless our family:

رَبَّنَا هَبْ لَنَا مِنْ أَزْوَاجِنَا وَذُرِّيَّاتِنَا قُرَّةَ أَعْيُنٍ وَاجْعَلْنَا لِلْمُتَّقِينَ إِمَامًا

“Our Lord! grant us in our mates and offspring the joy of our eyes and make us patterns for those who guard against evil.” (Al-Furqan:74)

May Allah continue to guide and protect us and keep us on the straight path. May Allah grant us strength and health, give us ease and reward us for our humble efforts. May Allah accept all our fasts, our effort to teach and train our children to fast during Ramadan.

Allahumma Aamiinn.

 

Scroll to Top