Hajj is a journey we all wish to experience; the thought of being in such a holy place, following in the footsteps of the prophets, can be overwhelming. Along our spiritual journey, the desire to complete this fifth pillar of faith sets a deep yearning in the hearts of the believers.
But cast your mind back to the time when you first learned of Hajj. How was it presented to you? Did it seem beyond comprehension? Was it something you thought was only performed late in life? For many of us, the cultural norms dictated our understanding and ideas of Hajj, but when we learn about its true reality, it can be life-changing.
Here are eight activities you can do with your child to give them a better understanding of Hajj. We pray that these will inspire in your children a love for this ibadah
1. Start with the story of Hajj.
Begin by teaching your children the meaning behind Hajj.
2. Study the Ka’bah with a craft activity.
Create a crafty Ka’ba, perhaps a pop-up Ka’bah card, a drawing, or a 3D construction from card to teach your children the importance of this sacred site. Make sure to include its important physical features, as well as the significant surroundings that play a part in Hajj.
3. Hajj map
Create an interactive Hajj map to help your children learn where all the relevant sites are located, creating a more imaginative experience to enhance their love for the blessed home of Hajj.
4. Watch a Hajj film
Depending on the age of your child, you could watch a documentary or film about Hajj, helping them to visualise the pilgrimage, and understand its Islamic importance. Journey To Mecca, for example, follows the story of the famous explorer and scholar, Ibn Battuta, on his Hajj journey.
5. Memorise the talbiyah
The talbiyah is a beautiful and powerful prayer that pilgrims recite while on Hajj, and an example of our devotion to Allah. You could combine this with activity 2, and learn the talbiyah while crafting a Ka’bah. It will not only be a great exercise in brain power but also instil your children with a goal of performing Hajj as they grow older, having memorised of the most important duas you recite on Hajj.
6. Learn the story of Hajar and the Zamzam well.
This is the powerful story of Hajar (RA) being left with her son Ismail (AS), following the commandment of Allah. It is a story of tawakkul – obedience to the will of Allah. Once the story has been explained, you could compile a list of lessons your children learnt from the story to keep it interactive and educational.
7. Make an Eid banner
Eid is a joyous celebration that marks the end of the Hajj pilgrimage. Make the experience extra special for your children by creating a celebratory Eid banner to decorate your home. Get the whole family involved to bring you together in a positive and memorable Eid activity.
At the end of Hajj, pilgrims sacrifice an animal, distributing its meat to charity. Foster a love of charity in your children by encouraging them to give some of what they have to vulnerable people, or by getting them to help you to pick projects to support. This Dhul Hijjah, Human Appeal is working to support sustainable projects that help vulnerable people to lift themselves out of poverty – through secure water sources, education, medical care, and livelihood support. Teach your children about the benefits of each, and help them to understand the importance of charity in Islam.
May Allah allow our children to learn about the religion in the most beautiful way, may their love for Islam grow through the positive interactions and learnings from their parents and elders, and may it increase their iman and their passion for Islam.
